The Friends of Ashdown Forest
Friends Events 2026
Please note that events are free for members, unless stated otherwise.
We ask non-members for a small dontation of £5.00
Ashdown Forest Through the Lens of Culture and Values - A Talk by Dr Mark Infield
Wednesday 25th February 2026, 2.00pm in the Education Barn, Ashdown Forest Centre
What is the meaning of Ashdown Forest? What is the value of nature? How can we protect the Forest now and in the future? Mark will discuss the management of protected areas in general and Ashdown Forest in particular. He will draw on lessons learned while helping to rescue a National Park in Uganda and their relevance to Ashdown Forest. Mark will look at science, economics, culture and values and how these ideas influence thinking about nature and its conservation, how decisions are made, and how Ashdown Forest can respond to current and future challenges.
Mark Infield grew up in Forest Row. His early love of nature and the Forest led him to study zoology at university. He spent the next 35 years working in protected area management in Africa, Asia and Europe before returning. He now works for Ashdown Forest as Landscape Recovery Manager focusing on grazing, monitoring, partnerships, and engagement. He is also the author of "Beautiful Beasts, Beautiful Lands; the fall and rise of an African National Park".
.jpeg)
Photo by Dave Brooker
Mark Infield grew up in Forest Row. His early love of nature and the Forest led him to study zoology at university. He spent the next 35 years working in protected area management in Africa, Asia and Europe before returning. He now works for Ashdown Forest as Landscape Recovery Manager focusing on grazing, monitoring, partnerships, and engagement. He is also the author of "Beautiful Beasts, Beautiful Lands; the fall and rise of an African National Park".
More events to follow!
On a warm and fine afternoon in July, volunteers from Uckfield Heritage gave our members guided tours of Nutley Windmill, before enjoying a splendid afternoon tea together. This Grade II* listed structure dates back over 300 years and is the sole surviving and operational open-trestle mill in the entire country.
Our last event in November was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative presentation by the forest's Grazing Officer, Rich Allum. We heard more about the history of grazing on Ashdown Forest and how it has shaped the landscape, and its continued importance in maintaining and improving the heathland habitat and its rare and special wildlife.
At the end of October, on a bright, beautiful autumnal morning, a group of our members enjoyed a Fungi Identification Walk with Fungi Expert Martin Allison. We learnt more about wonderfully and aptly named mushrooms and fungi, such as Wood Hedgehog, the purple Amethyst Deceiver and the Orange Mosscap to name but a few; the latter being a tiny fungus less than 1 cm in diameter, orange in colour and, not surprisingly, it lives on moss. We shall look forward to another walk with Martin next autumn.
Past events in 2025
Thank you to all the members of the Friends (and the public) who have supported our events so far this season! We have enjoyed two wonderful talks in March and April. The first was by the Ashdown Forest Research Group, “From Hall House to Country House, the Development of Houses on and around Ashdown Forest”. Three of the group’s members had undertaken detailed research and gave presentations on such houses as the timber-framed 15th century Priest House in West Hoathly; the romantic remains of Brambletye House built by Sir Henry Compton in the reign of James I; and Grade I listed Hammerwood Park to name but a few.
The second talk was by Gilly Halcrow in April. “Whatever Happened to Christopher Robin?” looked at English life from the 1920s through the eyes of A.A. Milne and his son and, of course, Winnie-the-Pooh and included enchanting slides of Ashdown Forest and of the family. Gilly explored whether Christopher Robin was indeed a happy child and adult or did that small English teddy bear overshadow his life.
On a beautiful June evening, we were rewarded with lots of churring and a few good sightings of Nightjars on our twilight walk. Thanks to the members of the Ashdown Forest Bird Group for leading what has become an annual event for us. Also in June, a party of our members had an extremely interesting, guided tour of Sackville College Almshouse in East Grinstead followed by a delicious afternoon tea.