Ashdown Forest is an area of open heathland on the highest sandy ridge-top of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This distinctive, nationally valued landscape - of rolling hills draped with small irregular fields, abundant woods and hedges, scattered farmsteads and sunken lanes - can be viewed from many points on the Forest.

The word ‘Forest’ derives from its use as a Royal hunting ground. Ashdown Forest, despite what the name suggests, is not thickly covered in trees.

Heathlands have been created over many centuries by the impact of people and their livestock. In much of England they have disappeared; Ashdown Forest has the largest and best-preserved area of heathland in the South East. Whatever the season, the heathland colours of Ashdown Forest make it a beautiful place to visit: from the green of spring to the purple and pink of the flowering heather in late summer and the red and gold of autumn - with yellow gorse flowers nearly always to be seen throughout the year.