Email the conservators

Ashdown Forest is the largest public access site (6,400 acres) in the South East. It is the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

View the map of Ashdown Forest

Today the Forest is managed by a Board of Conservators who are empowered by the Ashdown Forest Act of 1974.

Free public access on foot exists over most of the Forest. Visitors are attracted to the Forest for a variety of reasons. Horse riders have countless trails available to them - but riding is strictly by permit only (obtainable from the Conservators). There are over fifty car parks, many with picnic tables, from which walkers can explore. Bird watchers come from all over the country to enjoy the variety of birds to be found

East Sussex County Council and Wealden District council contributed £97550 to the conservators in 2008 for the running of Ashdown Forest ( The Conservators' Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2008 can be found here).

Below is the exact text taken from the Ashdown Forest Conservators website regarding cycling on Ashdown Forest:

"Can I ride my mountain-bike over the Forest?
No; the Conservators have decided that mountain-biking is an activity incompatible with maintaining the Forest as a quiet and natural area. (You can ride your bike along the Forest Way cycle route at Forest Row or at Deersleap Park, East Grinstead)."

As responsible adults who like to live a healthy lifestyle and have a passion for riding, we think that organisations like the Ashdown Forest Conservators should be encouraging outdoor sports, especially as this would appeal to all ages of the family. Even the Forestry Commission and National trust are realising that mountain biking is not only a popular way of raising revenue, but also raises public awareness of preservation in Areas of outstanding natural beauty.

If you can make sense out of the following Picture, can you please let us know!