ASHDOWN FOREST ACTION GROUP
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The Ashdown Forest Action Group formed to prevent FURTHER ENCLOSURE of the Forest .
The 1974 Act and previous Act dating back to 1885 clearly show their purpose was to PREVENT ENCLOSURE.
In 1988 when East Sussex County Council bought the Forest, made possible by private donations, the Ashdown Forest Trust that was formed reiterated the aim to promote the conservation of Ashdown Forest “as a quiet and natural area of outstanding natural beauty and as an amenity and place of resort for members of the public.”
The lowland heath that Natural England etc wish to “restore” was created by CATTLE and DEER, not sheep. Sheep were NOT commonable animals originally. In fact prior to 1885 it was ILLEGAL to put sheep on the Forest . Because sheep are anathema to all deer (it was a Royal Hunting Forest .)There has been NO consideration given to the presence of deer on Ashdown Forest in either of the published grazing plans!!(535&602).
The fencing required to contain sheep kills and maims deer and other wildlife (Click here), condemning them to a long and painful slow death. The benefits of grazing sheep on AF are definitely NOT proven; the reason given for the fencing erected in addition to the limit of 100 acres [as laid down in the 1974 Act] was because of pressure from a grazier over road casualties to his sheep. (See Grazing Plan535) This now encloses over 1300acres!! It was not for heathland regeneration.
Deer are the reason that the Ashdown Forest exists at all. [It was created as a Royal Hunting Forest ]. On the New Forest a condition of the Countryside Stewardship scheme they are signed up to states: that the Verderers must NOT financially support sheep grazing on the open forest because of the ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE they may cause!!!(Link to the RDS letter explaining this and Photo of fence/bluebells). If sheep were NOT the “preferred” choice on AF we believe the growing conflict with dog walking would not exist. This amenity is being reduced by the presence of SHEEP.
Sheep created the South Downs NOT the Ashdown Forest .
Common land should NOT be fenced.
It is part of our heritage and should be preserved as it was intended. The Act of Parliament created to protect the Forest is being undermined by those empowered to protect it.
It is clear that a reform of the 1974 Ashdown Forest Act is long over due, it SHOULD have been dealt with when the people of East Sussex bought the Forest in 1988.
The FIRST aim of this group is to ensure that we have a PUBLIC INQUIRY. A Public consultation will not affect the outcome of the grazing plan, only a PUBLIC INQUIRY will.
Please support us in our aim to bring about change. Download a petition form and sign, over ONE THOUSAND people have so far, (Click here)
You can also sign our newly launched e-petition on the Prime Ministers Website click on highlighted website.
Copyright © 2000-2007 Photos By Ron Edwards Email: info@ashdownforestactiongroup.co.uk