Ashdown Forest

The responsibility for managing Ashdown Forest lies with an independent body, the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest. Originally set up in 1885, the Board has been regulated under a series of Acts of Parliament, the most recent being the Ashdown Forest Act 1974. There, in section 16, it is stated that

"It shall be the duty of the Conservators at all times as far as possible to regulate and manage the forest as an amenity and place of resort subject to the existing rights of common upon the forest and to protect such rights of common, to protect the forest from encroachments, and to conserve it as a quiet and natural area of outstanding beauty".

Membership of the Board is also laid out in this Act. Eight are appointed by East Sussex County Council, two are appointed by Wealden District Council, five are elected by local commoners and one (the Chairman of the County Council) represents the owner of the Forest which (since 1988) has been the Ashdown Forest Trust.

The list of Board of Conservators members and the Committees they serve on can be found here.

Click here to see the Ashdown Forest Act 1974.

Click here to find the Ashdown Forest Bye-laws.

Click here to download a copy of the Bye-laws as a pdf.

Click here to see the the Ashdown Forest Trust deed.

Click here for a useful summary of all the legislation and government policy relevant to Ashdown Forest.

Click here to see a copy of the current Health and Safety Policy.

The Standing Orders, the procedures for the governance of the Board of Conservators can be found here.

Click here to find the Forest Plan.

The Annual Report for 2005 to 2006 can be found here

The Annual Report for 2006 to 2007 can be found here

The Annual Report for 2007 to 2008 can be found here

The Annual Report for 2008 to 2009 can be found here and here

The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2006 can be found here.

The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2007 can be found here.

The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2008 can be found here.


		Conservators The responsibility for managing Ashdown Forest lies with an independent body, the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest. Originally set up in 1885, the Board has been regulated under a series of Acts of Parliament, the most recent being the Ashdown Forest Act 1974. There, in section 16, it is stated that "It shall be the duty of the Conservators at all times as far as possible to regulate and manage the forest as an amenity and place of resort subject to the existing rights of common upon the forest and to protect such rights of common, to protect the forest from encroachments, and to conserve it as a quiet and natural area of outstanding beauty". Membership of the Board is also laid out in this Act. Eight are appointed by East Sussex County Council, two are appointed by Wealden District Council, five are elected by local commoners and one (the Chairman of the County Council) represents the owner of the Forest which (since 1988) has been the Ashdown Forest Trust. The list of Board of Conservators members and the Committees they serve on can be found here. The minutes, agendas and supporting documents of the Meetings of the Board of Conservators and the three Committees can all be found here. Click here to see the Ashdown Forest Act 1974. Click here to find the Ashdown Forest Bye-laws. Click here to download a copy of the Bye-laws as a pdf. Click here to see the the Ashdown Forest Trust deed. Click here for a useful summary of all the legislation and government policy relevant to Ashdown Forest. Click here to see a copy of the current Health and Safety Policy. The Standing Orders, the procedures for the governance of the Board of Conservators can be found here. Click here to find the Forest Plan. The Annual Report for 2005 to 2006 can be found here The Annual Report for 2006 to 2007 can be found here The Annual Report for 2007 to 2008 can be found here The Annual Report for 2008 to 2009 can be found here and here The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2006 can be found here. The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2007 can be found here. The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2008 can be found here. The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2009 can be found here The Conservators’ Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 2010 can be found here in due course You are Here Home - Introduction to Ashdown Forest - Forest People - The Conservators

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