Ashdown Forest

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.

Who are the Conservators and which Committees do they serve on? The most up to date Board of Conservators List can be found here.

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

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 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 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. Who are the Conservators and which Committees do they serve on? The most up to date Board of Conservators List can be found here. The Standing Orders, the procedures for the governance of the Board of Conservators can be found here. 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 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. You are Here Home - Introduction to Ashdown Forest - Forest People - The Conservators

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