Ashdown Forest is one of the largest single continuous blocks of lowland heath, semi-natural woodland and valley bog in south east England. Its geology is a major influence on its biology and ecology. The underlying sandstone geology of the Ashdown Sands, when combined with a local climate that is generally wetter, cooler and windier than the surrounding area owing to the forest's elevation, which rises from to over above sea level, gives rise to sandy, largely podzolic soils that are characteristically acid, clay, and nutrient-poor.Leslie and Short (1999), pp. 4-5. On these poor, infertile soils have developed heathland, valley mires and damp woodland. These conditions have never favoured cultivation and have been a barrier to agricultural improvement.
ashdown forest is one of the largest single continuous blocks of lowland heath semi-natural woodland and valley bog in south east england its geology is a major influence on its biology and ecology the underlying sandstone geology of the ashdown sands when combined with a local climate that is generally wetter cooler and windier than the surrounding area owing to the forest's elevation which rises from to over above sea level gives rise to sandy largely podzolic soils that are characteristically acid clay and nutrient-poorleslie and short (1999) pp 4-5 on these poor infertile soils have developed heathland valley mires and damp woodland these conditions have never favoured cultivation and have been a barrier to agricultural improvement