Ashdown Forest’s Conservation Christmas

Rangers and conservation volunteers at Ashdown Forest are continuing the tradition of bringing home the seasonal greenery

it's by making wild grown Christmas trees available for sale to local people. Each year the Scots pine trees, which are an invasive species on the protected heathland, are cut down and sold from the Forest Centre.

Commoners have been using plants growing on Ashdown Forest for centuries. Alongside its history as a medieval hunting ground, the area would have been scoured for evergreens including holly and ivy. The plants symbolised eternal life and the promise that spring would return. According to English Heritage, private homes of the wealthy would have been decked with evergreens and the 16^th century carol “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly” shows that the tradition was widespread.

Ash Walmsley, Ashdown Forest’s Countryside Manager said:

“We know that Christmas is just around the corner when we fell the trees. The Forest is a special place at all times of the year but is particularly beautiful at Christmas. The first foresters are recorded working on the Forest from 1272 and during this season you really feel the weight of tradition and history as we follow in the footsteps of foresters from centuries ago.”

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are largely credited with starting the tradition of an indoor decorated tree in 1840 but it is thought to go back earlier to Queen Charlotte the German wife of George III who set up a Christmas tree at Windsor in 1800. 

James Adler CEO of Ashdown Forest said:

“In buying a tree from the Forest you are helping support the conservation of this beautiful area. These are introduced trees that must be controlled. They make a beautiful Christmas tree and they have a low carbon footprint whilst providing income to help manage the Forest. They are truly part of an authentic part of an Ashdown Forest Christmas!”

The trees are available now at the Forest Centre.