Ashdown Forest - Toppines

Scots Pines, Gorse and Heather 2

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There could be no more typical Forest scene than clumps of Scots pines surrounded by gorse and heather. Since the gorse is in flower, it is most likely that the Pooh and friends are on the Forest in spring. The photograph was taken below Lodge car park, about a kilometre and a half south of Gills Lap Clump. The pines are no more than about 25–30 years old, and would have self-seeded from more

Illustration from: The House At Pooh Corner Line illustrations © the Estate of E.H.Shepard, colouring © 1970 E.H.Shepard and Egmont UK Limited.

mature ones nearby, mostly off the publicly-owned part of the Forest. A map of 1910, just 14 years before Shepard’s visit, shows a few pine trees on what was otherwise described as rough pasture. Scattered trees are important as perches for typical heathland birds like nightjars and tree pipits, and as shelter from the sun for livestock.

This photograph was taken from location 4

Photography: David Gadsby www.dgphotography.co.uk