Bedgebury Forest

Bedgebury Forest
Bedgebury Forest, Kent
Bedgebury Forest shown within Kent
Type	Forest
Location	Kent, UK
OS grid	TQ7257432820
Coordinates	51°04′06″N 0°27′48″E / 51.0682°N 0.4634°E / 51.0682; 0.4634Coordinates: 51°04′06″N 0°27′48″E / 51.0682°N 0.4634°E / 51.0682; 0.4634
Area	10.5 square kilometres (2,600 acres)
Operated by	The Forestry Commission

Bedgebury Forest is a 10.5 square kilometres (2,600 acres) forest surrounding Bedgebury National Pinetum, near Flimwell in Kent. In contrast to the National Pinetum, which contains exclusively coniferous trees, the forest contains both deciduous and coniferous species. It forms part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is one of the so-called "Seven Wonders Of The Weald". Bedgebury Forest has facilities for cycling, mountain biking, riding, orienteering and adventure play.

Bedgebury is first mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter in AD 841, the name deriving from the Old English , meaning "buy", and the Kentish vecge, meaning "to bend or turn", possibly in reference to a stream.

Bedgebury Forest has always been wooded and is classed as an ancient woodland. Heather is present, which indicates that parts of the forest may have been managed as wooded heath. Streams in the Forest show evidence of dams, storing water for the Wealden iron industry and later the ornamental lakes on the Bedgebury Estate.

Bedgebury Forest is located between Goudhurst, Hawkhurst and Flimwell in the High Weald of Kent. It is situated on a high plateau, amongst the rolling hills of the Wealden Group. The geology is mostly clay and sandstone, and the soil is poor and acidic, which is the reason for the woodland's persistence: better, more accessible land was cleared for agriculture long ago. Bedgebury Forest falls within the catchment areas of the rivers Medway and Rother.