Latest news with #AAMilne
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
About 170,000 meals donated in deer culling scheme
About 170,000 meals have been donated to foodbanks, community kitchens and homeless shelters through a deer culling scheme in East Sussex. In the most recent season, between November and March, 884 fallow doe were culled in Ashdown Forest, made famous by AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh and his fictional home 100-Acre-Wood. SJ Thomas, chief executive of food poverty charity The Country Food Trust, said: "Protein is the most expensive food group, it's therefore the least likely to be donated to a foodbank." Animal rights group Peta said the deer population did not need to be managed and that culling caused a "rebound" as it led to a spike in the food supply for the surviving animals. The most recent season was the first time the meat had been donated through The Country Food Trust, with almost 70 foodbanks benefiting, the charity said. It has already been agreed that the scheme will continue during the next culling season. Deer are culled as over-grazing can prevent the regeneration of woodland, which can have a knock-on impact on other species - including dormice and butterflies, the charity added. Ms Thomas said there were an estimated two million deer in the country and 750,000 needed to be culled every year in order to keep the population under control. At the start of 2024, the deer population in Ashdown Forest was estimated to be three-times higher than what it should have been. Ms Thomas said: "By us culling 884 fallow does, it's the equivalent of saving 40,000 deer being on the land in the next 10 years." The charity has been in talks with other locations across the UK to see if similar food donation schemes can be put in place. "I'm making sure that the food goes to people in need," Ms Thomas added. A Peta spokesperson said: "If killing actually reduced animal populations, lethal methods wouldn't be proposed year after year. "Humans owe it to these gentle animals, whose habitat has been taken from them, to find humane, sustainable methods of population control – and that doesn't mean gunning them down and using them as sandwich filler." The Ashdown Forest Trust has been contacted for a comment. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Concerns raised about Ashdown Forest deer numbers Residents raise safety concerns over deer cull Drones deployed to monitor woodland deer numbers The Country Food Trust Peta Ashdown Forest Trust
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
The beautiful forest that inspired Winnie the Pooh just 2 hours from London
Looking for the perfect day out but aren't sure where to head? Then you're in luck, as we have the perfect destination for you. Ashdown Forest in East Sussex is an ancient area of open heathland and part of the High Weald National Landscape. The forest is most famous for being the location that inspired the children's stories, the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A Milne. Ashdown Forest is easy to get to from London, taking just under two hours via car, or you can take the train with a similar journey length. The forest covers 10 square miles and is one of the largest open-access areas in Southeast England, according to the Ashdown Forest website. The land is home to many rare and threatened species and has a rich human history connected to Kings and more. A.A. Milne lived on the edge of the forest and would often explore the area with his son, Christopher Robin. The stories of Winnie the Pooh gained mass popularity when they were illustrated by E.H. Shepard. It's understood that E.H. Shepard used Ashdown Forest to create the images for the fictional Hundred Acre Wood. Since then, the forest has attracted thousands of fans of Pooh who explore spots like Pooh Sticks Bridge, Galleon's Lap, Roo's Sandy Pit, the Heffalump Trap and the Enchanted Place. On the edge of Ashdown Forest is Pooh Corner, which celebrates the characters and is home to a shop and tearoom. The tearoom serves the likes of homemade sandwiches, cakes, scones and also runs a seasonal specials menu. On the online review site Tripadvisor, one fan of Ashdown Forest said: "The views in this forest are incredible. Recommended Reading Visit the picturesque town of Burford for the perfect day trip Discover the National Trust gem an hour from London 7 of the best nature walks to try in London this spring "We mainly stuck to the Winnie the Pooh themed areas, but the entire region is lush and green." Another visitor said: "Beautiful morning stroll through Ashdown Forest with the family. "Kids were blown away to see Pooh and friends everywhere in the woods."
