Bedgebury Forest

Bedgebury Forest is a 10.5km2 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.HistoryBedgebury is first mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter in AD 841, the name deriving from the Old English bycgan, 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.