Lotto cash for medieval forests

Fragments of four ancient medieval forests form the Weald Forest Ridge

An historic wooded area in East Sussex is to benefit from a share of £5.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The Weald Forest Ridge is famous for its views and fragments of four ancient medieval forests, including Ashdown Forest - the home of Winnie the Pooh.

The area is one of three in Britain set to receive money from HLF's Landscape Partnership programme, designed to safeguard them for future generations.

Director Carole Souter said the awards would deliver "great benefits".

Local dragon

The plan for Weald Forest Ridge will enhance the area's special habitats and restore the surviving fragments of the medieval forests.

As well as Ashdown Forest, they include St Leonard's Forest, where St Leonard was said to have fought a local dragon.

State of the art aerial mapping techniques will identify the area's hidden archaeological legacy and landowners will be helped to produce and sell wood products, such as charcoal.

Broadwater Warren, a lost forest dating back to the Middle Ages, will become the largest heathland restoration project in the South East.