Exhbition shows how forest has changed

Ashdown Forest: Past and Present is a remarkable visual exhibition bringing together old and new images of Ashdown Forest.

The exhibition images capture Ashdown Forest's special landscape and reveal how much of the High Weald's treasured habitat of heather and gorse has been shaped by people.

The exhibition contains historic photographs of Ashdown Forest life, views and villages circa 1900 collected by Peter Kirby.

Most of the historic images are compared with Gareth Price's contemporary photographs of similar Forest locations and Juliet Murray's present-day landscape paintings.

The exhibition also includes an audio-visual display, where historical characters tell their story; a chance to 'Guess the Location' of Gareth's Forest photographs and to see Art in Action with Juliet every Monday '“ Friday.

Cllr Sylvia Tidy, Chairman of the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee, said: 'Ashdown Forest is a beautiful place and deserves appreciation by a wider audience. This visual exhibition focusing on Ashdown Forest's natural beauty will help more people recognise how its character has and is evolving.'

All three exhibitors bring a different perspective to Ashdown Forest, revealing its special qualities. Throughout the exhibition a selection of their work will be on sale.

The Ashdown Forest: Past and Present exhibition is supported by the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit and hosted by the Ashdown Forest Llama Park.

It is open from May 5 to May 20 from 11am '“ 4pm every day.

Admission is free.

Ashdown Forest Llama Park is located on A22 300 yards south of the junction with the A275, mid way between Nutley and Forest Row.

*Juliet Murray is a full time professional artist and picture framer, working from her studio/gallery in Nutley.

*Gareth Price is a local photographer, who lives and works on Ashdown Forest. Gareth enjoys sharing the Forest's beauty and wildlife with wider audiences and his website www.ashdown-eyes.co.uk contains a stunning collection of his photographs.

* Peter Kirby lives in Nutley in the house his grandfather bought at the beginning of the century.