Videos High Weald Story
The High Weald countryside gets its ridges, valleys and rolling landscape from the underlying bands of sandstone and clay. The harder sandstone forms the high land and ridges, which generally run east-west across the High Weald.
If you are unable to view flash video you can download alternatives,
landform.wmv landform.mov
See how the different layers were laid down to form the High Weald
If you are unable to view flash video you can download alternatives,
geological history.mov
The High Weald has a unique, radiating network of ancient routeways and tracks. These routes were first formed when early settlers from the surrounding lands began to exploit the area's woods as a seasonal source of food for their animals: for, as well as timber and fuel, the woods held another important resource - acorns!
If you are unable to view flash video you can download alternatives,
Story Of Routeways.wmv Story of Routeways.mov
The High Weald has many isolated farmsteads, hamlets and dwellings dotted across the countryside.This characteristic, dispersed settlement pattern, actually supports the highest population of any protected landscape in the UK.
If you are unable to view flash video you can download alternatives,
Story Of Settlement.wmv Story Of Settlement.mov
Trees and woodland are a particularly distinctive feature of the High Weald landscape - with woodland, much of which is classified as ancient, covering over a third of this nationally important landscape. Many woods are small - treebelts, shaws and small woodland blocks between the medieval field pattern - the remnants of ancient forest cleared by early farmers.
If you are unable to view flash video you can download alternatives,
Story Of Woodland.wmv Story Of Woodland.mov
The High Weald 's rolling hills are draped with small, irregular fields - edged with ancient boundary features and often containing flower-rich grassland. Colourful areas of heath - with patches of purple heather and yellow gorse - are found on the high, sandy ridges. This pattern of small, irregular fields grew out of the way the High Weald was settled, and is the result of the patient work of many small farmers.
If you are unable to view flash video you can download alternatives,
The Field and Heath Story.wmv Story of Fields and Heaths.mov
