Ashdown Forest fire: Blaze rips through woodland made famous by Winnie the Pooh stories

AA Milne’s country home at Cotchford Farm, Hartfield was located just north of Ashdown Forest

(SWNS)

Ashdown Forest, the inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh‘s Hundred Acre Wood, has been hit by a wildfire following Britain’s warmest February on record.

The forest, in East Sussex, was hit by two fires that began within an hour of each other, burning 90 acres of land. The first fire, in Nutley, was reported just after 12.30pm and the second, which started less than two miles away, was reported just before 1.40pm. 65 firefighters were sent to the sites to combat the blaze.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with East Sussex fire and rescue service stating that the “unusual warm weather this week” meant that the ground was drier than usual and could lead to a greater risk of wildfires.

AA Milne’s country home at Cotchford Farm, Hartfield was located just north of Ashdown Forest and his son, Christopher Robin Milne, the inspiration for the character of Christopher Robin, would often explore the area. Milne’s stories feature references to specific locations in the forest.

Firefighters said more than 35 hectares of woodland had been affected. A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the second fire saw flames engulfing 200 metres of gorse and undergrowth.

Members of the public were warned to stay away as firefighters battled the fire with hose reels. Areas of West Yorkshire and North Wales, alongside Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, were also hit by wildfires.

Temperatures hit a high of 21C, marking the first time UK winter temperatures had exceeded 20C.