Weald

The Weald is a geographic region in southeast England, lying between the North Downs to the north and the South Downs to the south. It covers parts of East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, with some western areas extending into Hampshire. The name comes from the Old English weald, meaning forest or woodland.

Geology and landscape: The Weald forms a ridge of high ground, part of the Weald–Artois Anticline, with underlying rocks including the Hastings Beds, Weald Clay Group, and the Tunbridge Wells Sand. Where exposed, these rocks produce a varied landscape of ridges, valleys, and clay or sandstone outcrops. The surface is a mosaic of ancient woodlands, hedgerows, and small fields. The eastern part is known as the High Weald, designated as the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which preserves much of the region’s woodland and historic rural character.

History and land use: The Weald has long been wooded; historically the timber and charcoal from its forests supported local industries such as shipbuilding and ironmaking. Over time, settlement expanded on the forest margins, and today the area remains largely rural, with farming, forestry, and increasing emphasis on conservation and nature-based tourism. The landscape and place names reflect a long history of woodland management, wood pasture, and agricultural use that shaped settlement patterns across the region.