Wealden

Wealden can refer to two related uses: the Weald, a historically forested and undulating area in south-eastern England, and the Wealden District, a local government district in East Sussex.

Geographically, the Weald stretches across parts of Sussex and Kent as a belt of ridges and vales formed from sandstone and clay. The district includes much of this landscape and lies largely within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a designation that highlights its wooded character and scenic integrity.

Historically, the Weald was important for timber, ironworking and other extractive industries, with settlements developing around market towns and rural villages. Today the area is predominantly rural, with agriculture, tourism and services as key economic components.

In geology, the term Wealden also refers to the Wealden Group, a sequence of Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks that underlie parts of the Weald Basin in southern England and are known for their fossils and varied lithology, including sandstones, siltstones and clays.

Administratively, Wealden District Council governs the district, operating within East Sussex and delivering local services in partnership with the county council.

The district contains towns such as Hailsham, Heathfield, Uckfield and Crowborough, along with numerous villages, woods and heathland.

Related topics include the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Wealden Group.