Inarguably, one of the most beloved groups of children’s story characters is that of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Regardless of which one was your favourite – Tigger, Roo, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, Eeyore, Rabbit, or Pooh himself – we all wished we could visit them and immerse ourselves in the stories of Christopher Robin. But did you know you can visit the ‘real’ Hundred Acre Wood that inspired the story’s settings? All you have to do is head over to Ashdown Forest, which is less than 2 hours journey from London.
Author A.A. Milne created the iconic characters while living on the edge of Ashdown Forest. He’d make up stories, inspired by his explorations of the woodlands with his young son, Christopher Robin. These stories were then written out, accompanied by beautiful illustrations from E.H. Shepard. And in the 100 years (!) since they were published, they’ve become important touchstones for children the world over.
Don’t be fooled into thinking the Hundred Acre Wood is a glorified park that was expanded into a limitless forest in a child’s imagination. In fact, Ashdown Forest is far larger than the story-book setting. In reality, it encompasses a whopping 6,500 acres! But then, that’s not quite as catchy as the name that Milne came up with…
Inside Ashdown Forest
The 6.5 thousand-acre wood is a common spot for visitors from around the world, who are looking to connect with the classic story. Many come in search of the iconic locations and sights from the stories. However, it’s important to note that the forest merely inspired the story, and much of the landscape has changed since the books were written. But there are still plenty of recognisable spots to find around the area.
Perhaps the most iconic spot you’ll find is the ‘Pooh Sticks Bridge’. A.A. Milne and his son used to play a similar game over the area’s Posingford Bridge. Sadly, the original bridge hasn’t survived the years, but a replacement was built in the 1970s. Christened the Pooh Sticks Bridge, it was even opened by Christopher Robin himself.
And be sure not to miss Pooh’s house! It’s just a short distance away from the bridge, and even features the iconic ‘Mr Sanderz’ sign above the door.
Around the area, if you keep your eyes open and use a bit of imagination, you might also find the likes of “Galleon’s Lap, Roo’s Sandy Pit, the Heffalump Trap, and the Enchanted Place where Christopher Robin says farewell to his friend.” Who knows, you might even spot some of Pooh’s friends’ houses!
Going on a Pooh Walk in Ashdown Forest
If you’re simply too overwhelmed by trying to find all these sites yourself, then fret not! There’s a guided experience that takes guests around the area to some of the most iconic sites. There are two versions of the walk, including a shorter walk for younger children that visits The Enchanted Place and the Sandy Pit. The longer version also takes in the North Pole and Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place.
Regardless of which walk you’re doing, be sure to stop by Pooh Corner to grab a guide map for the experience.
Visiting Pooh Corner
As if the forest’s array of Winnie-the-Pooh sites wasn’t enough, there’s also a charming tea room, gift shop, and museum, right on the edge of the forest. Pooh Corner is filled with all things Winnie-the-Pooh, from plates to clocks, keyrings, toys, and more. And they even serve Pooh-bear-shaped toast, and tea from a Winnie-the-Pooh teapot. How cute!
Read all about Pooh Corner here.
Image: @poohcornerhartfield, via IG
Celebrating 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh
The stories of Winnie-the-Pooh officially started all the way back in 1926, with the publication of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. The short story collection follows the adventures of an anthropomorphic teddy bear and his forest friends. And now, 100 years later, a special event is coming to Ashdown Forest to mark the centenary.
‘The Big One Hundred’ will bring a magical new story to Ashdown Forest this summer, and you are invited to write the next chapter of the Forest’s story. It’s up to you to decide who the curious new creature is that’s been glimpsed among the trees. Where Milne wrote about the mythical Heffalump and Woozle, Ashdown Forest has joined forces with artists and producers Trigger to create “a brand-new character that will live in the Forest for the next 100 years.”
The new creature will take the form of a large puppet that combines characteristics of the flora and fauna found in and around Ashdown Forest. And the puppet will feature in special on-site, interactive performances. As well as these performances, there will also be:
- Tours of cultural sites across Wealden
- 5 new themed walks in Ashdown Forest
- Schools workshops
Find out more about ‘The Big One Hundred’ here.
Find out more about Ashdown Forest here.