Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood, will celebrate the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh with The Big One Hundred, a series of free cultural events launching in summer 2026.
Created and produced by Trigger, the project invites visitors to explore the Forest through interactive performances, themed walks and creative encounters. At the heart of the celebrations will be a large-scale puppet creature, ‘The Curious Adventurer’, inspired by the Forest’s unique species and brought to life by ten puppeteers.
The puppet will debut at Ashdown Forest before touring local cultural and heritage sites across Sussex. Five new walks will also open, including the Forest’s first all-weather route, themed around threatened species such as the Dartford Warbler, Silver-Studded Blue Butterfly, Adder, Tiger Beetle and Dormouse.
Angie Bual, Creative Director and Joint CEO of Trigger, said:
“Trigger are delighted to be celebrating Ashdown Forest, where A.A Milne lived and wrote his beloved stories. A hundred years on, the Forest is still inspiring us with its unique landscape and special species. To celebrate this site of imagination, we are weaving a new myth for this extraordinary landscape.”
Mark Pearson, CEO of Ashdown Forest, added:
“We are thrilled to be working with the team at Trigger to celebrate this cherished setting, ensuring its natural beauty and creative legacy endures for future generations. According to the English Nature Report, lowland heathland such as Ashdown Forest is rarer than rainforests; in the UK we have only about 16% left of the area that existed in 1800.”
Councillor Rachel Millward, Deputy Leader of Wealden District Council, said:
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate a story cherished across the globe, while protecting the extraordinary landscape that inspired it. We’re proud to support a programme that honours our cultural heritage, brings communities together, and builds a lasting legacy for Ashdown Forest.”
Visitors and schools will be invited to take part by submitting drawings and stories inspired by the new creature, or suggesting a name via Instagram @TriggerStuff, email, or using the hashtag #TheBigOneHundred.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
