Ashdown Forest Celebrates 100 Years Of Winnie-The-Pooh

Christmas Eve marks 100 years since Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print – and the milestone has a special resonance here in Sussex.

The honey-loving bear made his debut on 24 December 1925 in the short story The Wrong Sort of Bees, and went on to become one of the world’s best-loved children’s characters, alongside Tigger, Piglet, Christopher Robin and the famous game of Poohsticks.

The fictional Hundred Acre Wood was inspired by Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, where author A.A. Milne owned a country home near Hartfield.

The much-loved landscape continues to attract fans from across the globe, bringing significant tourism income to the area.

Around £450,000 of public funding has been allocated to support a programme of centenary celebrations locally.

Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926 and The House at Pooh Corner in 1928, along with two books of poetry.

The original Poohsticks Bridge in Ashdown Forest was eventually replaced with a replica after becoming worn, while the original structure was sold at auction in 2021.

Pooh’s popularity grew even further after Disney acquired the rights in the 1960s.

Today, locations such as Pooh Corner in Hartfield continue to welcome visitors from around the world, many travelling specifically to explore the stories’ real-life setting.

Guided tours of Ashdown Forest regularly attract international fans, with tour organisers describing the centenary as hugely significant for the area and its heritage.

Plans to mark the 100th anniversary include a new installation transforming the visitor centre into a life-sized pop-up book, along with specially created walking trails designed to protect the forest’s most sensitive habitats.

Ashdown Forest remains at the heart of the Winnie-the-Pooh legacy – a place where generations of readers can step into the landscape that inspired one of literature’s most enduring childhood favourites.