Ashdown Forest is set to come alive with large-scale puppetry, new wildlife trails and interactive events.
The immersive events will take place in summer 2026 as part of a major celebration marking the centenary of A.A. Milne’s first Winnie-the-Pooh stories.
The project, titled The Big One Hundred, will be produced by live event company Trigger and supported by Wealden District Council, The Ashdown Forest Foundation and Arts Council England.
At the heart of the celebration will be a new production introducing a mythical puppet creature inspired by Ashdown Forest’s unique species, brought to life through interactive performances.
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.
"This project is about engaging people’s hearts and minds with the fact that Ashdown Forest is a national conservation site and that places like this are increasingly at risk.
"We need to inspire a new generation of people who will care for these landscapes over time."
Alongside the performances, five new themed walks will open in the forest, including its first all-weather walk.
Each walk will highlight a different threatened species, such as the Dartford warbler, silver-studded blue butterfly, adder, tiger beetle and dormouse.
The public will also be invited to help shape the new character through drawings, stories and name suggestions.
Mark Pearson, chief executive officer at Ashdown Forest, said: "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. The next generation will be vital in protecting this treasured landscape.
"We look forward to welcoming them as visitors who can follow in the footsteps of A.A. Milne, discover a new story for the Forest, while witnessing the charm of the landscape and the need to look after it for the next 100 years to come."
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