2026 marks 100 years since the publication of A. A. Milne’s first collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Rooted in Milne’s life at Ashdown Forest in East Sussex and his adventures with his young son Christopher Robin, these tales transformed the landscape of the Forest into the magical Hundred Acre Wood.
To celebrate the centenary, trailblazing artists Trigger (known for the large-scale outdoor puppets such as The Hatchling, the world’s largest human-operated puppet that led the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022) will present The Big One Hundred, a series of free cultural events at Ashdown Forest and throughout Sussex.
In summer 2026, visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in the magical landscape where Christopher Robin played as a child through a series of interactive performances and events introducing the Forest’s newest inhabitant, ‘The Curious Adventurer’. Home of the Heffalump and Woozle, the Hundred Acre Wood was a land of mythical beasts. Designed by Trigger, the new creature will be a large-scale, playful puppet brought to life by 10 puppeteers, drawing on the characteristics of several species of animals found within the Forest. ‘The Curious Adventurer’ will also travel the district, touring to local destination sites. Dates and locations to be announced soon.
The public are invited to help bring the Forest’s new creature to life, connecting children and young people with nature through play and imagination. Primary schools across Wealden will be offered free workshops, giving children the chance to draw their own version of the creature or write a story inspired by ‘The Curious Adventurer’. Members of the public across the country can also get involved by suggesting a name for the creature and submitting their own drawings and stories. Submissions can be shared with Trigger by tagging @TriggerStuff on Instagram, emailing hello@triggerstuff.co.uk, or using the hashtag #TheBigOneHundred.
In addition to the giant new inhabitant, five new themed walks will also be launched this summer, inviting audiences to explore more of the incredible landscape of Ashdown Forest. The walks will be themed around different special species, including the Dartford Warbler, the Tiger Beetle, the Adder, the Dormouse and the Silver Studded Blue Butterfly.
These new walks and performances draw inspiration from the landscape that has inspired writers for generations, from Milne to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to poet Fiona Sampson and encourage young people and families to connect with the Forest and shine a light on the urgent need to protect this magnificent landscape. 100 years ago, the real Christopher Robin played in Ashdown Forest and gained a deep, genuine connection with the landscape, inspiring him to advocate for its conservation in later life. These site-specific cultural projects seek to reconnect young people with the wonder of the natural world, and in turn inspire the next generation of conservationists.
Angie Bual, Creative Director & 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…
Fewer and fewer young people are spending time in nature, and sites like the Ashdown Forest are seeing visitor numbers from families and children drop dramatically. So, we have to ask ourselves: what does the future look like if we don’t create opportunities for people to connect with nature? If we don’t actively bring the public into Ashdown Forest, its future is in jeopardy. Where will we be 100 years from today? And how do we ensure that same relationship with the natural world endures into the future?”
To learn more about The Big One Hundred, visit triggerstuff.co.uk.
