Winnie-the-Pooh’s 100th birthday to be celebrated by a long-lasting legacy programme for the Ashdown Forest
Publish Date: 8 September 2025
A commitment of up to £450,000 has been made by Wealden District Council to support the protection and preservation of Ashdown Forest ensuring it remains a place of learning, imagination, and natural beauty for future generations.
This investment will help deliver a wide-reaching educational and cultural programme, designed to celebrate the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh in 2026, while safeguarding the landscape that inspired the story.
The Ashdown Forest Foundation (TAFF) is leading a major cultural programme which will focus on three key areas: protecting nature, encouraging reading and storytelling, and bringing people of all ages together.
The investment will also support a refreshed volunteer programme, conservation efforts, and creative training and community projects—ensuring more people can connect with both the Forest and the arts.
Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and lead councillor for Community, Culture and Communications and deputy leader of the 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.
“Our investment is not just about marking a centenary—it’s about ensuring the Forest remains a place of wonder and learning for generations to come. With careful planning, strong partnerships, and local engagement, this project will create real and lasting benefits—environmentally, socially, and economically—for the whole region.”