Poppet brings a purple new creature to Ashdown Forest for the Winnie-the-Pooh centenary

A new outdoor arts project is bringing Poppet, a purple, shape-shifting creature, to Ashdown Forest as part of cultural activity marking the Winnie-the-Pooh centenary. The piece blends family theatre, the surrounding landscape and the literary heritage of a woodland that has enchanted readers for a hundred years.

Rather than simply restaging familiar characters, the project introduces something new into a much-loved setting, inviting families to encounter an original creation amid the very trees and clearings that inspired A.A. Milne. The result is designed to feel like discovery as much as performance, a walk in the woods that turns into a story.

It is a characteristically gentle way to mark a major anniversary, honouring the spirit of the original tales while giving a new generation a reason to look up from their screens and into the canopy.

Where landscape becomes the stage

Outdoor theatre asks audiences to engage differently, moving through a space rather than sitting before it. In a setting as evocative as Ashdown Forest, the landscape itself becomes a character, its light, sound and seasonal mood shaping every encounter. Poppet's shifting form is well suited to that fluid, immersive approach.

For families, the appeal lies in the blend of fresh air, gentle wonder and storytelling. Children are encouraged to explore and imagine, while adults can reconnect with a literary world many will remember from their own childhoods.

• The project introduces an original character rather than restaging existing ones.
• Performances unfold outdoors, using the forest itself as the setting.
• It is timed to coincide with the Winnie-the-Pooh centenary celebrations.
• The format is aimed at families, blending walking, play and storytelling.

“The forest does half the work. You give children a creature to follow and the trees do the rest, turning a walk into an adventure.”

Honouring a literary landmark

The Hundred Acre Wood, modelled on Ashdown Forest, occupies a singular place in children's literature. A centenary offers a chance to celebrate that legacy while ensuring it stays alive for new audiences, and projects that create rather than merely commemorate are often the ones that resonate most.

By placing a new figure within the storied landscape, the work bridges past and present, paying tribute to Milne's world while extending an invitation to imagine beyond it.

Background

Ashdown Forest in East Sussex provided the inspiration for the setting of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, first published a century ago and beloved across generations and around the world. The area remains a popular destination for fans making a pilgrimage to the landscape behind the books, including the bridge made famous by the game of Poohsticks.

What happens next: organisers will be watching how families respond to Poppet across the run, with the centenary year likely to bring further events and a renewed wave of interest in the forest and the stories it inspired.