Centred on Ashdown Forest—the real-life inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood—The Big One Hundred will kick off with a weekend of family events on July 18 and 19, before touring nearby cultural sites through the summer holidays.
Organisers hope the programme will rekindle connections between children, nature, and storytelling by blending literature, play, and outdoor exploration.
A spokesman for project organisers Trigger said: “The Big One Hundred is a magical new story for Ashdown Forest, where interactive performances, heathland walks and shared encounters will reveal a curious new creature and invite audiences to write the Forest’s next chapter.”
Ashdown Forest was the original inspiration for 100 Acre Woods (Image: Supplied)
In partnership with award-winning creative studio Trigger, known for large-scale public events such as The Hatchling and PoliNations, The Big One Hundred promises immersive experiences that combine Heathland storytelling with imaginative play.
The celebration also supports the UK’s National Year of Reading, encouraging children and families to experience stories beyond books and into the natural world.
Events will extend across Wealden, with activities planned at Hailsham Town Centre on July 26, Sheffield Park and Garden on August 1, and Herstmonceux Castle on August 22 and 23.
Central to the project are themed Explorer Days, inviting visitors to become adventurers in the forest.
Guests can collect stamps for explorer packs as they take part in craft sessions, workshops, games and nature-based activities designed to deepen their understanding of the landscape.
Angie Bual (Image: Supplied)
One highlight will be the chance to meet and interact with a giant, mythical puppet inspired by the forest itself.
Creative director Angie Bual said: “This is a chance for children and adults alike to step into the enchanting landscape where Christopher Robin once played, and to discover more about this extraordinary Forest and its rich, protected wildlife.
“We’re especially excited to take this project beyond the Ashdown Forest and across the district, bringing the magic Ashdown on tour, so that communities across the district can connect with the natural world right on their doorstep.”
The puppet and its story have been developed by Ms Bual in collaboration with artist and costume designer Jack Irving, whose portfolio includes work with Lady Gaga, Doja Cat and Katy Perry.
Operated by a team of eight to ten puppeteers, the puppet will serve as a moving symbol of the forest’s rare heathland habitat—a habitat rarer than a tropical rainforest.
Laura Cubitt (Image: Supplied)
Laura Cubitt, an Olivier Award-winning theatre maker, is serving as puppetry director for the project.
The creative team also includes Oliver Hymans, associate director at Little Angel Theatre, as puppetry consultant.
Alongside the performances, six new themed walks will be introduced this summer.
Each walk will focus on a species that calls the forest home, including the Dartford warbler, nightjar, tiger beetle, adder, dormouse and silver-studded blue butterfly.
A spokesman for The Big One Hundred said: “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.”
The project aims to inspire a new generation of conservationists by nurturing wonder and respect for the natural world—just as the real-life Christopher Robin found in Ashdown Forest a century ago.
Entry to all Big One Hundred events is free, but advance booking is required.
Public booking opens on Tuesday, May 26 at 10am via www.thebigonehundred.co.uk.
Wealden residents will have early access to tickets from May 18 by joining The Big One Hundred mailing list on the website.
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