Explore the private gardens that helped inspire the world of Winnie-the-Pooh - a very special event supporting the future of Ashdown Forest.
Often referred to as the ancestral home of Winnie-the-Pooh, it was in this house and garden - ad the neighbouring landscape of Ashdown Forest and its ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ - that AA Milne and EH Shepard found the inspiration for their stories, poems, and illustrations.
Originally acquired in 1925 by the Milnes as their country retreat, it became the permanent residence of Alan Alexander, Dorothy, and Christopher Robin Milne in 1940. These beautiful gardens not only embody the magic and charm of times gone by, but they also contain original artefacts of literary history. A statue of AA Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, looks onto the gardens, while the character Owl can be found nestled within the herbaceous perennial borders. An entirely unique garden sundial, with several of the iconic Pooh characters carved into its base, stands proudly on the lawn. Now you can come and see them for yourself.
The current owners of Cotchford Farm are very generously opening their private gardens for just one weekend this year for adults and children alike to share in the delight of this idyllic and iconic space.
A limited number of tickers are available across four times sessions.
Morning sessions are from 10am to 1pm and will include a talk at 11am and 12pm fro Annemarie Bilclough, the Frederick Warne Curator of Illustration at the V&A Museum, exhibition curator and author of the accompanying book Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic.
Afternoon sessions are from 2pm to 5pm and will include a talk at 3pm and 4pm from Kathryn Aalto, landscape designer, historian, speak and author of The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Each session will also include a talk by James Adler CEO of Ashdown Forest about the flora and fauna of the Forest and its importance today and into the future. Come and learn about this internationally important heathland located at the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Tickets cost £20 per person plus £2.15 Eventbrite booking fee.
All funds from this event will support The Ashdown Forest Foundation, the charitable arm of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest tasked with raising funds to ensure the best possible future for the Forest