Almost half a million pounds will be invested to “position Ashdown Forest as a national treasure” during the centenary celebrations of Winnie the Pooh next year.

Wealden District Council has agreed to earmark £450,000 for a series of events, activities and improvements to promote and safeguard the forest when 100 years of Pooh – the world’s most famous bear and Ashdown Forest’s most famous resident – is celebrated in 2026.

The money, coming from council reserves will support The Ashdown Forest Foundation for a whole programme of events and activities. It was agreed by the council’s Cabinet today (3 Sept).

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Council leader, Cllr James Partridge, told the Cabinet meeting: “Ashdown Forest is considered very important by very many people. It is an internationally important site with this kind of heathland very rare. It is a landscape which has to be managed to protect the habitats of the rare species that live there.”

He said it was the real Christoper Robin, son of AA Milne who lived on the forest, who had saved the forest, and the centenary of Milne’s most famous creation, Winnie The Pooh, would be important across the world.

A “world class” team is being brought in to manage the series of events and activities, and the anniversary was an opportunity to educate people about the importance of the forest, and also inspire future generations to look after it, cllr Partridge added.

And the Council warns that without this level of funding, celebrations may go ahead nationally without the importance of this part of East Sussex being recognised. Wealden’s investment is also likely to unlock similar funding from the Arts Council and other key stakeholders, such as Disney, which wouldn’t be available without the council’s commitment.

The events will not only benefit the forest, Cllr Partridge said, but local schools, community groups, and business – especially the hospitality industry. The events would create a “huge cultural” opportunity for the area.

Plans for the celebration already include making big improvements to the forest’s visitor centre including a new “landmark installation” lifesize pop-up book with characters from the original EH Shepard illustrations leaping out of the book and into the forest.

Other plans include a new outdoor shelter for workshops, activities, learning and play, and five new signed accessible walking trails that will keep visitors on official footpaths and protect sites. These new educational walks will be sign-posted with illustrations of the original characters and each will have a difficulty rating, for example Tigger for those with high energy, Piglet for a shorter walk.

Alongside the series of high profile events, there will also be a participation and learning campaign to include illustration and story-telling workshops, as well as children’s reading and writing activities.

Robin St Clair Jones, Chair of the Ashdown Forest Foundation, welcomed Wealden District Council’s support and urged everyone to get involved. He said: “If you love Ashdown Forest, this is a golden moment to rally support and imagination.

“A wide array of cultural and family-friendly events are planned, including guided walks, craft workshops, and performances -all inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood and its beloved characters.”