Tickets are now available for a very special event!
Just outside the village of Hartfield lies Cotchford Farm, former home of the Milne family and the place from which Christopher Robin and his father would head out on the walks up onto Ashdown Forest, the place that inspired the stories of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends.
One hundred years on from the publication of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book, the owners of this spectacular home are very generously opening the gardens to the public in support of Ashdown Forest. This is a unique opportunity to explore these private gardens and woodland and learn more about its special role in our literary heritage.
Tickets are available for morning (10am to 1pm) or afternoon (2pm to 5pm) sessions on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May 2026. Tickets cost £15 per person, per session.
Please note that the ticket includes access to the gardens only. There is no access to the house.
Beverages and light refreshments will be available to purchase. We are also pleased to share that The East Grinstead Bookshop will be bringing a pop-up bookshop to the event, offering a range of Pooh-related books for readers of all ages. There will also be a raffle and an opportunity to bid in a silent auction for a unique painting that is being created by artist Sue Holpin to commemorate the weekend. Proceeds from sales go directly to supporting Ashdown Forest.
Please note that due to the nature of the landscaping of the gardens, wheelchair and pushchair access is not available.
No dogs please.
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.
How to buy tickets
Available online only, click here to buy tickets for this very special event.
Tickets are non-refundable. If the organisers cancel the event, the ticket price will be refunded.
Please direct any questions to hello@ashdownforestfdn.org.
