For young Winnie-the-Pooh fans, there can be no better treat than a visit to Ashdown Forest in Sussex, writes Gerry Mullins
The writer A.A. Milne moved to the edge of Ashdown Forest with his wife and six-year-old son, Christopher Robin Milne, in 1925. The park, which is in Sussex, about 50km south of London's Gatwick Airport, comprises 14,000 acres of lowland heath and woodland. As the little boy began to explore the forest with his teddy bear named Edward (soon to be renamed Winnie), his father documented some of their adventures, embellished them, and the Winnie-the-Pooh stories were born. Winnie-the-Pooh was published in 1926, followed by Now We Are Six in 1927, and The House at Pooh Corner in 1928.
Most of the Pooh adventures took place in the area around Gill's Lap, in the heart of Ashdown Forest. Today's visitors can still see the Six Pine Trees, the Sandy Place where Roo played, the Hundred Aker Wood, Pooh Sticks Bridge, Eeyore's Gloomy Place, the North Pole, and the Enchanted Place, where there is now a memorial to Milne and the artist who illustrated the books, E.H. Shepard.
Pooh's Hunny Festival is held there every June. Children are invited to follow the clues to help Pooh find his lost honey, or "hunny", somewhere in the 100 Aker Wood. There are also honey tastings, children's games, and readings from Pooh books.
In the nearby village of Hartfield, the town where Milne lived, there is the Honey Pot tearoom, and the Pooh Corner Shop, where books, photos, posters, toys and other "Poohphernalia" is available. Despite this, the local council has not promoted the Pooh/Milne connection because the village simply cannot cater for large coaches, and large groups of people, so it has retained an off-the-beaten-track feel.
The spectacular scenery and architectural treasures of the Ashdown Forest area make it a favoured location for filmmakers. Some of the films shot here include: Wind in the Willows, The Railway Children, Band of Brothers, and the recent adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
The Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club, an old country mansion set on 186 acres, is a good place to stay. It has large, wood-burning fireplaces and a good selection of books and magazines in its lounges. There is also a golf course, and a pool with sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. Rates start at around €200 per person per night. Call 00-44-1342-824988 or see www.ashdownpark.com.
There are several other hotel options in the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, about 20 minutes away by car. It was a favoured destination of the Georgian aristocracy, and remains a charming and elegant town with a large proportion of antique, toy and second-hand bookshops. This part of England is also a garden-lover's paradise, with so many show-gardens that the local council has brought out a special booklet on them. Contact www.visittunbridgewells.com for further information. Useful websites to consult are: www.ashdownforest.com, www.just-pooh.com and www.poohcountry.co.uk