At the Ashdown Park and Country Club, the Winnie the Pooh-inspired “Hunny Pot Afternoon Tea” is a playful twist on a classic afternoon tea featuring honey-themed cakes, pastries, warm scones, and finger sandwiches. Drop into nearby Birchen Vineyards to pick up a jar of honey collected from their bee hives, and for a tour of the vineyard and to sample their award-winning still and sparkling wines, something the area is famed for.
What to do in Ashdown Forest
Trigger, known for their large-scale outdoor puppets, are launching the Big One Hundred project, a series of free, ticketed cultural events throughout July, as well as tours across the region over the summer holidays. The team will unveil the Forest’s newest inhabitant, The Curious Adventurer, a large-scale, playful puppet brought to life by 8 puppeteers, drawing on the characteristics of several animal species found within the Forest. Six new walks will also launch in summer 2026, each themed around different forest species, including the Tiger Beetle, the Adder, and the Silver-Studded Blue Butterfly.
Where to stay in Ashdown Forest
Cotchford Farm
Cotchford Farm is the historic Grade II-listed farmhouse best known as the former country home of A. A. Milne and as the place where he first wrote the Winnie the Pooh stories. The property blends literary history with cosy, country-chic design. There are six bedrooms spread across the restored period interiors, and the outdoor space is perfect for young ones to explore, with landscaped grounds, an outdoor pool, and a tennis court.
Address: Cotchford Farm, Cotchford Lane, Hartfield TN7 4DN
Website: cotchfordfarm.com
