Piglet, it’s a purple, psychedelic shapeshifter! The wild new creature prowling Winnie-the-Pooh’s wood Ashdown Forest is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh with a giant, shapeshifting puppet named Poppet, designed to enchant children and families. The event aims to reconnect younger generations with the natural environment and highlight the importance of conservation. Poppet’s performances transform the landscape, sparking imagination and creating emotional anchors to the forest.

• A large, shapeshifting puppet named Poppet is the centerpiece of Ashdown Forest’s “Big One Hundred” celebrations for Winnie-the-Pooh’s centenary.
• The puppet, created by outdoor arts charity Trigger, aims to encourage children and families to connect with nature.
• Poppet’s performances involve transforming into various natural creatures and interacting with the environment, including eating gorse and bracken.
• The event seeks to inspire a new generation to appreciate and protect natural spaces, similar to how AA Milne’s stories brought magic to Ashdown Forest.
• Efforts are being made to make the event accessible to diverse communities, including providing transport for urban and minority groups.
• Ashdown Forest faces conservation challenges, such as the growth of trees on heathland, which is vital for specific species.