27/06/2026
The first images of ‘Poppet’, the new inflatable creature taking the form of a giant puppet have been released as it was spotted in Ashdown Forest during rehearsals for ‘The Big One Hundred’, the major cultural celebrations happening this summer for the centenary of Winnie-The-Pooh.
Poppet roams Ashdown Forest as part of The Big One Hundred presented by Trigger. Photo by David Levene.
Reflecting on the last 100 years in the forest, creatives Trigger have crafted this new story to continue to inspire people to protect the forest for the next 100 years. Tickets for the cultural celebrations must be booked in advance and are available now at the Big One Hundred for all locations.
‘Poppet’ is operated by 10 people simultaneously, an ambitious and rarely attempted approach that pushes the boundaries of live performance, costume and puppetry. Designed to personify Ashdown Forest and its unique landscape and protected species, Irving’s design and Bual’s bold vision for ‘The Big One Hundred’ will come together to create this living, moving artwork.
Trigger’s Angie Bual said: “Our Create a Creature competition had a huge and varied response from children across the district – as a result we got the message, it was clear we needed to make something colourful, p***y, fun and playful as a new gateway to nature. ‘Poppet’ is the name that one of the children dreamt up, and it’s beautifully apt to convey our cheeky amorphous creature which takes on the guise of several creatures at once. We’ve been inspired by plant life, heather, gorse, an adder’s eyes, the Purple Emperor butterfly, and the green tiger beetle. You’ve got to see it to believe it!”
‘The Big One Hundred’ Programme
Launching across Saturday 18 July – Sunday 19 July 2026 to mark 100 years of A.A Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories, Ashdown Forest, home of the magical Hundred Acre Wood, have partnered with world-class creatives Trigger, known for bold, boundary-pushing work on a spectacular scale including ‘The Hatchling’ and ‘PoliNations’, to create The Big One Hundred’, a series of family friendly cultural events inspiring visitors to connect with this landscape of environmental and cultural significance and help protect it for the next 100 years.
Councillor Rachel Millward, leader of Wealden District Council, said, “Investment in the Ashdown Forest and this creative and educational project is part of Wealden District Council’s commitment to ensure nature and communities thrive together. The unveiling of this unique creature, inspired by elements of the forest itself, offers a fun and engaging way for people of all ages to discover the rich biodiversity, history and character of Ashdown Forest. We are helping residents build a deeper connection with one of Wealden’s most treasured assets, and we hope that this inspires the next generation, and future local authorities, to take care of this precious place and all the species within it for the next 100 years.”
Visitors are invited to learn more about nature and the forest through embarking on an eclectic programme of nature-based and well-being activities including crafts, experiences and workshops detailed below. Along the way, visitors will get the opportunity to spot, feed and interact with the Forest’s newest inhabitant – Poppet, the giant, mythical puppet creature inspired by the landscape of Ashdown Forest and the special species of animals and plants that live there.
The creative and environmental programme set to engage audiences of all ages includes: Poetry Corner led by Woodzy, Rosie May Jones and Simon Keenan, a guided Forest Bathing experience led by practitioner and guide Helena Skoog, Artist Jessica Nicholas will run watercolour workshops inspired by 1920s botanical illustration whilst contemporary artist Rosie Emerson will lead a cyanotype workshop exploring sun-printing techniques. Fine Artist Catherine Greenwood will deliver screen-printing sessions, ink drawing sessions and leaf printing activities. Movement based collective Express and Bloom will present a movement and performance workshop and Lisa Stevens, Education Lead at Ashdown Forest will deliver bug hunt sessions. Yoga teacher Tara Scammell will run storytelling yoga sessions that uses nature-based narratives to guide participants through gentle yoga sequences.
East Sussex Vision Support Group will deliver a workshop exploring how people with sight loss experience nature, sharing practical approaches to engaging with natural environments through the senses including sound, touch and smell. East Sussex Wildlife Ambulance will deliver guided sessions around the ambulance, introducing participants to the work of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and the importance of protecting local species. Whilst South Wealden Badger Group will deliver badger-focused workshops and storytelling. Audiences can also expect giant bubbles, den-building and face painting.
The Big One Hundred Tour
Following the opening weekend on 18-19 July in Ashdown Forest, ‘Poppet’ and the programme of activities will then tour to cultural and heritage sites in Wealden across the school summer holidays. Specific dates and locations include: Hailsham Town Centre on 26 July, Sheffield Park and Garden on 1 August, Uckfield’s Weald on the Field on 8 August and Herstmonceux Castle on 22-23 August.
Ashdown Forest in East Sussex is a rare heathland landscape – a habitat rarer than a tropical rainforest – and a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is home to some of Europe’s most threatened species. ‘The Big One Hundred’ is a magical new story for Ashdown Forest, where interactive performances, heathland walks and shared encounters will reveal a curious new creature and invite audiences to write the Forest’s next chapter.
The Big One Hundred is proud to be part of the National Year of Reading, aligning with the project’s mission to champion reading as a gateway to creativity and nature connection. Through a programme that blends storytelling, outdoor exploration and imaginative play, the project encourages children and families to engage with reading in a new way, bringing stories to life beyond the page and into the natural world. By weaving together literature, nature and participatory experiences, ‘The Big One Hundred’ supports the National Year of Reading’s wider aims to build confidence, spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love of reading, while creating space for young people to deepen their relationship with the environment.
As previously announced, Creative Director Angie Bual (Trigger) has collaborated with renowned artist and costume designer Jack Irving to create the new puppet costume that is the central feature of ‘The Big One Hundred’ celebrations. Irving is known for his futuristic, experimental practice that blends fantasy, deep-sea inspiration, and transformative design. His work spans wearable art, immersive installations and public spectacle, and he is best known for his collaborations with global pop icons including Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Katy Perry, Paris Hilton and the Spice Girls.
Angie Bual is the Creative Director of ‘The Big One Hundred’ and the Creative Director and Joint CEO of Trigger. Trigger are an award-winning team of creatives renowned for producing bold, boundary-pushing work on a spectacular scale. They create larger-than-life experiences that transform public spaces, reimagine landscapes and bring people together in unexpected ways. Recent work includes The Hatchling—a breathtaking, city-scale flying dragon that captivated audiences across the UK (Plymouth, Wakefield, Queens Platinum Jubilee) and PoliNations, a vast immersive garden celebrating global biodiversity (Unboxed/Birmingham 2022/Glastonbury). Trigger continue to challenge convention with epic, imaginative creations that redefine what live experiences can be.
The creative team also includes Olivier Award Winning Theatre Maker Laura Cubitt. She Co-directed Dinosaur World Live (Olivier Award Winner for Best Family Show 2024). Most recently she was the movement director for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC/Unicorn); Puppetry Director for The Boy who Harnessed the Wind (RSC); Puppetry Consultant for Into the Woods (Bridge Theatre) as puppetry director for the project. Alongside Laura, Trigger will work with Oliver Hymans (Coven, Kiln Theatre, Overheard in a Tower Block, Little Angel Theatre), the current Associate Director at Little Angel Theatre, as puppetry consultant on the project.
As part of The Big One Hundred, high streets across Wealden will be transformed into a playful public art trail celebrating imagination, creativity, and the spirit of Ashdown Forest. Working with local Chambers of Commerce and Town Council’s in Wealden, local shops and businesses in Crowborough, Hailsham, Polegate and Uckfield will be creating their own “forest creatures” using the objects, materials, and products already found within their stores, turning bakeries, florists, bookshops, cafes, salons, and shop windows into strange and wonderful creatures waiting to be discovered. From a creature made entirely of flowers, to one built from kitchen utensils, books, tools, or toys, the trail invites businesses to become part of a district-wide storytelling experience that is visible, accessible, and fun for all ages. To find out more, please email [email protected].
Six New Walks
As previously announced, in addition to the giant new inhabitant, six new themed walks will also be launched this summer, inviting audiences to explore more of the incredible landscape of Ashdown Forest. The walks will be themed around different special species including the Dartford Warbler, the Nightjar, the Tiger Beetle, the Adder, the Dormouse and the Silver Studded Blue Butterfly.
These new walks and performances draw inspiration from the landscape that has inspired writers for generations from Milne to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to poet Fiona Sampson and encourage young people and families to connect with the Forest and shine a light on the urgent need to protect this magnificent landscape. 100 years ago, the real Christopher Robin played in Ashdown Forest and gained a deep, genuine connection with the landscape, inspiring him to advocate for its conservation in later life. These site-specific cultural projects seek to reconnect young people with the wonder of the natural world, and in turn inspire the next generation of conservationists.
More information about ‘The Big One Hundred’ and how to get tickets is available on the Big One Hundred website.
