Explore Winnie the Pooh country

Site of the "North Pole" As described in the Winnie the Pooh stories by A.A. Milne - situated in Ashdown Forest.
 Credit Pete Wise http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1384986 

There is a new Winnie the Pooh movie coming to our theaters this summer. But did you know that the Hundred Acre Wood, Pooh and Christopher Robin where real? 

Christopher Robin was Christopher Robin Milne, the son of the Author of the original stories, A.A. Miilne. Winnie the Pooh was Christopher's toy bear and many of the other characters that feature in the stories were based on the toys that Christopher had. 

You don't need to travel to the U.K. to see the original Winnie the Pooh bear, he is on display at the New York Public Library along with Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and Kanga, but if you want to see where the came from and visit  the Hundred Acre Wood you'll need to head to Ashdown Forest in East Sussex.

Ashdown Forest is a medieval hunting forest created at the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 and was used by the nobility and Kings of England up until Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn, one of Henry's Wives grew up at Nearby Hever Castle.  England's first blast furnace was built here in 1496, marking the beginning of the country's modern iron and steel industry. Another author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator Sherlock Holmes of  lived on the edge of the forest. Today it's recognized as an area of special scientific interest as well as being protected for conservation and protection as it hosts some of Europe's most threatened species and habitats.

Many of the places in the Pooh stories relate directly to places in the forest, Hundred Acre wood is, in fact the Five Hundred Acre Wood. Gills Lap is Galleon's Leap and just 200 meters north of there you'll find the 'Enchanted Place'. Eeyore's Sad and Gloomy Place", you'll find at Wrens Warren Valley, and let's not forget the bridge where Pooh played Poohsticks. Pooh Sticks Bridge  is outside of the forest at Posingford Wood, near Chuck Hatch.

You can pick up a map of Pooh Walks from the Ashdown Forest Centre

Less than an Hour from London, Ashdown Forest and the surrounding countryside makes for a great day out of London. just watch you don't trip over a Honey Jar.