“My spelling is wobbly. It’s good spelling but it wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places.”
― Winnie-the-Pooh
Now the owners of the farm are opening these historic gardens to the public at the end of May. A statue of A.A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, overlooks the gardens while Owl can be found nestled within the herbaceous borders. A unique sundial, with carved, iconic Pooh characters, stands proudly on the lawn. There are also some stunning rhododendrons!
There will be four sessions, two each on May 28 and 29, with all profits going to The Ashdown Forest Foundation who work to care for the spectacular Ashdown Forest landscape. Ashdown Forest CEO James Adler says it’s an incredible opportunity to view where some of the most famous children’s stories began. Morning sessions on both days are from 10 am to 1 pm and the afternoon sessions 2 pm until 5 pm. The mornings will include a talk by Annemarie Bilclough who wrote “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic”. The afternoon speaker will be Kathryn Aalto, author of “The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh”. CEO James Adler will speak at all four sessions about the Forest’s vital importance today and into the future.
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
James says this is an important fundraiser for the Forest. He said: “We are working hard to secure the long-term future of Ashdown Forest. The Forest welcomes over 1.5 million visits a year and looking after the area and so many people requires a great deal of funding. That is why we were delighted when the owners of Cotchford Farm approached us to offer opening their gardens to raise funds for the Forest.”
“The Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and therefore Cotchford Farm, hold a special place in so many peoples’ hearts. The gardens and the nearby Ashdown Forest embody the magic of the stories. Now you can come and see them for yourself whilst supporting the local area and we suggest booking quickly as there has been such a high level of interest.”
“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”
Tickets are £20 each plus a £2.15 Eventbrite booking fee. Entry is by ticket only, purchased in advance.
Go to https://cotchford-farm-open
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