The bridge was officially renamed 'Pooh Sticks Bridge' in 1979 by Christopher Robin Milne himself.
The game of Pooh Sticks was first described in the 1928 book 'The House at Pooh Corner'.
The bridge features a specific safety-compliant design that replaced the original 1907 structure, which had rotted over time.
The site is maintained by the Ashdown Forest Conservators to balance literary tourism with woodland conservation.
The stream flowing beneath the bridge is a headwater of the River Medway.
Pooh Sticks Bridge is the original wooden bridge in Ashdown Forest where A.A. Milne invented the game of Pooh Sticks for his Winnie-the-Pooh stories. The structure is located near the village of Hartfield in East Sussex, within the boundaries of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The bridge serves as a central landmark for visitors exploring the wider 'Hundred Acre Wood' literary landscape. It was originally named Posingford Bridge and was reconstructed in 1979 to accommodate increased visitor traffic. A major restoration project took place in 2016 to preserve the historical integrity of the timber structure while ensuring public safety. The site remains a functional footbridge crossing a stream within the woodland area.
From the bank of the stream looking up at the bridge profile, capturing both the wooden structure and the surrounding woodland canopy.
Bring your own sticks, as finding suitable ones near the bridge can be difficult due to high visitor traffic.
Wear waterproof footwear, as the surrounding forest paths can be muddy even in dry seasons.
Visit during weekdays to avoid crowds, as the site is popular with families on weekends.
Do not attempt to drive to the bridge, as there is no vehicular access and parking at the entrance is strictly prohibited.
Respect the forest environment by not damaging trees, removing vegetation, or leaving trash; keep noise levels low to maintain the natural ambiance.
