Free Winnie the Pooh forest trail near Leek on 22 August: what residents need to know
Families can celebrate 100 years of Winnie the Pooh with a free woodland story trail at Coombes Valley RSPB Reserve, near Leek, on Saturday 22 August 2026. Tales from the Forest runs from 10am to 1pm and is designed for children aged four to 11 and their accompanying adults.
Places are limited, so advance booking is essential. Staffordshire Libraries and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council are organising the event as part of the National Year of Reading.
The essentials
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Saturday 22 August 2026, 10am to 1pm |
| Venue | Coombes Valley RSPB Reserve, near Leek, Staffordshire |
| Cost | Free |
| Audience | Children aged four to 11 with accompanying adults |
| Entry | Advance booking is essential because places are limited |
The event is presented as a bookable family activity rather than an open drop-in session. Families should therefore secure a place before travelling to the reserve.
Stories, crafts and wildlife in the woodland
The Winnie the Pooh-themed trail will lead families around Coombes Valley while bringing together storytelling and outdoor exploration. Children will be able to take part in craft activities, search for bees and look for local wildlife along the way.
The format connects the character’s centenary with the National Year of Reading. Instead of keeping the story inside a library, the organisers are using the woodland setting to place reading, imagination and nature alongside one another.
The published programme identifies storytelling, crafts and wildlife spotting as the principal activities. It does not provide a more detailed running order, so families should plan around the confirmed overall event window of 10am to 1pm rather than expecting individually advertised session times.
Hayley Coles will join the storytelling team
Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for communities and culture, is due to attend as part of the storytelling team.
In the council’s announcement, Coles said Winnie the Pooh was one of her favourite books while growing up. She described the event as an opportunity to encourage children to enjoy reading while spending time in Staffordshire’s natural spaces.
How to reserve a free place
Entry is free, but capacity is limited and attendance must be booked in advance. The reservation option is available through the Staffordshire County Council Newsroom event announcement.
The published notice does not include transport arrangements or accessibility information. Anyone who needs those details should confirm them before travelling to Coombes Valley RSPB Reserve. The key next step is to use the council announcement to reserve a place for each family group before Saturday 22 August.
Source: Staffordshire County Council Newsroom
Context & actions About this article
Source check Source trail
The date, venue, admission terms, audience and activities were drawn from Staffordshire County Council’s published event announcement.
- Confirmed the event date as Saturday 22 August 2026.
- Confirmed the scheduled time as 10am to 1pm.
- Confirmed the venue as Coombes Valley RSPB Reserve near Leek.
- Confirmed that entry is free, places are limited and advance booking is essential.
- Source
- Staffordshire County Council Newsroom
- Scope
- Leek
- Updated
- 2026-08-14 18:58
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