The Branching Out vision
Protecting Epping Forest and beyond through:
- Extending opportunities to learn about Epping Forest’s
heritage
- Raising awareness of what has been before through
interpretation, history and education
- Improving access for all and working towards a more sustainable
future
- Re-establishing traditional Forest management through grazing
and pollarding
Innovative Open Space Management achieved through education,
social inclusion and enjoyment.
Epping Forest to receive £4.76m from HLF for Branching Out
project
Following a decision by the Board of Trustees, the Heritage
Lottery Fund has agreed to grant £4.76 m towards the implementation
of the £6.8m Branching Out Project. The project covers long lasting
improvements which will benefit current users, potential visitors
and future generations. The remaining money will come from the City
of London, Essex County Council and other key project partners.
Mrs Wendy Mead, Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons
Committee at the City of London said: "We would like to thank
everyone involved for their contribution and particularly to the
Heritage Lottery Fund for this very generous grant to improve
facilities and visitors' experience at Epping Forest. This funding
will allow us to achieve many of the much-needed changes in a much
shorter period of time than anticipated. It will also help us
develop open spaces access and education and learning for future
generations at Epping Forest."
The Branching Out Project is scheduled to commence in Autumn
2009 and will take five years to reach completion.
A new Interpretation Centre development, next door to Queen
Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge, and a refurbished Butler's Retreat will
create a campus for visitors to learn about the Forest, its
management through the years, the Tudor Hunting Lodge and the
Forest Retreats of the Victorian era. The Interpretation Centre,
situated within walking distance of good public transport links,
will have a large exhibition area, with thought-provoking displays.
It will also house a community room which can be used for school
and adult learning as well as providing a versatile facility for
local groups. An artist's impression of the proposed site can be
seen here.- 'Discovering Epping Forest' is a forward thinking education
programme, developed in partnership with the education providers of
the Forest (Field Studies Council, Suntrap, Epping Forest Centenary
Trust and City of London). Over 750 school children per year will
benefit from the experience of outdoor learning. Further
information can be found on the Recent
Achievements and the Learning in
Epping Forest pages.
- Three remodelled visitor hubs, improved Easy Access Trails,
bespoke interpretive panels and marked trails will help visitors
explore the Forest safely and with confidence, possibly venturing
deeper into the Forest than on their previous visits. The whole
Forest will be identified to vehicular traffic by iconic gateway
Forest markers, on the majority of entrance routes, aiming to
convey the unity of the Forest despite being dissected by
highways.
- Engaging with a local college, Capel Manor, the City of London
aims to employ 15 apprentice arborists over the life of the
project. The extra help will allow for increased output of tree
management and the apprentices will be learning techniques specific
to the management of veteran trees.
- It is also hoped that the City of London will be able to
restore grazing over an additional 350 hectares and extend the
current grazing season by three months. However, this is subject to
on-going development works informed by public consultation and the
detailed outcome is not yet defined.
We will provide regular updates regarding project progress over
the coming years.