Epping Forest is the largest public open space in the London area,
at almost 6,000 acres. It stretches 12 miles from Manor Park in
East London to just north of Epping in Essex. As well as being a
popular area for recreation and enjoyment it is also of national
and international conservation importance with two thirds of it
being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a
Special Area of Conservation.
In the second half of the 19th century large areas of the Forest
were being inclosed for development, with scant regard for
commoners’ rights or general recreational needs. Such was the City
of London’s concern over this that it joined forces with the
commoners who had the right to graze their animals on the Forest
and cut wood, and fought a legal battle against the inclosures,
culminating in two ground-breaking Acts of Parliament passed in
1878. One of these entrusted the ownership and care of Epping
Forest to the City, with the second making similar provision for
other open spaces under similar threat. The Epping Forest Act of
1878 appointed the City of London as the Conservator of Epping
Forest and its strictures still govern how the Forest is managed
today.
Epping Forest now combines the roles of scenic open space,
important wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. It hosts
numerous
events and activities. There are three Forest Centres spread
across Epping Forest, Epping Forest Visitor Centre in the north at
High Beach, a well-established beauty spot;
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge in Chingford, a Tudor timber
hunt-standing dating from 1543; and in the south, The Temple,
dating from the 1760s, set in
Wanstead Park, once the formal gardens of the magnificent
Wanstead House.
The City of London manages over 10,000 acres of green space in
and around London for the recreation and enjoyment of the public.
Find out more about the other spaces.
To read the monthly Epping Forest newsletter, "What's New", for
a seasonal update, news and details of events in the Forest,
please visit the news page.
If you would like to contact us please telephone us on 020 8532
1010 or email us
at epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk
or you can write to us at:
City of London, Open Spaces Department, Epping Forest, The
Warren, Loughton Essex IG10 4RW
You can also follow us on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/coleppingforest