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Date updated: 22/05/2024

We find ourselves at the start of a new civic year, with lots of new Councillors recently elected to serve their local communities.

I was delighted to host representatives from the London Boroughs of Newham, Waltham Forest and Redbridge, as well as Essex County Councillors, Epping Forest District Councillors, and Town and Parish Councillors this week to our Local Authorities Liaison Group.

Improving collaboration across all these organisations will help achieve a better outcome for so many things, like public transport strategies, local development plans, and health and recreation strategies to name just a few!

I am pleased to report that all our neighbouring Planning Authorities have signed up to the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy Agreement. This partnership sets out specific measures which must be taken each time a new planning development is approved by the authority, to help mitigate increased recreational pressures on the Forest’s Special Areas of Conservation.

We have also been building partnerships with the City of London’s 111 livery companies. Last week, I was pleased to welcome the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists who talked about some of the pioneering technology that can help inform the conservation work we carry out across the Forest.

The City of London Corporation manages Epping Forest as a registered charity and, this year, the Master Information Technologist, Kerri Mansfield, kindly chose Epping Forest as one the charities to support. We have agreed to partner on some exciting new projects in the months ahead. This is in addition to the partnerships we have already with the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers and Worshipful Company of Educators.

With the promise of warmer weather ahead, many of our sports and recreational activities have started to re-open, like horse riding. The boating lake at Hollow Pond in Leyton is also open and, for those keen anglers, our fishing season starts on Saturday 15 June. Remember, anglers and horse riders require a licence in Epping Forest. 

Cycling is another outdoor activity to hit the spotlight this month, as Ride London comes through Epping Forest on Sunday 26 May. The route means there are road closures and some of our car parks will be temporarily closed too. Please check our social media channels for more information if you’re visiting that day.

Staying on two wheels, Bike Week takes place between 10-16 June and is a great time to get out and enjoy the beauty of the ‘green lungs of London’. You can cycle through much of Epping Forest, but there are some areas where cycling is not allowed, such as our Iron Age Hillforts at Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks. These are Scheduled Monuments and it’s really important that we all work together to preserve these historic sites. Please check for new signs and our website to see where you can go in the Forest by bike.

Thank you for respecting the rules we have in place to conserve the rich and ancient heritage of Epping Forest

Ben Murphy, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee