What's new in Epping Forest

Date updated: 4/12/2024

Floating reed bed installation in Wanstead Park

Our contractors will be installing 40 floating reed beds, covering 160 square meters, in Heronry Pond from 2 to 5 December. This is made possible thanks to generous support from Thames 21 and will bring a variety of benefits, including enhancing the quality of the park’s water and attracting more wildlife (fish, dragonflies, etc). For more details please see our page on managing Wanstead Park.

During the works, pedestrian barriers will be erected around the key operational areas, and there will be occasional vehicle movements. All paths will remain open, however if you see anything of concern please contact us on 020 8532 1010.

Festive Forest

We've planned a number of special events to get you into the Christmas spirit, from santa hat volunteering sessions to wreath making classes. View our upcoming events here, or simply pop into the visitor centre for details and to see Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge decorated for the season.

National Tree Week

It's National Tree Week and here at Epping Forest we're celebrating the Forest’s glorious veteran trees on X, Instagram and Facebook. Why not share your favourite trees with us on social media? If you'd like to learn about how the traditional practice of pollarding helped shape Epping Forest check out this short video commissioned by the City of London Corporation as part of the Outdoor Arts Programme, A Thing of Beauty.

0.08: Many of the trees in Epping were pollards, which meant they were cut back on cycle very 10 - 20 years to provide a renewable crop of firewood for Londoners to heat their homes and to bake their bread. What this actually did was extend the life of trees. It gives them a sort of permanent youth.

A perpetual teenager

0.25: This is now a perpetual teenager, it never gets old because every time it gets to a certain age you cut it off again. In theory, it could live forever like this.

History of the tree

0:40 This is a result of hundreds of years of management stretching throughout the history of the forest.

This would have originally been a young tree. A normal tree that was cut off about 9ft from the ground and it would have re-shot, sprouts would have come out from all over it and created quite a shaggy head. These sprouts would have been cut off on a cyclical basis and used as firewood and fodder for the animals in the forest. A tree like this would thrive in that habitat for hundreds of years it has done for hundreds of years and will continue to do so for hundreds of years. This is something that is unique about this pollarded landscape of Epping Forest.

Pollarded landscape

1:18: Pollarding the trees, as we've discussed, lets the light onto the ground, which stimulates the ground flora, which stimulates the ground fauna. You're going to get a much more varied range of species in a wood pasture site that has been worked than in a closed canopy forest here in the UK. When we thin the Oak Trees it opens an area up to the light. It's all in there, in the seed bed, and it will come up as soon as it opens up to the light you'll have a really biodiverse forest.

Conclusion

1:48: This is an ancient tree whose form has been changed by cultural interventions by man. By continuing to care and work on these trees, you really feel a kinship with the people who worked with them before, you know. You really feel like you're a part of history. You're caring for something that is going to go on for longer than you. That's a special feeling, it really is. The fact that we were using the forest for a renewable source of energy is actually what meant we sustained the forests and we looked after them for the next generation. It is ultimately what created the woodland habitat and the biodiversity that defines Epping. It's that complicated symbiosis that I'm interested in with this project.

Reintroduction of bell heather to Epping Forest

Epping Forest staff behind a patch of bell heather

On 1 November Epping Forest was delighted to partner with Essex Wildlife Trust to reintroduce a delicate heathland species, bell heather, to Warren Hill in Loughton. Bell heather was once present at Long Running heath but disappeared from the Forest over 50 years ago as it has specific habitat needs, making it vulnerable to habitat loss. We are grateful to Botanist Dr Paul Fletcher, and the Essex Wildlife Trust, for their work in propagating eight bell heather plants from the only known location in Essex, at Tiptree Heath nature reserve. This project represents an exciting partnership opportunity to enhance Epping Forest’s rich and diverse heathland habitats and is an important contribution to Essex’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Habitat Restoration Programme

Leyton Flats

We will be undertaking conservation work at Leyton Flats from 28 October until early December. This work focuses on a mixture of wood pasture and acid grass heath habitats in order to:

Restore the ancient acid grassland. This habitat has declined across the UK leaving less than 30,000ha. Removing holly and trees that have encroached will help key grassland plant species and the wildlife they support.

Regenerate the area east of Cow Pond by opening-up historic glades and creating corridors to enhance habitat connectivity for insects, bats, and birds. These connections between habitats will support wildlife movement and population spread.

Reveal the veteran oak trees between Hollow Pond and Eagle Pond by thinning the trees, holly and scrub understory. The increased light levels will help them live longer while encouraging forest floor plants to re-establish.

How you can help

Be aware that this work will necessitate the presence of vehicles and machinery. Please follow all posted signs and instructions during the work period to keep everyone safe.

Be prepared that this important habitat restoration work may initially look severe and be reassured that it will deliver long-term benefits.

Be gentle afterwards, avoid disturbing the bare ground to allow forest floor and grassland plants to regrow.

Thank you for your support in helping Epping Forest flourish.

If you would like to volunteer with our ongoing conservation work, you can find more information on our Volunteer at Epping Forest webpage.

Follow our progress on the interactive map

Return of the cows to Wanstead Park

We are delighted to announce that four of our English longhorn cows returned to Wanstead Park this September, including our regular Wanstead grazers Mara and Nina, with newcomers to the south of the Forest Answer and Olive. As part of the Epping Forest grazing strategy, these cows will once again graze this special historic landscape, helping us to improve the biodiversity of the Park, located in the south of the Forest. If you are in the Forest you may be able to track their location using the grazing app.

Things affecting your visit

Maintenance

Rural wood chip collection – Bury Road chip site
Tree safety works - Forest-wide
Storm clear-up - Forest-wide
Reed bed installation - Heronry Pond
Tree surgery - Bury Wood
Groundworks - Great Gregories
Various grass cutting - Forest-wide
Annual tree survey - north of the Forest

NB: Contract work is dependent on weather and ground conditions.

Volunteer Tasks

Highams Park Snedders

No tasks

Epping Forest Heritage Trust

Green Team
No tasks

Green Team 2
No tasks

Happy Loppers
No tasks

Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers