Forest and Woodland

Epping Forest (Essex)

Covering some 6,000 acres, this is the largest
public open space in the London area. Dating
from ancient times (around 8,000 BC), the forest
is thought to have been given legal status as a
royal forest by Henry I in the 12th C. This allowed
commoners to gather wood and foodstuffs, and to
graze livestock - but only the King was allowed to
hunt there. Another person who reaped it's benefit
was highwayman Dick Turpin (1705-1739), who
held up the passing coaches.

In the second half of the 19th C. large areas of the
forest were being enclosed by landowners for
development, with scant regard for commoners
rights (grazing animals and cutting wood) or general
recreational needs. A long battle was fought to
preserve the forest as an open space - leading to
the passing of the ‘Epping Forest Act' in 1878 - with 
the City of London appointed as the conservator.

Today the forest stretches for about 12 miles
(19 kilometres) from the town of Epping in Essex to
Manor Park in East London. It is noted for it's ancient
trees, grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds. Look out for deer,
woodpeckers and tree creepers - plus many species of insects, fungi and
wildfowl. Visitors can enjoy walking, cycling and horseriding, or quiet areas
for a picnic. There are also the remains of two large Iron Age earthworks. 
Start your tour at the Epping Forest Visitor Centre in High Beach.

Further information: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

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Hatfield Forest (Essex)

A rare surviving example of an ancient royal hunting
forest, dating from the time of the Norman Kings of
England. It once formed part of the great 'Forest of
Essex' (along with Epping and Hainault), whose
function was to supply deer for the monarch.
Designated as both a ‘Site of Special Scientific
Interest' and a ‘National Nature Reserve' - Hatfield is
of great historical and ecological importance.

Since 1924 it has been owned by The National Trust.
The forest is made up of magnificent trees (oak and
hornbeam), marsh and open grassland. Home to a
wide variety of animal, bird and plant life - the site is
still grazed by deer, and in the summer months by
cattle. Look out for bats, forest flora, fungi,
wood-loving insects and a variety of birds on the
lake. Explore on the waymarked walks and mountain
bike trails. Visitor centre and 18th C. shell house.

Further information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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Hainault Forest (Essex)

Along with Epping and Hatfield Forest - Hainault once formed part of the great
'Forest of Essex', whose function was to supply deer for the monarch. But in 1851,
an act was passed for the disafforestation of Hainault, so that the area could be
opened up for other uses such as farming. Within just six weeks 3,000 acres had
been cleared using steam powered machines. This destruction was to trigger the
fight to preserve nearby Epping Forest. Today just a small pocket of ancient forest
remains (rich in hornbeam and oak) - carefully managed by The Woodland Trust
as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest'. Head to the 300 acre country park, which
includes a visitor centre housing interpretative displays and information. From here
a network of walking trails lead to the lake and rare breeds farm.

Further information: www.hainaultforest.co.uk

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Thetford Forest Park (Norfolk/Suffolk)

Britain's largest lowland pine forest, covering over 50,000 acres in the counties of
Norfolk and Suffolk. It is situated in The Brecks - a unique natural area, noted for its
fragile soil mix of sand, chalk and flint. In the 19th C. measures were taken to
protect this topsoil, and farmers planted lines of Scots pine trees as windbreaks.
Then after World War I, the fear of a timber shortage, led to the formation of the
Forestry Commission in 1919. They began to buy up large areas of The Brecks to
develop as a new forest, and by 1927 around eight million trees had been planted.

Thetford Forest Park is Britain's largest lowland pine forest, covering over 50,000 acres in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk