Forest and Woodland
Enjoy our peaceful Forest and Woodland - rich in flora and fauna. From Britain's largest lowland pine forest at Thetford, to the haunt of highwayman Dick Turpin at Epping. Explore former hunting forests of English Royalty, and fine examples of ancient woodland.
Epping Forest
Covering some 6,000 acres, this is the largest public open space in the vicinity of London. 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 (with their grazing and cutting rights) or general recreational needs.
A long and hard battle was fought to preserve the forest as an open space - leading to the passing of the ‘Epping Forest Act' in 1878, with management passed to the Corporation of London. 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 pollarded trees, historic parkland, reed-fringed ponds and flower-rich meadows. Look out for deer, woodpeckers and Tree Creepers - plus many species of insects, fungi and wildfowl. Visitors can enjoy walking and mountain bike trails, horseriding, fishing or quiet areas for a family picnic. There are also the remains of two large Iron Age earthworks.
Key places of interest: Epping Forest Information Centre, Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge
Hainault Forest
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.
Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve
A rare surviving example of a Medieval 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/ecological importance. Since 1924 it has been owned by The National Trust. The forest is made up of magnificent pollarded 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 Fallow 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.
Whilst amongst felled woodland and clearings, you might spot rare plants such as the Purple-stemmed Cat's Tail, or hear the sounds of the Nightjar and Woodlark.
The Sandlings Forest
Developed in the 1920's - to ensure a regular supply of timber, this Suffolk forest is made up of three separate areas at Rendlesham, Tunstall and Dunwich. The forest covers about 8,648 acres of the former ‘Sandlings'. These sandy heathlands once stretched right along the coast, and were covered with gorse, grass and heather. Today a few small areas remain, but most has been ploughed up, or planted over with forestry. In October 1987, two-thirds of the forest (over a million trees) were felled by the ‘Great Storm'. Since then it has been replanted with a more varied mix of habitats, including Conifer and broadleaved plantations, intersected with clearings, wetland and lowland heath. Look out for deer (Fallow, Red and Roe), wood-loving insects, butterflies, fungi and nesting Nightjars and Woodlarks.
Key places of interest: Rendlesham Forest Centre
Thetford Forest Park
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 soon 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. Today the park is a patchwork of both Corsican and Scots pines, heathland and broadleaves - planted in blocks and intersected with sandy rides and tracks. Rich in animal, bird and plant life - look out for three species of deer (Roe, Fallow and Red), several types of bats, and the park's emblem, the increasingly scarce Red Squirrel. Whilst amongst felled woodland and clearings, you might spot rare plants such as the Purple-stemmed Cat's Tail, or hear the sounds of the Nightjar and Woodlark. Visitors can discover the peace and tranquillity of the forest, or enjoy a great family day out. There are numerous waymarked walks and cycle trails to explore, sites for picnics and barbeques, unique play areas for the kids, plus a year-round calendar of special events. The forest is also rich in historic and archaeological sites, such as prehistoric Grimes Graves.
Key places of interest: High Lodge Forest Centre, Thetford Warren, West Stow Country Park, Brandon Country Park, Lynford Arboretum and Lakes
Woodlands
Balls Wood, Bradfield Woods National Nature Reserve, Brampton Wood, Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve, Foxley Wood National Nature Reserve, Gamlingay Wood, Hayley Wood, Hockley Woods, King's Wood National Nature Reserve, Marks Hall Garden and Arboretum, Maulden Wood, Monks Wood National Nature Reserve, Norsey Wood, RSPB Wolves Wood, Waresley and Gransden Woods
