Epping Forest

This article is about the woodland in England. For other uses, see Epping Forest (disambiguation).
Epping Forest
Site of Special Scientific Interest

Epping Forest near Epping
Area of Search Greater London
Essex
Grid reference TL475035 to TQ 405865
Interest Biological
Area 1728 hectares
Notification 1990
Location map Magic Map
Location of Epping Forest (shown in green) within Greater London and Essex

Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland near Epping, straddling the border between north-east London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation.

It covers 2,476 hectares (6,118.32 acres)[1][2] and contains areas of woodland, grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds, and most of it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest[3][4] and a Special Area of Conservation.[5] Stretching between Forest Gate in the south and Epping in the north, Epping Forest is approximately 19 kilometres (12 mi) long in the north-south direction, but no more than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from east to west at its widest point, and in most places considerably narrower. The forest lies on a ridge between the valleys of the rivers Lea and Roding; its elevation and thin gravelly soil (the result of glaciation) historically made it unsuitable for agriculture.[6] It gives its name to the Epping Forest local government district which covers part of it.

History

Early history to 17th century

The name "Epping Forest" was first recorded in the 17th century; prior to this it was known as Waltham Forest (which gives its name to the present-day London Borough of Waltham Forest, which covers part of the modern forest).

The area which became known as Waltham, and then Epping Forest has been continuously forested since Neolithic times. Embankments of two Iron Age earthworks – Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks[7] – can be found in the woodland, but pollen profiles show that Iron Age occupation had no significant effect on the forest ecology. The former lime/linden Tilia-dominated woodland was permanently altered during Saxon times by selective cutting of trees. Today's beech-birch and oak-hornbeam-dominated forest was the result of partial forest clearance in Saxon times.[8]

The forest is thought to have been given legal status as a royal forest by Henry II in the 12th century. This status allowed commoners to use the forest to gather wood and foodstuffs, and to graze livestock and turn out pigs for mast, but only the king was allowed to hunt there. "Forest" in the historical sense of royal forest meant an area of land reserved for royal hunting, where the forest laws applied, and did not imply that it was necessarily wooded.

Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge, Chingford

Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge

In Tudor times, Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I may have hunted in the forest, though no documentary evidence has survived to prove it. In 1543, Henry commissioned a building, known as Great Standing, from which to view the chase at Chingford. The building was renovated in 1589 for Queen Elizabeth I and can still be seen today in Chingford. The building is now known as Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge, and is open to the public. There is another hunt standing, which now forms the core of the Forest HQ at the Warren, Loughton.[9]

Fighting enclosure

There were disputes between landowners (who enclosed land) and commoners (who had grazing and cutting rights). One group of commoners was led by Thomas Willingale (1799–1870) who on behalf of the villagers of Loughton continued to lop the trees after the Lord of the Manor (Maitland) had enclosed 550 hectares (1,400 acres) of forest in Loughton. This led to an injunction against further enclosures.

The Epping Forest Act 1878 was passed, saving the forest from enclosure, and halting the shrinkage of the forest that this had caused. Epping Forest ceased to be a royal forest and was placed in the care of the City of London Corporation who act as Conservators. In addition, the Crown's right to venison was terminated, and pollarding was no longer allowed, although grazing rights continued. This act laid down a stipulation that the Conservators "shall at all times keep Epping Forest unenclosed and unbuilt on as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the people". In compensation for the loss of lopping rights, Lopping Hall in Loughton was built as a community building.

"The People's Forest"

Connaught Waters, an ornamental lake of 8 acres (3.2 ha) named after the Duke of Connaught, the first forest ranger[10]

When Queen Victoria visited Chingford on 6 May 1882 she declared "It gives me the greatest satisfaction to dedicate this beautiful forest to the use and enjoyment of my people for all time" and it thus became "The People's Forest". The City of London Corporation still manages Epping Forest in strict conformity with the Epping Forest Act. This care is funded from 'City's Cash', the private funds of the Corporation rather than any money for its upkeep coming from local rates or taxes. The Conservators administer the forest from The Warren, modern offices built in the grounds of Grade II* listed Warren House, Loughton.[11] Warren House, formerly known as the Reindeer Inn, was built around a smaller hunt standing, known as the Little Standing. Its grounds were redesigned by Humphry Repton in the early 19th century.

Until the outbreak of BSE in 1996 commoners still exercised their right to graze cattle and every summer herds of cattle would roam freely in the southern part of the forest[12] (and occasionally in the streets of Leytonstone and Wanstead).[13] Cattle were reintroduced in 2001 but their movements are now more restricted to reduce conflict with traffic.[14] Commoners, who are people who live in a Forest parish and own 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) of land, can still register and graze cattle during the summer months.

The right to collect wood still exists but is rarely practised and is limited to "one faggot of dead or driftwood" per day per adult resident.[15]

Originally a barn built in the mid-19th century the Grade II listed building Butler's Retreat is one of the few remaining Victorian retreats within the forest. The building is adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge and takes its name from the 1891 occupier John Butler. Retreats originally served non-alcoholic refreshments as part of the Temperance movement. After closing in 2009 the building was refurbished by the City of London Corporation and re-opened as a café in 2012.[16]

On 12 July 2012 The Duke of Gloucester—the official Epping Forest Ranger—opened the View interpretation centre at Chingford. The building a former Victorian coach house and stables[17] together with Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge and Butler's Retreat form the Epping Forest Gateway.[18]

Ecology

A formerly pollarded tree seen in Epping Forest

The age of the forest and the range of habitats it contains make it a valuable area for wildlife, and it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Its former status as a working or pasture forest has had a great effect on its ecology. This is particularly evident with the pollarded trees, which, as they have not been cut since the passing of the Epping Forest Act, have now grown massive crowns of thick, trunk-like branches with correspondingly large boles. This gives the trees an unusual appearance, not known in other forests. Often the weight of the branches cannot be supported by the parent tree, and the large amount of dead wood in the forest supports numerous rare species of fungi and invertebrates.

Secondary woodland in Epping Forest

Predominant tree species are Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur), European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), European Hornbeam (Carpinus betuloides), Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and European Holly (Ilex aquifolium). Indicator species of long-uninterrupted woodland include service-tree (Sorbus torminalis) butcher's-broom (Ruscus aculeatus) and drooping sedge (Carex pendula) A wide range of animals are found, including Fallow Deer (Dama dama), Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and European adder (Vipera berus).

Although the Epping Forest Act almost certainly saved the forest from total destruction, it has to some extent had a deleterious effect on the area's biodiversity.[19] The pollarded trees allowed light through to the woodland floor, increasing the numbers of low-growing plants. Since the Act, the vast crowns of the pollards cut out most of the light to the underbrush. In addition, the area surrounding the forest is now to a great extent urbanised; the corresponding reduction in grazing has led to former areas of grassland and heathland being overcome by secondary woodland[3] – this has been exacerbated by the majority of the forest's deer being enclosed to prevent impacts with vehicles on the major roads that run through the forest. In recent years, the Conservators have experimented with pollarding in selected areas of the forest, and a herd of English Longhorn cattle has been reintroduced to graze the heathland and grassland.[20]

Lakes and ponds

Over 100 lakes and ponds can be found within the forest varying in size and age.[21] They all provide important habitats for numerous species of fauna and flora. Many of them are man-made with the majority of them created through gravel extraction. Several were formed as part of a landscape design and a few were the result of World War II bombs and rockets.[22] Activities allowed on the waters include angling which is permitted in 24 of the lakes and ponds. A wide range of freshwater fish can be caught.[23] All of the lakes and ponds are accessible to the public and are located on or close to forest paths.

Leisure activities

There are several leisure activities associated with the forest.

Epping Forest attracts large numbers of mountain bikers. Mountain biking is generally permitted except around the Iron Age camps, Loughton Brook and other ecologically or geomorphologically sensitive areas. Despite clear signposting, a minority of mountain bikers and horse riders continue to cause damage in these areas,[24] and the Conservators of Epping Forest have expressed their concern.[25] A number of clubs organise rides, particularly on Sunday mornings. The forest is also used as a training area for many national level mountain-bike racers as it is highly regarded for its fast and tight flowing single track trails. This type of terrain is known within the mountain bike fraternity as cross country (or XC). Epping Forest was considered as a venue for the mountain-biking event of the 2012 Summer Olympics, though the final choice was near Hadleigh Castle.

Horse riding is popular in Epping Forest. Riders need to be registered with the Epping Forest conservators before they are allowed to ride in the forest. Running as a form of recreation in Epping Forest goes back almost to the birth of the sport in the 1870s, including hosting the inaugural English Championships in 1876. Orienteering and rambling are also popular. There are numerous guidebooks offering shorter walks for the casual visitor. The most important event in the ramblers calendar in the area is the traditional Epping Forest Centenary Walk, an all-day event commemorating the saving of Epping Forest as a public space, which takes place annually on the third Sunday in September.[26]

High Beach in Epping Forest was the first British venue for motorcycle speedway and opened on 19 February 1928. The track was behind The King's Oak public house, and drew large crowds in its early days. The track was closed when a swimming pool was added to the pub's grounds after the Second World War, though enthusiasts and veterans still gather at the site every year on the nearest Sunday to 19 February. The remains of the track are still visible, in the grounds of the Epping Forest Field Centre behind the King's Oak.[27]

A field centre in the forest provides a variety of courses.

Visitor centres

The forest has three visitor centres: Epping Forest Gateway at Chingford incorporating The View interpretation centre, Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge and Butler's Retreat: The High Beach Visitor's Centre, High Beach and The Temple, Wanstead Park.[28]

Public transport

Public transport serves most locations in and around the forest. In the 1980s, the name "Forest" was given to one of the districts in which London's buses was divided, covering east London, and including the south part of the forest. Its logo was a squirrel above the London Transport roundel. Later, from 1989 until its collapse in 1991, London Forest was the name of a private operator running the buses in the area, with an oak tree as its logo.[29]

Cultural associations

The sculptor Jacob Epstein created a series of paintings of the forest

Epping Forest has frequently been the setting for novels, and has attracted poets, artists and musicians for centuries. Many of these artists lived at Loughton, q.v.

Fine art

Sculptor Jacob Epstein lived on the very edge of the forest for a quarter of a century at Baldwins Hill, Loughton. Sir William Addison says that he wanted his sculpture Visitation, now in the Tate Collection, to be sited overlooking the Forest. In 1933, he exhibited 100 paintings of the forest, and continued to paint during the war. His gouache, an essay in green tints and textures, Pool – Epping Forest, of Baldwins Hill Pond, was exhibited in 1945. Many of his Forest painting are in the Garman Ryan Collection at the New Art Gallery, Walsall

Literature

Elizabethan poets such as George Gascoigne and Thomas Lodge lived in and around the forest. The writer Lady Mary Wroth lived at Loughton Hall. Ben Jonson, best known for his satirical play The Alchemist, was a frequent visitor to the forest with George Chapman.[30]

In the 18th century, Mary Wollstonecraft, writer, philosopher and feminist, spent the first five years of her life growing up in the forest.[31]

In the Victorian era, Charles Dickens' novel Barnaby Rudge begins with a description of the forest in 1775.[32] Alfred, Lord Tennyson lived at Beech Hill House, High Beach, from 1837–1840, where he wrote parts of In Memoriam A.H.H.. Suffering from depression, he stayed as a guest at Dr. Martin Allen's asylum, where he would have encountered poet John Clare, whose behaviour became so erratic that he was removed to the asylum in 1837.[30] William Morris, artist, writer and socialist, was born in Walthamstow in 1834, and spent his early years in what was then rural Essex, close to the outlying sections of the forest.[33] Arthur Morrison, "the English Zola", lived successively at Chingford, Loughton, and High Beach in the Forest, and – particularly in To London Town – the Forest is used as a contrast to the East London deprivation he wrote about.

Dick Turpin is alleged to have had a hideout in the forest

During the 20th century, several writers used the forest as a setting for their novels, including R. Austin Freeman's Jacob Street Mystery (1940), partly set at Loughton Camp. Dorothy L. Sayers' 1928 mystery Unnatural Death includes the discovery, in Epping Forest, of the body of a young woman possessing knowledge that could incriminate a murderer. The horror writer James Herbert used Epping Forest as the setting for his novel Lair (1979). In the book, a horde of Giant Black Rats establish a colony in the forest and embark on a murderous campaign against humans. Herbert mentions a now obscure legend attached to the forest – the legend of the white stag. Supposedly, the sighting of this animal is an omen of trouble and death. Natural historian and author Fred J Speakman lived at the Epping Forest Field Studies Centre, High Beach.[34] He wrote several books about the area, including A Poacher's Tale with Alfred T Curtis, a Waltham Abbey-born poacher,[35] and A Keeper's Tale, describing the life of forest keeper Sidney Butt.[36]

T E Lawrence owned an estate at Pole Hill, Chingford; this was added to the Forest in 1929 and Lawrence's hut re-erected in the Forest Headquarters at the Warren, Loughton, where it remains, largely forgotten, today.[37]

Actor and playwright Ken Campbell (1941–2008) lived in Loughton, adjacent to Epping Forest; his funeral took the form of a woodland burial in the forest.

Music

The song "The White Buck of Epping" by Sydney Carter (1957) refers to a sighting of (and subsequent hunt for) a white buck in the forest.[38]

A track on Genesis's 1973 album Selling England by the Pound is entitled "The Battle of Epping Forest", and refers to a real-life East End gang-fight.[39]

The interior of the gatefold sleeve of the progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer's third studio album Trilogy[40] features a photomontage showing multiple images of the band in the forest carpeted with autumn leaves.

Television

The forest featured heavily in an episode of Living TV's Most Haunted Live over New Year 2003/2004 as the team, made up of Yvette Fielding and Derek Acorah, investigated the forest in the hope of discovering the spirit of Dick Turpin. The team got lost in the forest live on air, and a ranger was required to find them.[41]

In the British BBC soap opera screened in February 1999, EastEnders, fictional character Steve Owen (Martin Kemp) accidentally killed his stalker Saskia Duncan (Deborah-Sheridin Taylor). He later panicked and buried her body in the forest. It was discovered 10 months later.[42]

An episode of the BBC series New Tricks which was set in the forest was broadcast on 3 September 2013.[43]

The episode "Day Trippers" of the UK (Thames Television) sitcom Robins's Nest which was broadcast on 27 November 1978 centred around the main characters going on a picnic to the forest.[44]

Cinema

Currently (2013) the forest has been used as a location in fourteen films[45] including the Black Knight sequence in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.[46]

Crime

The forest has long standing criminal associations. The highwayman Dick Turpin had a hideout there.[47] The tree cover and the forest's location close to London have made it notorious as a burial area for murder victims. Triple policeman murderer Harry Roberts hid out in the forest for a short time before his arrest in 1966.

Murders

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Epping Forest". City of London. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Dagley, Jeremy. "Pollarding in Epping Forest", in Premier Colloque Européen sur les Trognes, Vendôme, 26, 27 et 28 Octobre 2006 (in English) Online
  3. 1 2 "Epping Forest SSSI citation" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Map of Epping Forest (SSSI)". Natural England. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Special Areas of Conservation: Epping Forest". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Only with the middle Saxon settlement did the Forest ridge become used in any organized way and, by the thirteenth century, historical records show that large areas were being systematically cleared of trees" (Colin A. Baker, Paul A. Moxey, Patricia M. Oxford, "Woodland continuity and change in Epping Forest" Field Studies, 1978 (on-line text).)
  7. ↑ ELLIS, Peter Berresford 'A Guide to Early Celtic Remains in Britain.' London. Constable. 1991
  8. ↑ Baker, Moxey, Oxford 1978.
  9. ↑ British listed buildings – The Warren, Loughton Retrieved 10 September 2012
  10. ↑ Walford, E (1883). A Narrative of Greater London. Its Places. Its History. Its People 2. p. 543. ISBN 0-543-96787-5. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "The Warren, Loughton". Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Cattle Grazing on Epping Forest" (PDF). Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Waltham Forest Guardian 28 October 2008". Guardian-series.co.uk. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  14. ↑ City of London Epping Forest wildlife web page Archived 16 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ "Epping Forest Bye-Laws 1980 and additional Bye-Laws 1986" (PDF). Corporation of London. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  16. ↑ City of London- Butler's Retreat Retrieved 25 February 2013
  17. ↑ Epping Forest Gateway Retrieved 19 July 2013
  18. ↑ News report Retrieved 18 July 2013
  19. ↑ "The major ecological trend in the past 100 years has been towards uniformity" (Baker, Moxey, Oxford 1978).
  20. ↑ City of London press release on extension of grazing by cattle Archived 26 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  21. ↑ City of London-Epping Forest Retrieved 21 November 2014
  22. ↑ Friends of Epping Forest – The Bomb Crater Retrieved 20 November 2014
  23. ↑ Angling information Retrieved 27 November 2013
  24. ↑ "Epping Forest: Loughton Camp:: OS grid TQ4197 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  25. ↑ Comments from the Corp. at eppingtrails.co.uk
  26. ↑ "Annual Centenary Walk". Friends of Epping Forest. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  27. ↑ King's Oak speedway Retrieved 6 August 2010
  28. ↑ City of London visitor information Retrieved 27 June 2013
  29. ↑ "London Transport – Local Bus Maps". eplates.info. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  30. 1 2 Epping forest in literature Retrieved 25 April 2008
  31. ↑ Mary Wollstonecraft retrieved 25 April 2008
  32. ↑ Barnaby Rudge Chapter 1 Retrieved 25 April 2008
  33. ↑ William Morris gallery Retrieved 26 April 2008
  34. ↑ Epping Forest Field Studies Centre Retrieved 25 April 2008
  35. ↑ Speakman F & Curtis A, A Poacher's Tale (1960) ISBN 0-7135-0969-4 George Bell & Sons
  36. ↑ Speakman, F, A Keeper's Tale (1962) ISBN 0-85115-224-4 George Bell & Sons
  37. ↑ Ranger, James (18 June 2010), "HISTORY: A look at Lawrence of Arabia in Epping Forest", Epping Forest Guardian, retrieved 5 June 2011
  38. ↑ Sydney Carter discography Retrieved 17 April 2009
  39. ↑ Bowler, Dave; Dray, Bryan (1992). Genesis: A Biography. Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-283-06132-5.
  40. ↑ Trilogy Retrieved 31 August 2012
  41. ↑ Most Haunted Live Retrieved 11 February 2011
  42. ↑ East Enders Retrieved 3 April 2012
  43. ↑ News report Retrieved 4 September 2013
  44. ↑ Robin's Nest Retrieved 29 September 2015
  45. ↑ IMDB – Epping Forest Retrieved 1 February 2013
  46. ↑ IMDB – Monty Python and the Holy Grail Retrieved 1 February 2013
  47. ↑ W Addison, Epping Forest, its Literary and Historical Associations, 1946.
  48. ↑ Marian Hartley, Gary Jones.
  49. ↑ Babes in the Wood murders
  50. ↑ "Babes in the Woods murders". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  51. ↑ Appeals renewed for two unidentified bodies found in Epping Forest, Harry Kemble, Ilford Recorder, 29 November 2013.
  52. ↑ Maxine Arnold And Terry Gooderham – Epping Forest, True Crime Library.
  53. ↑ Moody: The Life and Crimes of Britain's Most Notorious Hitman, by Wensley Clarkson.
  54. ↑ The hit at the Royal Hotel, Cal McCrystal, August 1993, The Independent.
  55. ↑ Busted: The fall of Britain's most ruthless gangster, The Independent, 8 February 2007.
  56. ↑ Clerkenwell crime syndicate
  57. ↑ Crossbow killing of vice girl: Man held 17 YEARS ON; EXCLUSIVE DNA TESTS LEAD TO BREAKTHROUGH, The Free Library.
  58. ↑ Patricia Parsons – Epping Forest, True Crime Library.
  59. ↑ The Unsolved Murder of Patricia Parsons, Wolfie Wiseguy.
  60. ↑ Men murdered woman cheated in drug deal, By Sue Clough, The Telegraph.
  61. ↑ 'Violent' death over drug duping, 28 August 2001, BBC News.
  62. ↑ Dead man named, by David Ivor Willis, Watford Observer.
  63. ↑ Woods where killers dump their victims, by Sara Dixon, This is Local London.
  64. ↑ Killer brother and sister jailed, 13 October 2006, BBC News.
  65. ↑ Man murdered in forest shooting, 16 July 2005, BBC News.
  66. ↑ News report Retrieved 15 September 2015

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Coordinates: 51°40′N 0°03′E / 51.66°N 0.05°E / 51.66; 0.05

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