As spring brings new life to Epping Forest and its surrounding Buffer Lands, I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy the ancient woodland’s seasonal beauty.
Stretching 13 miles and spanning more than 8,000 acres, it remains one of our region’s most valued historic landscapes, and a vital haven for wildlife.
Across Epping Forest, you’ll find a rich heritage woven into the landscape – including eight listed buildings, four scheduled monuments and two historic parks and gardens. Each tells part of the story of how this ancient woodland has evolved over centuries.
There are several heritage and conservation projects underway, shedding fresh light on the Forest’s unique past.
One of the most significant projects is new research into the Forest’s two Iron Age earthworks, Ambresbury Banks and Loughton Camp.
Specialists from Historic England are taking a fresh look at these scheduled monuments, carrying out detailed earthwork surveys to better understand the archaeological features still visible today.
This work will explore how both sites were built, how they may have been used, whether they were linked, and how they fit into the wider prehistoric landscape.
Further study is planned for later in the year, and we ask visitors to these sensitive protected areas to adhere to guidance on local signage to help reduce any impact on the sites.
In the south of the Forest, major restoration projects have recently been completed at Wanstead Park, one of Epping Forest’s most historic and much‑loved sites.
The outside of the Temple has been beautifully restored and is now ready to welcome audiences for the Open Air Theatre season this summer.
Nearby, extensive conservation work on the iconic Grotto has also finished. With the surrounding paths reopened, visitors can once again enjoy one of the Park’s most striking historic landmarks.
At the heart of Epping Forest stands Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, a rare and beautifully preserved Tudor hunting tower. A newly completed Conservation Management Plan sets out how we will protect, care for, and share the history of this remarkable building for future generations.
Sitting beside the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Chingford, it marks the starting point of the ever‑popular Brambly Hedge Trail and remains a key destination for anyone wanting to explore the Forest’s heritage.
To the west, the landscape around Copped Hall is continuing to change as part of the City of London Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy.
Fields that were formerly used for growing crops have been transformed into wildflower meadows, and miles of new hedgerows have been planted to boost wildlife and link important habitats together.
Visitors can also explore the historic Copped Hall itself, which is owned and cared for by the Copped Hall Trust.
Beyond its built heritage, Epping Forest is home to an extraordinary 55,000 ancient trees — one of the largest concentrations in the country.
This year’s Habitat Restoration Programme is continuing the essential work of caring for these trees and rejuvenating the Forest’s historic wood‑pasture landscape.
Supporting all this work are the Forest’s incredible volunteers, whose dedication was recently recognised when the Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers were named Epping Forest District Council’s ‘Volunteer Team of the Year’.
Their contribution, along with that of many other groups and individuals, remains essential to protecting this remarkable landscape.
To help you make the most of the months ahead, a new Visitor Guide has now been published and is available online (cityoflondon.gov.uk/eppingforest) and in our Visitor Centres at Chingford and at the Temple.
This publication is packed with information about the Forest, including a detailed historic timeline, and upcoming events. It offers the perfect companion for a springtime visit to one of the region’s most extraordinary natural and historic environments.
- Caroline Haines is chair of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee.
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