1. History of Epping Forest

2. Location of Epping Forest
9 km from central London
4 km wide by 19km long
3, Hectares large
= 7,897 Acres
= km2

3. What are the Habitats in Epping Forest?
A Forest is defined as an area belonging to the crown
What are the Habitats in Epping Forest?
Woodland (Ancient and Secondary)
Lowland Heathland
Freshwater (Ponds, Springs and Streams)
Grassland

4. What was the Forest used for pre 1800?
Wood Collection- Lopping by commoners
Royal Hunting Forest (deer)
Rough grazing by commoners cattle and horses
This system is called Woodland Pasture 4

5. Historical uses of the Forest
Charcoal Production
Recreation
Visits by local people
Royal hunting ground

6. Managing wood collection
There were 2 ways of logging for wood
Coppicing
Pollarding
Cut at 2m from the ground
Cut at 0.75m from the ground
Pollarding was mostly used in the forest as new shoots would be out of reach from grazing deer and cattle

7. What happened in the 1800’s? Industrial revolution
Rapid expansion of London
Areas of Epping forest enclosed for private use

8. Then what happened?
In 1878 Queen Victoria passed the Epping Forest Act.
City of London managed Epping Forest by:
Maintaining open space for recreation
Maintaining ‘natural aspect’ of forest

9. Key Questions for visit
What attracts people to Epping Forest ?
What activities do people do in Epping Forest ?
What Impacts do people have on Epping Forest ?
What are the strategies to manage these impacts?