Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee: October 2024

This month, as the nights begin to draw in, we’re celebrating one of the nocturnal creatures that reside in Epping Forest - the bats! Did you know that there are 18 species of bats in the UK, 10 of which have been recorded within Epping Forest? Scarce species such as Leisler’s, serotine and barbastelle (one of the UK’s rarest woodland species) can be found foraging and roosting here. Our unique wood pasture habitats provide the perfect environment for bats to thrive. Please visit our website www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/eppingforest for information about events we have planned, from specialist adult walks and talks, to fun bat-related events taking place during half term.

We also have more youth litter picks and conservation sessions taking place over half term, as we continue to grow our network of future Conservators to help protect Epping Forest.

Autumn is starting to provide us with its annual display, the ‘crowning glory’ of the year, which transforms the woodland with dazzling hues of russet and gold. Across the woodland floor too, some incredible shapes and colours can be found in the form of fungi. There are over 1,500 fungi species in Epping Forest, making it one of the most diverse populations in the UK. This is one of the reasons why Epping Forest is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It is important that we protect and conserve this important part of the Forest’s eco system and therefore we are reminding readers that taking mushrooms from Epping Forest is a criminal offence.

I have been pleased to hear your positive feedback to our Habitat Restoration Programme which is underway in several areas of Epping Forest. The £2.4m investment in Epping Forest is currently helping us to re-establish important wood-pasture habitats and to look after our veteran trees at Leyton Flats. Updates on work in your local area are available on our website.

This month, we are also beginning a new programme of work aimed at extending the longevity of our veteran trees and improving the Forest’s biodiversity. Some of these trees haven’t been pollarded since the late 19th century! The work will include felling a small number of trees to help create areas of light and warmth to both support the growth of younger pollards, which will eventually replace some of our veteran trees and also encourage ground flora to support other wildlife and species. This work will be taking place from now through to December, but this programme of important management work will continue until 2033.

Finally, if you are starting to think about Christmas shopping, why not pop into our Visitor Centre at Chingford and pick up an Epping Forest charity calendar? This year’s calendar features some stunning images from talented local photographers, and was put together by Epping Forest Litter Picker, Don Taylor. The calendar will raise money for three Epping Forest-related charities, so it’s a gift that will keep on giving! We will also be selling an Epping Forest Christmas tree bauble this year, so watch this space!

Ben Murphy, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee