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Date updated: 14/03/2025

Could you run a refreshment concession in Epping Forest?

Applications are now open for concessions in two areas of Epping Forest: High Beach and Wanstead Flats. Applications should be submitted by 1pm on Monday 31 March and you can find all the relevant documentation below. 

Advertisement for Epping Forest Refreshment Concessions PDF (69KB)
Date submitted: 12/03/25
Wanstead Concession Licence Prospectus PDF (417KB)
Date submitted: 12/03/25
Wanstead Concession Licence Draft Heads of Terms PDF (85KB)
Date submitted: 12/03/25
High Beach Concession Licence Prospectus PDF (240KB)
Date submitted: 12/03/25
High Beach Concession Licence Draft Heads of Terms PDF (72KB)
Date submitted: 12/03/25

Installation of the Brambly Hedge Trail is under way

Five wooden sculptures of characters from the nostalgic children’s books, Brambly Hedge, have been installed in Epping Forest, near to the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Chingford.

These are the first in a series of 17 wooden sculptures which will form the Epping Forest Brambly Hedge Trail. The Brambly Hedge books were written in the 1980's by local artist and author, Jill Barklem, who lived in the Epping Forest area and based her Brambly Hedge books on the hedgerows and trees found in the Forest. The mice of Brambly Hedge, depicted in this new wooden sculpture trail, are inclusive and each feature their names in braille and a sensory panel containing a natural material.

The remaining 12 sculptures, which have been generously funded by Rural England Prosperity Funding, via Epping Forest District Council, as well as kind donations to our Sculpture Trail campaign, are due to be installed around Connaught Water in March.

A new surface path to be called 'Gloucester Ride', linking the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Chingford and Connaught Water, is due to be completed later this summer. At this point the Epping Forest Brambly Hedge Trail will be officially launched!

To stay up to date on the trail's progress, please do subscribe to our newsletter, Forest Focus. 

epping-forest-deer-sculpture

Help us fight fly-tipping

Dealing with fly-tips across Epping Forest takes up 10% of our charity's budget every year - hundreds of thousands of pounds that should be spent on conserving the Forest for the benefit of all. 

Visit our web page for more details on how we're combatting this scourge on the landscape, or follow our progress on social media. 

The River Ching Action Plan

Tackling poor water quality in our local rivers and ponds is something we take very seriously, as our Chairman explains in his latest update:

"We have recently partnered with the Environment Agency, Thames21 and the London Borough of Waltham Forest to launch the ‘Ching Action Plan’. The river is home to a wide range of wildlife and plays an important role in the ecosystem of the Forest. Yet sadly, it is adversely affected by household misconnections, sewage pollution, road run-off, and commercial activities. This project will not only improve the water quality but also help to restore biodiversity, reduce pollution, and combat the effects of climate change across the more urban areas of Epping Forest. There will be plenty of volunteering opportunities, so please send an email if you’d like to sign up."

Things affecting your visit

Maintenance

  • Rural wood chip collection – Bury Road chip site
  • Tree safety works - Forest-wide
  • Tree surgery - Bury Wood
  • Groundworks - Great Gregories
  • Various grass cutting - Forest-wide
  • Annual tree survey - north of the Forest
  • Lower branch removal - Wanstead Park Chestnut Avenue

NB: Contract work is dependent on weather and ground conditions.

General notices

  • Closed riding in Epping Forest as from 00:01 on Monday 9 December 2024
  • Railway Field closed to public access
  • Please be aware that new sculptures have been installed on the track leading from the Visitors' Centre at Chingford leading toward Connaught Water

Volunteer Tasks

Epping Forest Volunteers

Thursday 13 - Copped Hall

Highams Park Snedders

No tasks

Epping Forest Heritage Trust

Green Team
Thursday 13 - Loughton Brook

Green Team 2
Friday 14 - Hawkwood

Happy Loppers
Friday 14 - Epping Thicks

Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers

Sunday 16 - Lords Bushes

Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee

Read the monthly updates from the Epping Forest Chairman on our dedicated webpage. 

Forest Focus

A monthly newsletter to keep you up to date on the what's happening across the year.

To receive future editions as soon as they're published, please sign up to our newsletter.

Subscribe to Forest Focus

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