What's new in Epping Forest
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.
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.

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.
- Forest Focus February 2025
- Forest Focus January 2025
- Forest Focus December 2024
- Forest Focus November 2024
- Forest Focus October 2024
- Forest Focus September 2024
- Forest Focus August 2024
- Forest Focus July 2024
- Forest Focus June 2024
- Forest Focus May 2024
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