Connecting people and communities with the heritage of Epping Forest
From ancient lopping practices, to the movement to save the Forest from enclosure in the 1860-70s, the reason Epping Forest is such a precious and irreplaceable place is because of people’s involvement with the Forest throughout the centuries, and that is the heritage that this programme is celebrating: the relationship between people and the Forest.
If you are a community group and are interested in connecting people with Epping Forest, please get in touch! We’d love to partner with you to create activities and events that work best for you, and together build on this heritage connection between people and Forest.
Here are examples of events and activities that we have co-created with community groups
From long hikes to family friendly picnics, from hands-on conservation activities to creative workshops, we understand that every community is different, and there are many ways people can get connected to the Forest. That is why we would love to let your community take the lead. We are more than happy to work with you to come up with events and activities that work the best for you!
Heritage walk
Majestic ancient trees, tranquil ponds, fascinating wildlife, rich history and culture…There is so much we can explore in Epping Forest for all ages and backgrounds. We can provide local guidance, route planning recommendations, information about the ecology, heritage, and stories of the Forest.
Photo: Community Gathering and Heritage Walk. © Toby Thompson
Creative Workshops
Feel inspired by the Forest? Would you like to incorporate creative elements in your activities? We can help facilitate that too. Many groups we have worked with have expressed how enjoyable it is when you combine a Forest walk and creative activities in one day.
Photo: Behnu-Ki-Milan Forest Walk and Block Print ©Locality/Alex Brenner
Hands-on Conservation Activities
For any group who would love to have a go at practical habitat management work and help improve the biodiversity of the Forest! Some of the techniques we use are traditional practises and they are fun! Ideally suitable for a group up o 15 people, but do get in touch if you have a larger group!
Photo: Hands-on Conservation Day with Muslim Hikers
Bespoke Sessions
Whether there is a specific theme you would like to explore, or a traditional day you would like to commemorate, we can support you! The photo here is a fungi themed Heritage Walk & Weave held on the Double Nine festival, a traditional Chinese and ESEA festival.
Photo: Heritage Walk & Weave with VaChina © manuel_komnenos
What the participants have said
I am inspired by the space and different variety of things to discover in Epping Forest! Very educational walk. I enjoyed it a lot!
A truly wonderful hike through the dense woodland of Epping Forest, enjoying the beautiful colours of Autumn. I’m really looking forward to the conservation day and giving back in a meaningful way.
Relationships and connection! It’s so wonderful. We saw fungi in real life, learned about their connections with plants, and then we weaved with threads and got connected with each other. Exactly like what was mentioned earlier: everything is connected. We are connected with each other, with this Forest, with this place, with our past, and with our future.
The walk leaders Eleanor and Noreen were very knowledgeable about the Forest and the way that it is managed. They were very nice and welcoming, making sure everyone was having a good time and are okay with the pace of the walk.
Communities we are collaborating with so far
We’d love to connect more people and communities with Epping Forest! Get in touch if you would like to get your community involved.
About Epping Forest Heritage for All Project
Epping Forest Heritage for All is a new three-year project made possible thanks to the funding support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project aims to inspire people from all backgrounds with the rich heritage of the Forest, foster a greater sense of belonging to the Forest community, and a shared feeling that the heritage of the Forest is for all to enjoy, celebrate and protect now and for generations to come.
Find out more
Epping Forest Heritage for All
Explore more of the programme and how you can get involved.
Epping Forest Heritage Explained
Discover the rich heritage of Epping Forest and how people’s interaction with it over the years has shaped the Forest as we see today.
Become a Volunteer
Whatever your skills or background, however much time you can give, you can make a difference.