A massive ‘Thank You’ to everyone who told us their stories and shared why they love Epping Forest! We have received so many positive messages, and it is truly heartwarming to read them.
Here is Georgie’s story. We hope you enjoyed reading these as much as we do! In the meantime, please keep on sharing the love of the Forest. You can email us at: LoveEppingForest@efht.org.uk, or post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, use the hashtag #LoveEppingForest and tag us.
(G. Green, grandsons, 03.09.14 was taken by her favourite tree, near the Lost Pond. ‘I took my grandsons on a ‘cross-country’ training run from the Foresters Arms up into the Forest. They were wearing their Brazil shirts, bright yellow, and I let them run off a bit as I could still see them, though they didn’t realise it. We all had whistles so we could keep in touch. They are now aged 14 & 16!’)
From Georgina Green, FRHistS
Ever since I was a small child I have loved Epping Forest: playing hide and seek near Warren Pond and fishing for tiddlers in Butlers Pond (we could get the bus to the Royal Forest Hotel); picking blackberries in a family group; and just being in awe of the magnificent trees.
As an adult, I still love the trees and am still in awe of the history they have witnessed. Who walked by this tree in 15th century, what were they wearing, where were they going and why? I also wonder at the inter-connected wildlife hidden in the trees: gall wasps on the leaves and then their intermediate cycle crawling up the trunk, literally millions of them! The birds and butterflies are easier to see but so many tiny organisms need the ancient wood to survive.
Epping Forest is a pleasant place for a walk with friends and family and the sight of a dragonfly or a fox, or even a lizard is just magical. My most precious moment was near the pond at Long Running in c.1985. I had crouched down to take a photograph and as I was about to stand up I saw a doe not far away. She looked at me, not quite sure what it was hidden by the bracken so low down, decided I was harmless and carried on eating the grass. You can’t buy memories like that but I will treasure it for ever.
(Cover photo: G.Green, Seren, 20.08.20 was one of several trips that summer pond dipping. She loved getting tadpoles at the Fairmead Pond. In August, when it was too late for tadpoles, we went to the pond on Long Running and she was so thrilled when she got a large diving beetle and a fish. We had a white ice cream box so she could have a good look at her catch and check our pond life book, but we put everything back fairly quickly.)