City of London & management of the Forest

About City of London Corporation’s role and the management of Epping Forest

Under the Epping Forest Act 1878, the City of London Corporation was appointed Conservators of Epping Forest, responsible for protecting and maintaining the Forest for the benefit of the public. Today, the City of London Corporation delivers these responsibilities through the Epping Forest Charity. The Charity’s sole Trustee is the City of London Corporation, as represented by the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London. This arrangement enables the Corporation to continue fulfilling its statutory duties through the Charity’s governance and operational framework.

The City’s role in protecting Epping Forest has been varied and far-reaching. A critical policy of the City was the acquisition of the “Buffer Lands” from the mid-20th century onwards. This includes agricultural land and land belonging to country estates. Its purpose is to safeguard the rural environment of the Forest, alongside providing the Forest with complementary wildlife habitats.

Read our most recent public statement on the Buffer Lands

Our work with the Epping Forest Charity

Conservation activities

We work with the Epping Forest Charity’s team to carry out conservation work around the Forest. To find out more about our conservation activities, how you can get involved, and dates of our upcoming sessions, please visit here.

Find out more

A group of volunteers wearing high-visibility vests and safety helmets carry out conservation work in a wooded area. Several people are clearing invasive sycamore and working among small trees and fallen branches on a leaf-covered forest floor. In the foreground, a sign reads, “Hazardous area. Conservation work in progress.” Sunlight filters through the dense woodland canopy.

We present to and brief members of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee (EF&CC) when necessary

EF&CC oversees strategy, conservation, land management, finance and public access within the Forest. It comprises elected Members of the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation and four Verderers, supported by officers from the Epping Forest Charity.

Read our summaries of EF&CC meetings

Two bright red chairs with “CITY OF LONDON” printed on their backs stand in the foreground of Guildhall, a historic stone building in City of London. The building has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation.</p>
<p>The building features Gothic-style architecture with tall arched windows, decorative towers, and a central entrance. </p>
<p>The chairs are in sharp focus, while the building behind them is softly blurred against a clear blue sky.

We are a member of the Epping Forest Consultative Group (EFCG).

EFCG is a forum for local groups who use to the Forest to consider and debate management proposals or areas of concern at Epping Forest. This involves attending AGMs and at least two meetings a year, alongside participating in workshops and consultations. Click here to read about our most recent work with EFCG.

For more insight into how the group operates, find EFCG’s Terms of Reference here.

Read our summaries of EF&CC meetings

Ongoing projects of the Epping Forest Charity

A104 Epping New Road is a two-lane road cut through Epping Forest. The picture shows tarmac road with white road markings stretching to the distance, bordered by dense trees and shrubs on both sides. A narrow pavement runs alongside the left edge of the road with dark clouds overhead.

Transport strategy

The Epping Forest Charity announced a renewed Transport Strategy for the Forest in late 2025, intend to reduce adverse environmental impacts, improve road and pedestrian safety, enhance accessibility for Forest users, and support the Conservators’ programme to re-establish commoners’ cattle grazing.

A wide path in Epping Forest winds through lush green woodland, lined with mature trees and dense vegetation on both sides.

Visitor Management Strategy

The Epping Forest Charity is commencing a Visitor Management Strategy for Epping Forest. The purpose is to identify scope to provide additional infrastructure, divert/promote recreational use in certain areas, and protect the most sensitive areas of the Forest.

You may also be interested in

People's Forest Panel

A forum to get local community members together to discuss key issues in relation to Epping Forest and inform our policy positions. This is part of the ‘Epping Forest Together’ project made possible thanks to the support from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Two volunteers wearing high-visibility vests stand behind a table in an outdoor stall set-up. The table is covered with leaflets and materials, and a vertical Epping Forest Heritage Trust banner stands beside them. The stall is set in a grassy landscape with trees and woodland in the background under a bright blue sky.

Become a policy & campaign volunteer

Raising awareness about the Forest with the public, policymakers and politicians, and responding to various consultations and key issues around the Forest including on safe, sustainable transport to, from and around the Forest and the impact of adjacent development.