As 2024 draws to a close, the Epping Forest team have been reflecting on the achievements for what has been an exhausting, but transformative year. And I am proud to present ‘Epping Forest: a Year in Review’ which you can read at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/eppingforest
It isn’t often I get the opportunity to thank our staff, committee members and volunteers for their hard work, but as we pause and reflect, I think we can all be proud of what we have achieved together this year. Of course, there’s a lot of work still to do!
Our team are busy finalising a new framework to help us prioritise the vast number of projects we undertake, as well as Epping Forest’s five-year business plan, which sets out what we will deliver, how it will be resourced, and any changes we wish to make for it all to happen.
It is important these decisions are transparent to our stakeholders, and that we can be responsive when new ideas emerge and quickly assess the benefits, funding sources, and how much we need to prioritise against our ever-growing list of work.
Tackling poor water quality in our local rivers and ponds is something we take very seriously. 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 email chingactiongroup@gmail.com if you’d like to sign up.
We are also working with the London Borough of Redbridge and the Environment Agency to tackle unlicensed discharge by Thames Water into the River Roding. The fact is, we cannot improve biodiversity in Epping Forest without clean water.
As we countdown to Christmas, keep an eye on our Epping Forest website and social media which is packed full of useful information and events.
If you are visiting the Forest during the holiday season, do give our team a wave who will be out and about. Or better still, start your visit at the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Chingford and speak to our friendly and knowledgeable staff for helpful advice about where to explore. The Centre is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm, and will be open across the bank holidays, except for Christmas Day.
All that remains is for me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Benjamin Murphy CC, Chairman, Epping Forest and Commons Committee at the City of London Corporation
Happy New Year to all. On my New Years! Walk I noticed some wonderful volunteer work, clearing the brush in Theydon Bois woodland to encourage diversity of grassland.
As an aside I would love to know what you think of the idea of swimming ponds in Epping Forest, it’s a long way to go to visit the ponds at Hampstead and I would love to see these life affirming, facilities in the East of London too.
I used to swim outdoors at the Lido at the Whipps Cross end of Snaresbrook Road as a child prior to it being filled in and it was magical.
Happy New Year to you too, Nichola.
There are no plans for open water swimming in Epping Forest. You have to remember that this is a Special Area of Conservation as one of Western Europe’s largest collections of ancient trees, rather than a leisure facility, which is a local authority responsibility and which you pay tax towards. Best to pick this one up with your local councillors.