Ben Murphy is leaving as chair of Epping Forest Committee | Epping Forest Guardian
Spring is my favourite season — nature’s way of reminding us how beautiful change can be.
The transition from spring to summer also brings change for the Epping Forest and Commons Committee – the City of London Corporation’s policy-making body, responsible for protecting the Forest and several other green spaces around the capital – as my time as chairman draws to a close.
It has been an honour to serve a cause so close to my heart, and a privilege to work alongside such dedicated and inspiring colleagues.
Together, we’ve navigated challenges, embraced change, and made meaningful progress.
I’m proud of what we’ve achieved – not just in statistics or policy, but in lives touched, voices heard, and hope renewed.
John Wilkes, an 18th-century Chamberlain of the City Corporation, used to say at each Freedom ceremony: “I give you the gift of joy.”
While that gift once represented economic opportunity, Epping Forest offers something even more enduring – joy in nature, freely given to all.
It’s no wonder it’s called The People’s Forest. But what does that mean today?
Mark Gorman’s book, Saving the People’s Forest, reminds us that it was local, working-class communities who campaigned to preserve this landscape 150 years ago, forging a contract with the City Corporation under a common cause.
At the time, no one could be elected without pledging to protect the Forest. The growth of 19th-century London was unprecedented, significantly reducing access to green spaces with the rapid building of factories and housing.
It was ordinary people who stood up, spoke out, and changed the course of history.
The responsibility for safeguarding The People’s Forest rests with all of us.
Addressing the impacts of climate change, resisting inappropriate development, and responding effectively to antisocial behaviour are challenges that require collective effort. The City of London Corporation cannot do this alone.
The energy, generosity, and quiet determination of our volunteers are a constant reminder that small acts, sustained over time, can help to shape something truly remarkable.
If you are looking to give something back to the community you love, I highly recommend giving volunteering at Epping Forest a try.
To everyone who has shown me kindness and support over the past three years: thank you.
I have, of course, been just one leaf of a much larger metaphorical tree, and I feel blessed knowing that as I step back, fresh talent and new ideas will carry the organisation forward towards a brighter future.
And so, I leave you with the same words John Wilkes once gave: I give you the gift of joy.
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Ben Murphy is Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee.
