A place very close to my heart is Epping Forest. Covering something like 6,000 acres and being 18 km long, it is one of the reasons I decided to live where I do. I love the close proximity to the forest and the fact that my early morning walks allow me to skirt it while longer forages with friends and family have allowed me to explore it. I use the forest to relax, to exercise, to think and to enjoy nature while still living in a major city. and it was in Epping Forest that I did most of the East End Girls training for the Breakthrough Walk and where we often return to favourite spots.
I have just been catching up on emails and am delighted to hear that the Heritage Lottery Fund has just provided the City of London with a development grant of £233,250 to plan a project to build a new visitors centre alongside Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, complete with a viewing platform over the forest. This is intended to ‘secure the future of the Forest’s rich resources and opens up its past for visitors to explore'.
I think that this is fantastic news and once these plans are approved a further £4.76 million will be released by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money will also aid conservation efforts in the forest, particularly for saving historic pollarded trees that are at risk of collapse. The money will also help fund the reintroduction of cattle to the forest, which is seen as essential to maintain the biodiversity and mix of habitats in the forest. New walkways, toilets, guided tours and refreshment kiosks will also be provided.
The forest was designated as a royal forest in the 12th Centuryand during her reigh Queen Victoria gave the forest to the people of London to enjoy. Although it is busy and I love to see the groups of people using it to fly kites, have picnics, mountain bike, use the tea huts and walk, I am aware that many who live close by do not even know of the forest or what it consists of.
How great it would be if, as part of this programmes were developed to help people get to know the area and how to use it to suit them. I think I might have to look at this one further.
As with a lot of development, is there the risk that the forest may get spoilt? No, I don't think so, more and better facilities will be great and the forest is huge so there are areas where people will not venture so I think those havens of peace are still safe.
Here are some of the East End girls enjoying the forest.
