Forest trekking in Epping Forest

As per Wiki…

Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation.

It covers 2,476 hectares^[1][2] and contains areas of woodland, grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds. Stretching between Forest Gate in the south and Epping in the north, Epping Forest is approximately 19 kilometres (12 mi) long in the north-south direction, but no more than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from east to west at its widest point, and in most places considerably narrower.

Epping Forest is known as “The People’s Forest”: Until the outbreak of BSE (Foot and Mouth) in 1996 commoners still exercised their right to graze cattle and every summer herds of cattle would roam freely in the southern part of the forest (and occasionally in the streets of Leytonstone).^{[citation needed]} Cattle were reintroduced in 2001 but their movements are now more restricted to reduce conflict with traffic.^[6] Commoners, who are people who live in a Forest parish and own 0.5 acres (2,000 m²) of land, can still register and graze cattle during the summer months.

Unfortunately we did NOT see any cattle.

Finding my way into the forest

This is called "Forest Exhuberance". It is not caused by Foot and Mouth.

Of course I ate the blackberries... it's the People's Forest

Jen opted to avoid the blackberries.

This is the opposite of Forest Exhuberance; this occurs after one has been lost in the forest and then finds her way out to civilised toilet facilities.

In the garden at the Hunting Lodge. Please don't mind my comb-over; it's actually a failed braid.

A better photograph of the Lodge.

In Tudor times, Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I may have hunted in the forest, though no documentary evidence has survived to prove it. In 1543, Henry commissioned a building, known as Great Standing, from which to view the chase at Chingford. The building was renovated in 1589 for Queen Elizabeth I and can still be seen today in Chingford. The building is now known as Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, and is open to the public. (From Wiki)

Two Jens with a mean King and a fierce Queen. Dress-up time.

It was one of the first sunny days we had had in some time, and made for the perfect opportunity to explore the forest. I satisfied my blackberry craving (for the day), and even found a few wild apples with which to adequately disturb Jen, who is not apt to eat rogue fruit.

If anyone who is coming to visit (or is living here) would like to visit the forest, they have a full program including FUNGHI WALKS, and I’d be happy to return.

 

 

 

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