Follow the Forest
Follow the Forest is an audio-guided walk between Highams Park Lake and the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at Chingford. Approximately two miles in distance, this short yet abundant forest walk takes around one and a half hours to complete, with several stops along the way to take in your surroundings, including information and reflections from several individuals and groups connected to this landscape. The route will take you via the meandering flow of the River Ching, through Hatch Forest and Whitehall Plain and onwards to the ancient trees of Barn Hoppit. The walk concludes at the Epping Forest Visitor Centre in Chingford. Organised by artist Shaun C Badham and James Ravinet in 2024, this guide forms part of a project which seeks to explore and make visible the unique history and ecology of Epping Forest. It takes as its focus the origins of the Epping Forest Act of 1878, a groundbreaking piece of legislation which protects this environment from development and enclosures of the land. The walk also highlights the many community groups, organisations and residents that continue in this tradition of preserving the forest. This project is kindly supported by Waltham Forest Council’s Make It Happen Grant programme. For official information and guidelines on Epping Forest, please refer to the City of London website: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Location: Viewing Platform, IG8 9REFor official information and guidelines on Epping Forest, please refer to the City of London website.
4 days ago
4 days ago
Location: Byelaws Sign.As you walk with the lake to the left hand side, take a moment to pause at the sign to the right of the forest path.
4 days ago
4 days ago
Location: Byelaws Sign.As you walk with the lake to the left hand side, take a moment to pause at the sign to the right of the forest path.
For official information and guidelines on Epping Forest, please refer to the City of London website.
5 days ago
5 days ago
Location: Humphry’s Café.A short walk further up the path will take you to the entrance of Highams Park, located on the right hand side.
5 days ago
5 days ago
Location: The Highams ParkRemaining in the same area, the route then returns to the lake to follow the path deeper into the forest.
5 days ago
5 days ago
Location: Highams Park Lake A short way up the path to the left hand side, you will notice the remains of a large fallen tree jutting out into the lake.
6 days ago
6 days ago
Location: Footbridge Walk beyond the length of the lake and cross over the footbridge to the left. From here, walk deeper into the forest along the path until you reach a second footbridge.
6 days ago
6 days ago
Location: Woodford Golf Club As you cross Chingford Lane and reach a cross section of paths, continue walking straight and take a moment to pause by one of the openings where you will notice a nearby golf course.
6 days ago
6 days ago
Location: Whitehall Plain Continue walking straight along the path until you cross Whitehall Road, arriving at the grassland pastures of Whitehall Plain.
7 days ago
7 days ago
Location: Off Brook Road Take a natural path through the grassland to the right, where you will find an opening, to cross Brook Road and walk into a small grassland area opposite. With the treeline on your left, follow the path straight until you reach a large bush on your left. Lookout for a small marker stone in the bushes.