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
Listen on:
Episodes
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Location: Whitehall Plain Trace your steps back over to Whitehall Plain, making your way across the pasture diagonally before taking the path left up to Barn Hoppitt.
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Location: Barn Hoppitt Continue walking straight along the path, noticing the ancient oak trees around you.
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
Location: Ranger’s Road As you emerge from Barn Hoppitt, Butler’s Retreat and Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge will come into view. Beyond here, you will find The Royal Forest Hotel and the Epping Forest Visitor Centre.
Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
Location: Epping Forest Visitor Centre, E4 7QH.For official information and guidelines on Epping Forest, please refer to the City of London website.