Hainault Forest Country Park

Hainault Forest has a quality that locks it in time, an ancient forest and woodland in the hustle and bustle of London, one of the biggest cities in the World, which could be one of our last links with the Wild Wood that made up the British landscape after the last ice age. A substantial remnant of what was once known as the Kings Wood, an important medieval hunting ground within the Great Forest of Essex, which both the Nationally renowned Hatfield and Epping Forests were part of as well. Hainault Forest provided food, shelter, fuel and other resources for hundreds of generations; some of this human activity is preserved and unaltered by cultivation or disturbance, by the presence of nationally significant hornbeam and oak pollards, and wood pasture, now home to a range of nationally significant and amazing wildlife. As part of our conservation programme, following the most stringent criteria under the Forest Stewardship Council, we will be looking to sustainably harvest these renewable woodland products again. The importance of Hainault Forest in the early Victorian Conservation Movement is a sad but at the same time inspiring story. Half of the ancient woodland we know today was ripped out and destroyed in less than 2 months, to make way for agricultural land. The speed of destruction and obvious loss of wildlife awakened the fire and passion of the conservation movement, led by the late Edward North Buxton. Epping Forest, Hatfield Forest and what remained of Hainault Forest are here because of this; sadly Hainault Forest had to pay with half its ancient trees and woodland. Hainault Forest however has proven resilient, a popular open space for East Londoners since its inception as an open space in 1906, and a place of inspiration for many. The guardianship and passion of individuals that saved the entire Forest from the axe in the 19th century and other more recent challenges, has been documented right up to the present day. The nationally significant Forest landscape is a contributor to people’s sense of place, well-being, imagination and hope. Part of Hainault Forest is still in its infancy of restoration to the ancient Forest it once was, learning from the past and inspiring new guardians of the future, will be the mantra of this restoration journey, connecting existing and new communities to this magical landscapes restoration.