Walks 'n' talks to celebrate Countrycare Anniversary

Published on 3 August 2011

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Council’s Countryside Service, Countrycare have organised various events throughout the year.

On Monday 18 July 2011 Countrycare organised an event that was hosted by the Epping Forest Council tree wardens and the City of London Corporation tree wardens in Epping Forest.

The day started at Warren House in the City of London Grounds on Epping New Road, with introductions from Kevin Mason tree warden officer for the council and Martin Whitfield volunteer manager for the City of London.

The tree wardens were then given a very interesting lecture on the history of pollarding in Epping Forest by Dr. Jeremy Dagley, Senior Ecologist for the City of London Corporation. Time was allowed for a question and answer session which Dr. Dagley answered in a most informative manner.

The tree wardens were then taken by minibus and land rover to High Beech to look at the work being carried out to restore some of the old oak and beech pollards in the forest. An explanation of the work being carried out was given by forest ecologist Andy Froud
Whilst there, the opportunity was taken to look at a large very old beech tree which was estimated as being at least 400 years old.

On Saturday 16 July 2011 Countrycare, organised guided walk from Epping Upland through to Nazeingwood Common, re-created one of the first country walks mapped by Countrycare and the first footpaths worked on, back in 1986.

The walk was led by Countryside Manager Abigail Oldham, who pointed out the natural history and wildlife aspects along the route, and Kevin Mason, who provided historical information.

The walk started along Epping Long Green West under threatening skies. This ancient drovers’ route along the ridge of Nazeingwood Common led to Copywood Field, a Local Wildlife Site managed by Countrycare. The site has recently had its annual grass cut to encourage wildflowers. The grassland has only survived because of its small size and contains many grassy hummocks created by Yellow Meadow ants.

Alongside Copywood field is Copy Wood, another Local Wildlfe Site, notable for a large pear tree some mature elm trees, hornbeam and field maple coppice and a very large veteran Oak pollard which the walkers stopped and admired.

Leaving the wood behind, the route went down the fairly steep hill to Common Road, up Back Lane and across the fields in front of Nazeing Park. A stop was made here to explain the history of Nazeing Park. It was built in 1796 by William Palmer and he used his powers as a magistrate to divert the road so that traffic now uses Common road as the house was once located on the main road. Once through Nazeing Park we stopped to look at the old post office building and the historic buildings in Upper Nazeing.

At this point we arrived at Nazeing Triangle one of the Epping Forest District’s Local Nature Reserves. Managed by the Countrycare team, this year it has a large amount of water in the recently excavated pond. The plan was to have refreshments and a wildflower identification session but the heavens opened so the walkers moved on quickly.

Turning east across the fields we reached The Sun public house, we then crossed Common Road taking the recently mown bridle path from Harknett’s Gate onto Nazeingwood Common itself.

We crossed the common, passed Lodge Farm and up the hill to the journey’s end at the Travellers Friend, which was a welcome sight for the very wet walkers. The route was a total distance of about 4 miles which took 2 ½ hours to complete.