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 Hoppitt.
The route includes several stops along the way to take in your surroundings, including information and reflections from several individuals and groups connected to this landscape including Epping Forest Heritage Trust, Chingford Historical Society, Ching Brook Action Group, Highams Park Planning Group and local author and historian Georgina Green. As you listen along, refer to the illustrated map of the walking route, whereby each number on the map correlates with the audio tracks.
Listen to the audio-guide here.
Download a copy of the map here.
Illustration and design by Philippa StewartIllustration and design by artist Philippa Stewart.
Organised by artists Shaun C Badham and James Ravinet as part of a series of walks 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.
Special thanks to Georgina Green, Janet Laban, Robyn Lammiman, Amy Liu, Gary Stone, Gordon Turpin and the City of London Corporation. Sound editing by Paul Bates and Gabrielle Milanese.
This project is kindly supported by Waltham Forest Council’s Make It Happen Grant programme.
Epping Forest is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation. For official information and guidance about Epping Forest, please refer to the City of London website.