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🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Epping Forest

✦ Ancient woodland95 ha

📷 Derek Harper · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome95 ha

Getting here

51.66642, 0.04660

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Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Magpie, Robin, Carrion Crow +50 more · last seen 2026; Lowland heathland — Dartford warblers, nightjars and stonechats

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Magpie, Robin, Carrion Crow +50 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Insect spotting

Strong match

Free

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, Large Red Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser +56 more · last seen 2026

Dog walks

Strong match

Free

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Foraging

Good match

Varies

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Forest walks

Good match

Free

Public woodland

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

▾

15 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Oak TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Essex Way (Epping to Stratford St Mary)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Epping Forest Big WalkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
London LOOP (Section 19)Walking route▾
Named routeRef LOOPRegional walking route
Beech TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

▾

73 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Route (1)Cycling route▾

National Cycle Network link route

Named routeRef (1)Local cycle route
LCN 11Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 11Local cycle route
Cycleway 60Cycling route▾
Named routeRef C60Regional cycle route
Cycleway 61Cycling route▾
Named routeRef C61Regional cycle route
Innova ParkCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

▾

5 public paths nearby

Public paths
Woodredon Farm Lanebridleway · 245 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 245 mPath type: service
Woodredon Farm Lanebridleway · 88 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 88 mSurface asphaltPath type: service

About this broadleaved woodland

Epping Forest is an ancient broadleaved woodland covering 95 hectares. As an ancient woodland, it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD — a rare and irreplaceable habitat rich in biodiversity and historical character.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

22 photos from nearby open sources

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Horse Ride through Epping Forest

📷 Derek Harper · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Horse Ride through Epping Forest

1 / 22

Visiting this spring

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🌸Ancient woodlands are famous for bluebell carpets in April and May — one of Britain's most spectacular wildflower displays
  • 🐦Prime nesting season — listen for woodpecker drumming, warbler song and the first cuckoos from April
  • 🦌Roe deer are active before the leaf canopy closes in — dawn and dusk are best

Facilities

🅿️

Parking

Rushey Plain Car Park · Paid · 179m

✦ Ancient✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Abbey GardensUrban park4.2 km→🌱Rose GardenUrban park4.1 km→🌱Abbey GardensUrban park4.1 km→✦Waltham Abbey, including gatehouse and Stoney BridgeHistoric site4.2 km→🌱Abbey MeadowsUrban park4.3 km→🌱Waltham Abbey Orchard and wildflower gardenUrban park4 km→