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🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Epping Forest

✦ Ancient woodland95 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome95 ha

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

Horse Ride through Epping Forest

Horse Ride through Epping Forest

1 / 22

Visiting this spring

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌸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