The Lower Forest ✦ Ancient woodland 83 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 83 ha
Places › England › Eastern › Epping Forest Getting here
51.71190, 0.13049
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking on site — 20 car parks within reach 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking on site — 20 car parks within reach £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon +71 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon +71 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Broad-leaved Helleborine, Primrose, Common Spotted-orchid +6 more · last seen 2024
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Red-headed Cardinal Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Jersey Tiger +73 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Red-headed Cardinal Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Jersey Tiger +73 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🍄 Mushroom foraging
Good match
Fungi — Sarcoscypha, Scarlet Elfcup · last seen 2023; Fungi — Sarcoscypha, Scarlet Elfcup · last seen 2023
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 8 signed routes nearby · 14 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Three Forests Way Walking route 96 km ▾
Named route Length 96 km Round trip Regional walking route
Show on map Epping Forest Big Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Forest Way Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Parndon Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Netteswell Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map The Plain public footpath · 140 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 140 m Path type: residential
Show on map The Woodyard public footpath · 135 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 135 m Path type: service
Show on map Thornwood public footpath · 74 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 74 m Surface dirt Path type: service
Show on map 1 public path nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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id: 793b7164-6d7a-4ea9-9324-8ebf8796cff6
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Wildlife to spot
13,576 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 13,576 records · National Biodiversity Network Magpie · Great Tit · Woodpigeon · Robin · Jackdaw +39
Magpie Pica pica2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 🦌 Mammals 5 species
winter spring autumn
2026 ▾
Muntjac · Common Pipistrelle · Stoat · Badger · Fallow Deer
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus2025 Stoat Mustela erminea2025 Badger Meles meles2025 Fallow Deer Dama dama2025 Slow-worm
🐸 Amphibians 2 species
summer autumn
2025 ▾
Common Frog · Great Crested Newt
Common Frog Rana temporaria Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus 🐝 Insects 26 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Jersey Tiger · Norfolk Aeshna · 7-spot Ladybird · Green Shieldbug · Dock Bug +21
Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria Norfolk Aeshna Aeshna isoceles 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Dock Bug Coreus marginatus Blue Shieldbug Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 13,576 records · National Biodiversity Network Magpie · Great Tit · Woodpigeon · Robin · Jackdaw +39
Magpie Pica pica2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 🦌 Mammals 5 species
winter spring autumn
2026 ▾
Muntjac · Common Pipistrelle · Stoat · Badger · Fallow Deer
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus2025 Stoat Mustela erminea2025 Badger Meles meles2025 Fallow Deer Dama dama2025 Slow-worm
🐸 Amphibians 2 species
summer autumn
2025 ▾
Common Frog · Great Crested Newt
Common Frog Rana temporaria Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus 🐝 Insects 26 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Jersey Tiger · Norfolk Aeshna · 7-spot Ladybird · Green Shieldbug · Dock Bug +21
Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria Norfolk Aeshna Aeshna isoceles 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Dock Bug Coreus marginatus Blue Shieldbug Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Zicrona caerulea
Zicrona caerulea
Cantharis rustica Cantharis rustica
Cantharis rustica Cantharis rustica
Harmonia axyridis form succinea Harmonia axyridis form succinea
Harmonia axyridis form succinea Harmonia axyridis form succinea
Rhyparochromus vulgaris Rhyparochromus vulgaris
Rhyparochromus vulgaris Rhyparochromus vulgaris
Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis
Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens
Strawberry-blossom Weevil Anthonomus rubi
Strawberry-blossom Weevil Anthonomus rubi
14-spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
14-spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
Malthinus seriepunctatus Malthinus seriepunctatus
Malthinus seriepunctatus Malthinus seriepunctatus
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata
Cantharis Cantharis
Cantharis Cantharis
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis
Turnip Tigress Athalia rosae
Turnip Tigress Athalia rosae
Carabus nemoralis Carabus nemoralis
Carabus nemoralis Carabus nemoralis
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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