Unimproved grassland
We do not know the structure of the flora and the diversity of the fauna of
the plains in time past, but a glance down Buxton's list (1898) suggests much
more diversity of species than now. Changes in management, notably a decrease
in grazing intensity with an increase in coarse herbage, work against diversity,
although some species of moths, butterflies, small mammals and ground-
nesting birds might be expected to increase. Is there any evidence of this?
Two types of grassland are of the greatest interest for flowering herbs: the
tightly-grazed plains (e.g. parts of Chingford and Whitehall Plains) and lightly
-mown sward (e.g. the cricket outfield on Mill Green) where the continuous
removal of growth enables weaker herbs to compete with the more vigorous; and
those places where grassland is wetter than average and especially where it
grades into marsh (e.g. Whitehouse and Sunshine Plains). Many of the rarer
species in early and current lists grow in the latter habitat.
Wetland
This term covers marsh, bog, pools and larger ponds. The Forest has an
abundance of former and existing wetland. It is the most interesting habitat for
naturalists generally and also for specialists in many branches of plant and
invertebrate science.
Bogs have an additional value, only lately realised in the Forest, in that
they preserve plant remains and thus provide a record of vegetational change in
the surrounding land. In Epping Forest, and in north London this record goes
back 1500-3000 years (Girling & Greig, 1977; and Rackham, this volume).
In spite of this, wetland has declined recently due to three causes: invasion
by trees, especially birch, causing marsh to dry out (e.g. Deershelter and
Sunshine Plains); overshadowing by uncut or unbrowsed foliage (e.g. certain
Sphagnum bogs in the northern half of the Forest); and locally by drainage
through digging ditches (e.g. Almshouse Plain). Certain pools are used in-
tensively for recreation and their margins are thoroughly trampled (e.g.
Connaught Water).
MANAGEMENT AND NATURE CONSERVATION
Little has been published on the needs of wildlife in the Forest. This is
surprising because wildlife conservation is particularly exacting where public
access is encouraged and no powers of formal control exist. Early writers took
wildlife for granted: Buxton (1898) and Qvist (1956) implied that it should take
its chance under the Conservators' management policy.
The origin of this policy lies with the Epping Forest Act 1878 and the parts
referring to vegetation and land management are worth recalling here.
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