Before doing so, readers may like to look at the numerous sketches of
Epping Forest drawn in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (figs 11-12) and
read the accounts of travellers in the Forest appearing in popular books and
scientific journals. The picture emerges of a tightly-managed forest with pollard
groves being cut every 10-15 years, plains grazed by commoners' cattle, heather
covering the higher gravelly ground, and many long vistas. The Act changed the
rules governing the management of the Forest and, as interpreted by the
Conservators, led to radical changes in its vegetation, animal life and usage.
The Epping Forest Act
The Act authorises the disafforestation of Epping Forest and gives the
Corporation of London sole powers of administration, subject to the provisions
of the Act. They are summarised in Qvist (1971 pp 9-10); later amendments do
not affect nature conservation.
The principal sections relevant to nature conservation are:-
Section 5 The continuation of common of pasture.
Section 6 The cessation of rights of digging gravel, clay and loam, cutting turf,
lopping and topping, cutting underwood and assignments of fuel.
Section 7 (1) The preservation of open space.
Section 7 (3) "The Conservators shall at all times as far as possible preserve the
natural aspect of the Forest . . . and shall protect the timber and other
trees, pollards, shrubs, underwood, heather, gorse, turf and herbage
growing on the Forest..."
Section 9'' The public shall have the right to use Epping Forest as an open space
for recreation and enjoyment."
Section 33 (1)
(i) "To fell, cut, lop and manage in due course the timber and other trees,
pollards and underwoods, and to sell and dispose of the timber cuttings
and loppings..."
(ii) "To dig and remove gravel, sand, clay, loam and turf and drain, level and
improve the subsoil, so far as in their judgement may be necessary or
desirable for purposes of management."
(v) "To make ponds and to enlarge, clean out and maintain or fill up ponds,
streams, water courses, and springs."
Section 36 Under byelaws the Conservators may prevent or regulate "the
digging or taking of turf, bog-earth, gravel, clay or other substances", and
the "cutting, felling or injuring of timber or other trees, gorse, heather,
shrubs, brushwood or other plants."
These duties and powers should be borne in mind when the following aspects of
nature conservation in the Forest are considered. A survey of their effect in
enhancing nature conservation is given in the Conclusion at the end of this
paper.
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