simply by owners extending the boundary fence or hedge around their existing property. In the
Loughton area the 'rolling fence", a hedge of brambles and other shrubs, was used to surreptitiously
enlarge the size of one's property. In the attachment roll there are several references to the poor people
of Loughton growing potatoes on illegally enclosed ground in the Loughton area. Many enclosures,
those that had not been built on, were returned to the Forest jurisdiction by the arbitrators' award once
it was found that the enclosures were illegal. The influence that enclosures have had on the Forest is
significant. They have created areas of secondary grassland, much secondary woodland and are the
reason for the presence of many exotic trees and shrubs in the Forest. The presence of arable fields
on land that had recently carried pollard trees in the 19th century, such as enclosure 369, Warren Hill
indicates that many 19th century botanists must have been able to legitimately include cornfield weed
species on their lists of Forest plants. Buxton (1911) includes Corn Gromwell (Lithospermum
arvense), Corn Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), Shepherds Needle (Scandix pecten-veneris) and
Field Madder (Sheradia arvensis) on his list of Forest plants. Probably many of these records came
from cultivated enclosures.
Green Lanes
The green lanes, unmetalled trackways, some ten miles of which are to be found under the
jurisdiction of the Conservators, are probably the most neglected area of study of any part of Epping
Forest. They have an interesting flora and deserve to be better known. In the total mileage of green
lanes I have included not only the traditional lanes such as Gilwell. Sewardstone. Clapgate. Puck.
Rugged. Blind (two - one at Upshire, the other on Lippitts Hill) and Sergeants Green, but also the
curious lanes, such as Organ Lane, now completely hemmed in by urban development at Chingford
and the linear greens such as Epping Long and Galley Hill. The lanes are probably of great antiquity.
Reaney (1969) mentions Amesgrene (Ames Green) in 1364 and le Galwehill (Galley Hill) in 1414.
Reaney suggests the latter was derived from the former presence of gallows. Puck Lane is of interest
since Puck is probably derived from Puchisland (1365). said to commemorate goblins. It appears from
Ordnance Survey maps that Epping Long and Galley Hill Greens were at one time connected. Galley
Hill Green also has a conglomerate boulder, one of several in the area, part of a 200 mile alignment
that are said to be prehistoric waymarkers which stretch from Pangbourne on the Thames to the
neolithic flint mine at Grimes Graves in Norfolk (EN XXIX p. 17-31. p. 176-186. p.256-258 and EN
XXX p.53-55). The alignment, however, does not follow Galley Hill and Epping Long Greens.
The antiquity of the green lanes is further underlined by the tree and shrub flora in their hedgerows,
which includes Service in several places. Other woodland plants found on the hedgerows bordering
the lanes are Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) and Dog's Mercury. 1 have also seen
Common Twayblade and Cowslips growing together on the boundary bank of Epping Long Green.
The open track way of the green lanes generally has a typical neutral grassland flora. A list of plants
from Sewardstone Green lane and Blind Lane. Lippitts Hill is given in Table 8. Very few of the trees
in the green lanes have been managed, a few pollards only, and the occasional coppice stool, such as
Hazel. I imagine in the past grazing livestock kept any encroachment at bay. Today many of the green
lanes are little used by either foot or horse traffic and as a consequence many are becoming encroached
with Blackthorn suckers. Sometimes Creeping Thistle blocks the way. Parts of Epping Long Green
were badly damaged by tractor ruts in 1987 and in the same year I noticed a small amount of damage
due to herbicide spray drift from an adjacent arable field on the boundary of Sewardstone Green Lane.
Because of the intense hedgerow destruction that has characterised much of the agricultural landscape
of lowland England over the last thirty years, the ancient shrub rich hedgerows of some of the green
lanes are worthy of the highest conservation priority.
Roadside Verges
Roadside verges are also rather neglected from a botanical point of view. They can often be quite
extensive and floristically rich, but rather narrow, strips of grassland, if mown (usually irregularly)
the coarser species of plant are unable to dominate the sward. Problems include pollutants washed off
the road and sprayed by passing cars (exhaust fumes, lead, oil and salt) and destruction of the verge
itself. Recently (1991) verges between Goldings Hill and the Wake Arms have been destroyed either
by pipe-laying operations or the dumping of spoil on the opposite verge. One of the few populations
of Dog Violet (Viola canina) was destroyed in this way. A hawkweed (Hieracium salticola) is thought
to be extinct now in the Forest due to the excessive flailing of some verges which causes enrichment
and excessive growth of weed species. Typical plants of roadside verges are few. but include False
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