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The Essex Naturalist
The bramble flora of Epping Forest
Alec Bull
Hillcrest, East Tuddenham, Dereham. Norfolk NR20 3JJ
Introduction
During the summer of 1995, the author carried out a contract to survey the
northern part of Epping Forest, extending as far south as Powell's Forest on the
eastern side and Whitehouse Plain on the west. The purpose was to try to
rediscover Rubus powellii Rogers, an Epping Forest endemic which has declined
drastically in the past hundred years, in order to put in hand conservation
measures if this proved possible. Five full days were spent in Epping Forest
between 11th and 27th July, 1995. Lists were made of all species found in each
part of the Forest, a new list being started each time a 1km National Grid line
was crossed; Thus it was possible to break up long sections of path such as The
Green Ride, which travels from Bell Common to Warren Hill, traversing nine
different 1km squares. Voucher specimens were taken of all species found, to
enable the formation of a reference collection that would be available for future
work on the genus in the Forest. This collection is lodged at the
Superintendent's Office at Warren Hill, Loughton.
Origins of the Epping Forest Rubus flora
A study of the distribution maps of endemic species of Rubus in Britain (Edees &
Newton 1988) reveals that many species are concentrated around, though not
necessarily confined to, ancient forests such as the New Forest, the Forest of
Dean, Wyre Forest and Ashdown Forest. There can be little dispute that
climatic factors played their part in this as all the above sites plus a large
proportion of associated southern England escaped glaciation during the various
ice ages. As might be expected, other types of habitat in these southern counties
also provide sanctuary for a wider range of Rubus species than areas just a short
distance further north that were covered by the ice sheets. The commons and
heaths of Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset and the Weald of Kent support many
species of both widespread and also of very limited distribution amongst those
which are nameable. In addition, there are very many plants which are never
likely to be named because their distribution may be limited to a single wood,
whilst at the same time being viable species. The same applies to Essex with
much difficult terrain for the batologist especially in the neighbourhood of
Colchester and up to Stour Wood at Wrabness where there is almost more
unnameable material than that which can be named. It is therefore surprising to
discover that there are few such problems in Epping Forest; one of the main ones
has been tackled and overcome as a result of the present survey and further work
since.
It is relevant to consider the management of the forest from earliest times to
discover why this might be. Rackham (1986) states that in Anglo Saxon times