Some observations on changes in the wildlife of Epping Forest since 1939
under hornbeams near Highams Park Lake (TQ392922). Sightings in the last few years have been
very rare and there are no recent records of breeding in the Forest.
Abundance taken for granted
Some parts of my notes are quite frustrating to read now. For instance, 'throw away' comments like,
".. .there were many Hawfinches about today" - obviously so mundane it was not worthy of further
comment. Or, another note in early May 1940, "Redstarts seem to be more numerous than ever this
year judging by the number of males I heard singing in Monk Wood today". Also casual comments
like "...found another Wood Warbler's Phylloscopus sibilatrix nest today in Hangboy Slade" and
on another occasion, ".. .lots of Tree Sparrows along the Sewardstone Road".
Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) could be found in many places in the Forest. There was quite a
colony around the Oaks near the Royal Forest Hotel, and, they nested in an old Hornbeam pollard
along the Green Ride near Peartree Plain. Today they are found breeding in only a handful of places
throughout Essex, while Wood Warblers are now almost extinct as a breeding bird within the County.
Another casual note in early June 1942, "Tree Pipits are very numerous this year".
In fact most of the grassy or heathy plains of the central or northern parts of the Forest regularly
accommodated two orthree pairs of Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis. They could be found as far south as
Woodford Golf Course and Whitehall Plain. The light open woodland around the Clay Road, the
slope below Loughton Camp and even around High Beach Church contained pairs. There were
several pairs across Fairmead Bottom (TQ411965) and round to Almshouse Plain (TQ404965J.
Now, four or five breeding pairs in the Forest arc good news and only one or two other sites in the
whole of Essex can boast breeding pairs.
The countryside surrounding the Forest was of course richer too - in breeding birds. The fields and
water meadows of the Lea and Roding valleys were favourite spots to visit. Particularly worthy of
regular attention were the Chigwell meadows and fields east of the Roding between Buckhurst Hill
and Abridge. There, 4-5 pairs of Redshanks Tringa totanus were regularly breeding and drumming
Snipe Galinago galinago were more numerous. The large flocks of Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in
late summer were hardly worth a mention in my notes.
On a Saturday afternoon in September 1940 I see I was lying in a dry ditch watching 6 Redshank,
several Snipe, a large flock of Lapwing and 3 Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus on a gravel pit
near Abridge (now filled in). Although not mentioned in my notes I remember the day well because
buzzing shrapnel from anti-aircraft gunfire was falling around me (I stayed 'put'- there was nowhere
to run) and later three planes crashed within sight from a 'dog fight'! It was, of course, during what
was going to be called the 'Battle of Britain'. The birds meanwhile continued feeding on the mud.
Wartime bird-watching was very different. If you were seen with binoculars children would hiss
"spy". You usually hid them inside your coat. Twice I was 'arrested' by the military near anti-aircraft
emplacements in the Lea Valley because I had binoculars. The second time the officer knew something
about birds - he had been Snipe shooting!
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)