4. Hainault Forest, Romford

Woodland Walks - The Woodland Trust Podcast

Close to London, this urban oasis has a long and important history. It has provided wood to fire the capital’s bread ovens and venison for the king’s table, and is where the British conservation movement began.

We join the Trust’s Jonathan Jukes and George Lewis for a tour of this special place, a remnant of the Forest of Essex once protected by the crown. Among stately hornbeams and oaks, you can almost imagine highwaymen charging through, Roman legions marching and local people managing the trees and grazing cattle.

What remains was almost felled in the 19th century, but the local community stood up for the nature that was important to them and the site was saved - preserved for us to keep enjoying today.

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