Buckhurst Hill Community Association
Classes in art, crafts and leisure activities

Local Natural History Walks

Friday Morning

10 .00 am - 12.00

Fee: 68.00

Tutor: Tricia Moxey

An opportunity to explore the natural history of Epping Forest and our local countryside, and look at trees, plants and animals in the changing seasons.

This course is aimed at anyone who has curiosity about the natural world of trees, flowers, fungi, mammals, birds and butterflies and related creatures! Useful tips on identification will be offered and discussions relating to the dependence on one another will form part of the course.

The pace of the walks will be gentle so that there will be every opportunity to take a close look at what is around us. All meetings are outside and will take place come rain or shine! Please come prepared to get a little muddy and wear suitable outdoor clothing. Do please bring binoculars and a camera if you wish as well as a note book.

Click here for pictures taken on previous walks.

Backmarkers enjoying a muddy winters walk in Epping Forest
Picture by Chris Embling

Programme of walks for the Summer term 2012

Walks start at 10 .00 am and finish about 12.00 noon.

Friday 27 April Earl's Path area of Epping Forest - for bluebells and fresh new growth. Meet in car park off Earl's Path Rd. Loughton. IG10 4BW. GR: TQ 415 967

Friday 4 May Larks Wood, Chingford for spring flowers and birds. Meet at entrance to wood on New Rd, Chingford. E4 6XH. GR: TQ 384 929

Friday 11 May Gunpowder Park, Waltham Abbey for skylarks and some flowers. Meet in entrance car park off Sewardstone Rd, A112 south of Waltham Abbey. EN9 3GP.
GR: TQ 385 993

Friday 18 May Fairmead Plain - meet in the car park at the bottom of the hill, Fairmead Road, Loughton, IG10 4HR. GR: TQ 408 967. Car park is down the road with lots of potholes past the bikers café!

Friday 25 May Church Lane Nature Reserve, North Weald, car parking is available off Church Lane, North Weald with thanks to Epping Forest Countrycare. CM16 6JE. GR: TL 494 047

Friday 1 June Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve to see the summer flowers. Meet in the nature reserve car park, next to David Lloyd Centre, off Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, IG7 6BQ. GR: TQ 430 942

Half Term

Friday 15 June Redbridge Fishing Lakes, 1 Salix Lane, Woodford Green, IG8 8LY.
GR: TQ 420 906. Meet in car park down track from turning off Roding Lane North.

Friday 22 June Chigwell Row Woods to see heathland restoration work. Meet in car park in Lodge Close off Lambourne Rd., Chigwell, IG7 6LA. GR: TQ 460 930

Friday 29 June Epping Forest's Exchange Lands next to City of London Cemetery for summer flowers and insects. Meet at the allotment end of Empress Avenue, E12 5HW. GR: TQ 418 868

Friday 6 July Valentines Park, Redbridge, car parking available by lake off Cranbrook Rd Entrance, Cranbrook Rd. Ilford, IGI 4UA. GR: TQ 433 873. Parking costs £3.00 all day. Suggest we have lunch at café after walk. Several buses routes go down Cranbrook Drive for those who wish to use public transport.
   
   

Suggested background reading:
Anon (1993) Guide book to Epping Forest. Corporation of London
EFDC Local Nature Reserves in the Epping Forest District. EFDC
Green, Georgina. (1982) Epping Forest through the Ages. Private Pub
Hoy, Ken. (2002) Getting to Know Epping Forest. Friends of Epping Forest
Leutscher, Alfred. (1974) Epping Forest - its history and wildlife. David & Charles

There are a number of excellent identification books printed by Collins on Trees, Flowers, Mammals, Birds, Insects, etc.

The Conservators of Epping Forest have produced an OS map of Epping Forest or you may prefer the OS Explorer Map 174 Epping Forest and the Lee Valley.

Biographical note: Tricia Moxey has lived in the district for 35 years and is familiar with its natural history. Although originally trained as a botanist, she is keen to share with others her enthusiasm for and knowledge of many aspects of natural world.

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