Let's take a social walk around Epping Forest! (circular, 3.75 miles)

Hello everyone, let's take a social walk around Epping Forest! Spanning over 6,000 acres, this historic forest has stood for centuries, offering a haven for wildlife, picturesque trails for hikers, and a serene retreat for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

INTRODUCTION

• This meetup is hosted jointly by the London Introverts Social Club, London Shyness Social Group, and Shy and Introverts Friends Group. I will add the members of the other groups as my guests.
• There will be an opportunity to sit, eat and drink at the Butler's Retreat (click for their website and further links to the menu). The venue is situated in the forest, located towards the end of the walk.

MEETING POINT

• We can meet outside Chingford Rail Station (Overground - Weaver) - What3Words [kind.piles.glow](https://what3words.com/kind.piles.glow) - at 10:30 am and wait until 10:40 am for latecomers.
• You can find a photo of the meeting point in the photo gallery.
• I will be holding a printed Meetup logo, so I should be easy to spot!
• I will set up a Glympse link - network coverage permitting - for the walk duration, so if you are running late, you can catch up with minimal fuss.

ABOUT THE WALK

• We will use an extensive and excellent 'off-the-shelf' written guide (PDF). It runs to 36 pages, but you don't need to print it!
• This walk was created by Alicia Evans, a geography student at Exeter University, who grew up in Chingford with Epping Forest on her doorstep.
• The walk is approximately 3.75 miles long and will take around 3 hours to complete. It is a circular route starting and ending at Chingford Station.
• It is an easy walk around the forest with no major hills and easy terrain underfoot.
• The terrain has forest tracks (dirt), grassy paths, tarmac lanes, and surfaced footpaths.
• Some forest tracks and footpaths can get very muddy after wet weather so walking boots or wellies are recommended.

FROM THE GUIDE
'Epping Forest sits on a ridge between the valleys of the River Roding and the River Lee. This ridge runs northeastwards from Manor Park in East London to just north of Epping in Essex.

The forest spans 12 miles and covers around 6,000 acres. Today it is London’s largest open space and just over two-thirds of it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of the age of the forest and its abundance of wildlife.

On this walk, we will see different parts of Epping Forest from dense woodlands to open plains and scenic ponds to historic buildings. We’ll take a closer look at the ecology of the forest, not only its trees but also its flowers and fungi, mammals, and birds.

We will also discover a cast of human characters who have shaped the forest from kings and lords to commoners and criminals. We’ll find out who has owned the land through the centuries and how it has been managed. We will see a shift from the forest used for hunting and grazing to recreation and leisure.'

I hope you can join me for an exciting day in one of London's most fascinating forests!