IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Manford Way, CHIGWELL, IG7 4AU

On this overcast day a patch of sunlight illuminates a small clearing in the Wood. Chigwell Row Wood Local Nature Reserve is a remnant of Hainault Forest with a history that can be traced back to the early 17th century. It is owned by The Chigwell Row Recreation Ground Charity, of which the Epping Forest District Council are the trustees. See also: Wild Essex: http://www.wildessex.net/sites/Chigwell%20Row%20Wood.htm Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chigwell_Row_Wood Natural England: http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=chigwell&ID=1098

Chigwell Row Wood is a 15 acre fragment of woodland owned by Epping Forest District Council http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/council_services/planning/countrycare/sites/chigwell_row_lnr.asp. It was once part of the Royal Forest of Essex see http://www.wildessex.net/sites/Chigwell%20Row%20Wood.htm for more info.

In Burrow Road, it used to be a Watneys house

Hainault Forest belonged to the Abbey of Barking until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In a survey made for Henry VIIIth in 1544 its extent was given as some 3,000 acres. The vast royal hunting forest of Hainault Forest never found the determined defenders that Epping Forest had to save it. After Parliament gave its approval in 1858, over 100,000 forest trees were felled and the land was drained and fenced. However, the outrage at the destruction of Hainault led to the creation of conservation groups which successfully opposed a similar fate happening to Epping Forest. In the end a total of 804 acres of land was bought for public use on 21st July 1906. Even so, Hainault Forest Country Park is just a surviving fragment of Hainault Forest. The Redbridge section of the park is being developed by Redbridge Council as a country park. The Essex section here to the north is managed by the Woodland Trust, on behalf of its owners, Essex County Council. This is the view from the London LOOP just into Essex near Chigwell Row. The busy Romford Road is just beyond the hedge on the right.

The Oak tree in the foreground has not been lopped for decades whereas the hornbeam behind has had a trim quite recently. Chigwell Row Wood is a 15 acre fragment of woodland owned by Epping Forest District Council http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/council_services/planning/countrycare/sites/chigwell_row_lnr.asp. It was once part of the Royal Forest of Essex see http://www.wildessex.net/sites/Chigwell%20Row%20Wood.htm for more info.

It comes out onto the road opposite the end of Manford Way.