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Flora and Fauna

The traditional uses of Epping Forest has created a variety of different habitats, from the obvious woodland, to scrub, grassland, heathland, ponds, lakes, bogs and streams. Such a variety of habitats means that a wide range of wildlife can call Epping Forest home.   Below is a brief description of just some of the flora and fauna which inhabit Epping Forest, each one is linked to its page on Wikipedia for more information.

The usual British mammals - foxes, grey squirrels, rabbits and badgers thrive in the forest, in addition to Fallow Deer and Reeve's Muntjac. Common fallow deer are native to the Mediterranean area, and were introduced to Britain by the Normans in the 11th centaury. It is thought that James I introduced some dark coloured fallow deer into the area from Scandinavia, and their descendants are the distinctive, almost black fallow deer that can be seen in the forest today.  Muntjac, a small Asian deer were introduced by the 11th Duke of Bedford to his Woburn estate at the turn of the 20th centaury.  Escapes from the estate successfully bred and have become widespread throughout the area.

Birds in residence include all three species of Woodpecker (Greater Spotted, Green and Lesser Spotted), Skylarks, Tree Creepers and Nuthatches. Wildfowl such as Swans, Great Crested Grebes, Herons, Gadwall, Goosander and Wigeon enjoy over 80 lakes and ponds.

Reptiles which make Epping Forest their home include Adder, Grass Snake, Newts and Toads and frogs.

The Forest is internationally renowned for its ancient pollarded trees - primarily Oak, Beech and Hornbeam. Such trees are many hundreds of years old and support a wealth of insects and fungi including many quite rare and vulnerable species.

1,200 different species of fungi making it one of the richest fungal sites in the UK.  The diversity of fungi found in Epping Forest is one of the reasons why so much of the Forest has been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Many creatures feed on the fungi and they are host to some rare invertebrates that are unique to these
ancient woodlands. The list of Forest fungi includes some rare species that are specifically protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.  Collecting edible fungi for the table (which requires a licence) is a popular activity provided people take care to avoid the poisonous species.

The flora is also diverse with over 650 plant species including Birds-Foot Trefoil, Red Campion, Oxeye Daisy, Willowherb, Knapweed, Fleabane, Bluebells, Heather, Petty Whin, and Spiny Restharrow