Hainault Forest Country Park
Encyclopedia
Hainault Forest Country Park is one of the remaining sections of the former Forest of Essex in England. Epping Forest
and Hatfield Forest
are other examples. It is located in Hainault
in the London Borough of Redbridge
and its area is 136 hectares (336 acres). The forest belonged to the abbey of Barking
until the dissolution of the monasteries
; it extended northwards to Theydon Bois
(bois, "woodland"), east to Havering-atte-Bower
, on the south to Aldborough Hatch
, and westwards to Leytonstone
. In a survey made for Henry VIII in 1544 its extent was some 3000 acres (12.1 km²).
The forest land was condemned as waste by an Act of Parliament
, 1851, disafforested, the deer removed, the old growth forest
cut down, and the land divided for building lots, for a growing London. This was deplored by Sir Walter Besant
in his works on London: the forest is also the setting for his novel All in a Garden Fair.
After public pressure to retain some remnant headed by Edward North Buxton
, a total of 804 acres (3.3 km²) of land, which included 253 acres (1.0 km²) of woodland and rough pasture) was bought for public use on 21 July 1906. It includes the Hainault Forest Golf Club and a large lake, as well as a farm, partly for rare breeds of animal.
The park is administered by the London Borough of Redbridge
.
The Forest is a Woodland Trust
site and is currently undergoing regeneration.
On 9 December 2009, as a part of the BBC
'Tree O'Clock' Scheme, in association with the Woodland Trust a Guinness World Record attempt was made to plant the most new trees as possible in one hour, with three woodland sites making the attempt, the Heartwood Forest
, Hainault Forest and Gransha Park.
The existing record had been 18,124 which was held by the Forestry Commission
at a site in Scotland. However, even though over 250 people assisted with the attempt at Hainault Forest, they came third with 20,312, with Heartwood Forest coming second, but both being beaten by Gransha Park where they planted over 26,000 trees in the hour.
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
and Hatfield Forest
Hatfield Forest
Hatfield Forest in Essex, England lies between the parishes of Little Hallingbury and Takeley, and covers 1,049 acres of woodland, grassland with trees, lake and marsh. It is approximately 40 minutes north east of London by car, just off Junction 8 of the M11 motorway. Bishop's Stortford and...
are other examples. It is located in Hainault
Hainault
Hainault is an area in the London Borough of Redbridge in north east London. It is a suburban development located north east of Charing Cross...
in the London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Redbridge
The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough in outer north-east London. Its administrative headquarters is at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford. The local authority is Redbridge London Borough Council.-Etymology:...
and its area is 136 hectares (336 acres). The forest belonged to the abbey of Barking
Barking Abbey
The ruined remains of Barking Abbey are situated in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England, and now form a public open space.- History :...
until the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
; it extended northwards to Theydon Bois
Theydon Bois
Theydon Bois is a large residential village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located 1.4 miles south of Epping, 0.85 miles northeast of Loughton and 6 miles south of Harlow.Theydon Bois is within the bounds of the M25 motorway and is situated...
(bois, "woodland"), east to Havering-atte-Bower
Havering-atte-Bower
Havering-atte-Bower is a village and outlying settlement of the London Borough of Havering, located 15 miles northeast of Charing Cross and close to the Greater London boundary. It was one of three former parishes whose area comprised the historic Royal Liberty of Havering...
, on the south to Aldborough Hatch
Aldborough Hatch
Aldborough Hatch is a district of London, England, located in the London Borough of Redbridge. It is part of the Ilford post town and is situated at OS grid reference TQ455895. The earliest recorded use of the name is Aldborough Hacche ....
, and westwards to Leytonstone
Leytonstone
Leytonstone is an area of east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is a high density suburban area, located seven miles north east of Charing Cross in the ceremonial county of Greater London and the historic county of Essex...
. In a survey made for Henry VIII in 1544 its extent was some 3000 acres (12.1 km²).
The forest land was condemned as waste by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
, 1851, disafforested, the deer removed, the old growth forest
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
cut down, and the land divided for building lots, for a growing London. This was deplored by Sir Walter Besant
Walter Besant
Sir Walter Besant , was a novelist and historian who lived largely in London.His sister-in-law was Annie Besant.-Biography:...
in his works on London: the forest is also the setting for his novel All in a Garden Fair.
After public pressure to retain some remnant headed by Edward North Buxton
Edward Buxton (conservationist)
Edward North Buxton was a British conservationist and liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1886....
, a total of 804 acres (3.3 km²) of land, which included 253 acres (1.0 km²) of woodland and rough pasture) was bought for public use on 21 July 1906. It includes the Hainault Forest Golf Club and a large lake, as well as a farm, partly for rare breeds of animal.
The park is administered by the London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Redbridge
The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough in outer north-east London. Its administrative headquarters is at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford. The local authority is Redbridge London Borough Council.-Etymology:...
.
The Forest is a Woodland Trust
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is a conservation charity in the United Kingdom concerned with the protection and sympathetic management of native woodland heritage.-History:...
site and is currently undergoing regeneration.
On 9 December 2009, as a part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
'Tree O'Clock' Scheme, in association with the Woodland Trust a Guinness World Record attempt was made to plant the most new trees as possible in one hour, with three woodland sites making the attempt, the Heartwood Forest
Heartwood Forest
Heartwood Forest is a planned Forest in Hertfordshire, England.The plans were set out in 2008 by The Woodland Trust to create the largest new forest of native tree species of approximately 347+ Ha in size, and is expected to take around 12 years.The site, near Sandridge, St Albans in the...
, Hainault Forest and Gransha Park.
The existing record had been 18,124 which was held by the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
at a site in Scotland. However, even though over 250 people assisted with the attempt at Hainault Forest, they came third with 20,312, with Heartwood Forest coming second, but both being beaten by Gransha Park where they planted over 26,000 trees in the hour.