the pulpit

Oak

The Pulpit Oak, which is situated at the

edge of Monkhams Lane, is a veteran
tree of some significance. Aged
ak
tO
well over 400 years, it is a
pi
l
Pu
marker for the boundary
between Epping Forest
District Council and the
London Borough of
Redbridge.
Attempts by
successive Lords of
the Manor to enclose
Knighton Wood had
taken place in 1572,
1670 and 1781 and it
is possible that this
landmark tree provided
a rallying point for
generations of commoners
to gather their forces for
successful fights against
enclosures. However, they were
unsuccessful in their final efforts to stop
the erection of the fences and Knighton Wood
became enclosed.

EPPING FOREST
Epping Forest is one of a number of open spaces,
parks and gardens around London owned and
managed by the City of London as part of its
commitment to sustaining a world class city. Each
open space is a unique resource managed for the
use and enjoyment of the public and for the
conservation of wildlife and historic landscape. A full
list of sites and visitor information can be found on
our website at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/openspaces
or by contacting the Open Spaces Directorate on
020 7606 3030.
This leaflet has been produced with support
from the Buckhurst Hill Residents Society to
commemorate Her Majesty The Queens
Golden Jubilee, 1952-2002.

SOME IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Emergency 24hr call out

020 8532 1010

Epping Forest Visitor Centre

020 8508 0028

Heritage Education officer

020 8529 7090

Epping Forest Field Centre

020 8502 8500

Superintendents Office

020 8532 1010

Website
e-mail

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/epping
epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk

If you wish to receive a copy of this

publication in your language or an
alternative format such as large print,
braille or audio tape please contact us
using the details above.
PRINTED ON PAPER FROM SUSTAINABLY MANAGED FORESTS

Monkhams Lane

LORDS BUSHES &

KNIGHTON WOOD

Photo credits: Nik French and Keith French

Revised July 2006

Ambresbury Banks

flora &

Lords Bushes &

Knighton

Wood

Lords Bushes and Knighton Wood form an

island of Epping Forest located in Buckhurst Hill
and surrounded by houses. Together they cover
some 53 hectares of mature woodland located on
the eastern edge of the
Epping Forest ridge. A
number of water-filled
hollows on the higher
ground indicate the
location of former
gravel workings, the
largest of which have
been landscaped into Dragonfly
attractive ponds.

Moo

Glacial sands and gravels cover the

western segment and the
rhe
n
ground slopes gently
down onto the London
Clay towards the
east. Several small
streams emerge at
the junction of
the gravels and
the clay and
flow eastwards
towards
the
River Roding.

Bamboo

historic

links

Historically, this part of the Forest was linked to the

Manors of Chigwell and Woodford. The old route
of Squirrels Lane is likely to have been an ancient
drove road along which cattle moved between the
wooded area of the Forest and the lush grazing on
the meadows in the Roding Valley.
The earliest recorded mention of this wooded area
is in a charter of 1135 and medieval references
suggest that this woodland provided excellent
pannage (food) for the local pigs. A royal hunting
lodge was located nearby and the area is marked as
Lodge Bushes on the 17th century map of the
Keepers walks. This name seems to have survived
for at least 200 years and so the present-day name,
Lords Bushes, seems to be of recent origin.

Hornbeam pollard

A century ago Lords Bushes

contained many twisted
Hornbeam pollards but
intensive thinning reduced
their numbers considerably.
Serious droughts in the
1970s caused problems for
the mature Beech trees,
some of which died, and
an extensive portion of the
area was clear-felled. In
1976 widespread fires burnt
for months and extensive
stands of Birch and Aspen
colonised the charred areas.
These stands are now
beginning to thin out as the
trees mature. Small glades
have been created within
the woodland.

Fauna

Today, Lords Bushes still contain

some 300 veteran trees mainly
pollarded Oaks and fine Hornbeams.
Most of the surviving maiden
Beeches are showing symptoms of
old age. In addition, there are at
least 35 other species of tree or
shrub including Ash, Crab Apple,
Elm, Field Maple, Hawthorn,
Sycamore and Yew. An extensive
grove of Wild Service Trees flourishes
Yellow Flag Iris
along the eastern boundary and
several mature trees are scattered
here and there. (The Wild Service Tree is species
indicative of ancient woodland). In places there is a
dense understory of Holly. As part of an Integrated
Site Management Plan some of this holly is being
removed to allow the veteran oak trees, associated
fungi and invertebrates to survive and thrive.
Separating the 37 hectares of Lords Bushes from
the 16 hectares of Knighton Wood is an ancient
trackway, Monkhams Lane. This follows the old
Anglo-Saxon boundary between the Manors of
Chigwell and Woodford which is marked by a
woodbank on its western side. Large clumps of
Pendulous Sedge grow alongside this track.
Knighton Wood was enclosed from the Forest and
became the Knighton Estate. The noted naturalist
and Forest Verderer Edward North Buxton lived
here from 1863 until his death in 1928. Two years
later the Estate was sold off and a portion of the
land was returned to the Forest.
During his life, the grounds were planted up with
many exotic species such as Bamboo,
Rhododendron, Pines and Red Oaks, which
reflected his interest in horticulture. Many spring
bulbs survive in the area round the Knighton Pond.
One remaining garden feature is the outcrop of the
artificial Pulham Stone on the edge of Knighton
Pond. The vegetation in and around this pond
includes various reeds, Yellow Water Lily, Yellow
Flag Iris and clumps of Royal Fern. This and the
other ponds provide an ideal habitat for
amphibians, dragonflies and wildfowl.

Lords Bushes &

Knighton

Wood

a testing

time

easy

access

In 1873 600 yards of single track was laid along the incline of

An easy access path winds alongside Knighton Pond and

Monkhams Lane to test the power of a steam tram. The

through the adjacent shrubbery providing a pleasant route

locomotive Cintra successfully pulled 2 carriages each

through this portion of the Forest. It is almost 1 kilometre in

holding 18 person up the steep incline of 1 in 20 reaching

length and seats provide a number of locations where it is

speeds of 20 mph. The experiment was a success and the

possible to rest and listen to such woodland birds as

engine was due to be shipped off to Portugal, but sadly the

Blackbirds, Robins, Woodpeckers and Blue Tits. Other easy

ship foundered in the Thames.

access paths are located at Connaught Water and High Beach.

For a more detailed history of Lords Bushes see M W Hanson
Lords Bushes Essex Naturalist no 7. Published in 1983.

The Ordnance Survey map data included in this leaflet is provided by the Corporation of London under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to publicise local public services. Persons viewing this
map should contact Ordnance Survey Copyright for advice if they wish to licence Ordnance Survey map data for their own use.
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown
copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Corporation of London LA 087254 2002.