Woodland management at Hainault Forest

Hainault Forest has two sections that were managed by different organisations. The northern, larger section is owned by Essex County Council and managed by the Woodland Trust. The south section is owned and managed by the London Borough of Redbridge. Together they form Hainault Forest Country Park.

Separate management of the two sections meant there was no cohesive plan for the land in relation to its surrounding habitats. It also meant that existing paths did not let visitors roam from one section to the other.

Now, the management strategy at Hainault Forest is a partnership project between the Woodland Trust and Redbridge Council. Their aim is to manage the two sections as one, making the most of the combined space and working towards shared goals.

This shift in approach seeks to:

• restore the SSSI’s condition and improve the ecosystem
• restore services and assets on the site to improve visitor experience
• give visitors more opportunities to learn about and engage with nature.

Working together, the partnership has secured £7m funding in total, from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, GLA Good Growth Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

They are using this funding to redevelop this magnificent landscape, including:

• transforming derelict Victorian barns to create a visitor centre, café and venue for hire. The café and venue will provide an on-going income for the site.
• safeguarding ecology and natural habitats
• developing an extensive activity and volunteering programme to connect visitors to the magic of the forest.

Hainault is visited by 600,000 people each year, making it a useful showcase for wildlife habitats and environmental education. Hainault’s visitor centre features an interactive exhibition for children and offers guided woodland and ancient tree walks.

There is a focus on managing multiple habitats, particularly ancient woodland and wood pasture, to boost woodland biodiversity.

Wood pasture is a key feature at Hainault. It’s made of dispersed trees and scrub, and is actively restored and maintained by a herd of cattle. A heavily used footpath runs through the wood pasture restoration area, so visitors can see habitat management. There is an ambition to extend this grazing into the ancient woodland in the future, with a trial currently underway on a nearby Woodland Trust site.

The two extensions are both being used for woodland creation, using a combination of active tree planting and natural regeneration. This increases Hainault’s woodland and improves the biodiversity of the site.

Pollarding and felling some veteran trees is also an important part of the woodland management strategy. It allows more light to reach the forest floor and improves the diversity of ground flora. Some of the timber from these felled trees has been used to make features such as benches on site.

Hainault Forest was awarded a Green Flag Award, recognising it as one of the country’s best parks. In 2023, park users voted for Hainault Forest as one of the top 10 green spaces in the country, as part of the People’s Choice Awards.

Site restoration and leisure and educational facilities provide Londoners with a model location to experience and learn about nature. Because of this, Hainault Forest has become self-sustaining over a five-year period.

• Working in partnership with other landowners and managers allows for a ‘big picture’ approach. This creates more opportunities for funding and delivering management projects at a larger scale.
• Integrating people and economic priorities enables sustainable woodland management, by providing revenue for management activities while educating and engaging the public.

Find out more on Hainault Forest website or the Woodland Trust.