Did you know that there is a second forest in east London, other than Epping Forest? No? Well, there is, and it is well worth a visit.
The Thames Chase is the second largest open green space in London, after Epping Forest, and straddles the boundary between Greater London and Essex, starting just a mile or so from the Upminster Tube/Train station.
Thames Chase is designated a ‘community forest’, which means:
A Community Forest is planned to be a mosaic of wooded landscapes and other land uses, such as farmland, meadows, nature areas, river valleys and public open space. It will be located on the edge of major towns or cities – close to where people live and work. Overall, woodlands will not cover more than 30% of the area, so it is a “Forest” in the style of the New Forest. Land ownership is diverse; including farmers, local authorities, nature conservation organisations and local businesses.
Catering variously to walkers, pram pushers, cyclists, ramblers, bird watchers and dog lovers, with facilities for all, one of the fantastic things about the Chase is that it is never crowded, being as spread out as it is (it covers about 40 square mile (104 km2) ).
There are quite a few maps available for download to help you get around in the Chase, and the Visitors Center is a short walk from the Upminster station, where a very nice selection of maps are available to take along on your rambles.
So, if you are in need of a quite walk or looking for a place to escape the city and have a picnic or a nice day out, give the Thames Chase a thought.
[tags]London, Thames Chase, Upminster, Epping Forest, District Line[/tags]