I am afraid that once again we have to return to the controversial subject of cattle grazing and the attendant changes to the Forest that this would bring about. The latest document ‘Proposals for extending the re-establishment of Cattle Grazing’ is currently available for public consultation and we wanted to share with you the views of the Committee and encourage you to make your own response.

Whilst we are not opposed to grazing, it is the concomitant activities, impacts and value with which we have concerns; fencing, likely tree clearance, potential loss of amenity and wildlife.

Last autumn, we responded to the Epping Forest Grazing Strategy and then in the new year, to consultation documents on Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats.

Now the views of the public are being sought on extending the reestablishment of Cattle Grazing, which proposes the extension of grazing to the land between the High Beach and the Wake Arms on the western side of the B1393, a total of some 400 hectares or almost 1000 acres, beyond the area currently grazed from Chingford (300 hectares or 740 acres).

This area of 700 hectares (1730 acres) in total is described as Phase 1. Very recently, the City has produced the Summary Management Plan for the Forest 2004/2010. This illustrates very clearly that this same approach is proposed for Monks Wood, Debden Slade and Kate’s Cellar, Lords Bushes, Walthamstow Forest and Gilbert’s Slade and the Lower Forest north of Epping; in other words much more of the Forest and potentially even more to follow.

Hence our response to this present proposal will very much inform what happens to much of the rest of Epping Forest.

The Consultation Document
The Document itself makes a number of assumptions, some of which we question and they are summarised here. The headings below follow those of the document.

Whilst we note that the initial consultation identified that 87% would like to see grazing extended, this figure is of little value, given that the associated activities and impact which accompany grazing were not identified and it is these activities with which the public may be concerned eg. fencing, likely tree clearance, loss of amenity and wildlife.

The History of Cattle Grazing
Whilst cattle grazing has been part of the Forest’s history, we question its significance on the landscape and acknowledge the other activities that make the Forest we see today, including pollarding, wood gathering, hunting, increasing populations etc.

Wildlife Diversity + pasture woodland
The case for grazing is simply not made here, particularly in relation to the woodlands, where no grazing has taken place for many years – cattle prefer grass! We acknowledge the cattle’s role in maintaining the grassland and heaths (Fairmead and Chingford, for example). However we question their value in grazing the woodlands, particularly given the clearance work that would be required to encourage them to enter the woodland for other than shade.

To achieve an open woodland will require substantial clearance of understorey and trees to enable grass to grow for the cattle to graze. In order to keep the areas subsequently open will require much higher numbers of cattle than the 150 animals proposed, but would make the Forest rather more like Richmond Park than the Forest we know today. Furthermore, during most of the last century the numbers of cattle grazing (a few hundred annually post WW2) did not prevent scrub encroaching upon the grasslands.

This open environment would be very vulnerable to disturbance, particularly given the huge numbers of potential visitors on the doorstep of the Forest.

Proposals
As mentioned above, the current grazing area shown on the map is misleading. The areas grazed at the moment are largely Fairmead and Chingford Plain with no cattle straying into the woodlands. Probably grazing therefore takes place in around 40 hectares or 100 acres, not the 300 hectares or 740 acres shown on the plan. The new proposed area for grazing would add another 400 hectares or nearly a 1000 acres, though in reality grass for grazing exists primarily just on Honey Lane, the area near the Volunteer public house, the newly created Wake plain is rushes and birch at present and Sunshine Plain is heathland. Whilst there is additional grassland at High Beach, grazing here will compete with the recreational use and it is difficult to see how cattle could roam freely in this popular area, where picnicking takes place.

Hence they are proposing over 4 km or over 2.6 miles of fencing, which in reality would provide grazing for not much more than 10 hectares or 24 acres of grass and heath.

Controls
Cattle grids - These were introduced at the Waterworks Roundabout to cope with a particular problem at the newly developed A406. Surely if detailed discussions have taken place with the highway authority, then the feasible locations have already been identified.

Fencing
We are opposed to fences in the Forest on the grounds that these are against the spirit of the 1878 Act, which declares the Forest should be open and unenclosed and that its natural aspect should be preserved.

Furthermore fences are restrictive, imply ownership and ‘keep out’, are visually intrusive and moreover are unlikely to achieve the apparent aims of the strategy to create a open parkland ( a vision of which we are not in sympathy).

Virtual fencing
Were this to become available, it could reduce the requirements for fencing.

Electric fencing
This is currently used to fence smaller areas of grassland, where presumably more intensive grazing is sought. As a way of maintaining these areas of grassland, cattle grazing is effective. Even where currently there is fencing along the B1393 (old A11), there are still areas of electric fencing; thus demonstrating that even with wooden fencing, electric fencing is used.

a) There should be an informed professional debate about what grazing could achieve, particularly within the woodlands, how many animals would be required and detailed information on the results of the grazing undertaken to date. Have the grasslands improved, what about the woodland areas, how do the cattle use the woodland, how many are needed and what will it cost?

b) Enclosing a further 400 hectares (1000 acres) by a wooden fence 4km.(2.6 miles) along with associated cattle grids and the like should not take place, because:

i) the value and feasibility of cattle grazing of the woodland is neither proven nor demonstrated by the grazing which has been undertaken to date;

ii) enclosing the Forest is inconsistent with the Act;

iii) enclosing this large area, totalling 700 hectares (1730 acres) is unlikely to obviate the need for using electric fencing to achieve the intensity of grazing.

And what can you do?
a) Get the consultation document –

free copies of the document should be obtained from the Epping Forest Visitor Centre at High Beach in person or by telephone on 020 8508 0028 or via email

epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

b) Attend the presentations and walks about grazing, advertised in the consultation document to find out first hand.

c) Respond to the document – it is vitally important that as many people as possible respond individually to the document! In the 2005/06 consultation The Friends careful and detailed objection was considered as one response even though on behalf of an organisation with over 1500 members. Please add your comments to the response!

We suggest you say NO to the first question … because if you approve the locations of the fencing, it implies you are supporting fencing that entire part of the Forest.

If you do not answer the question, your further alternative views, may not be counted and the YES (approval) vote, as a %, will then be that much bigger.

We would recommend you then add and respond to the questions that should have been there; namely:

Do you want to see cattle grazing extended?

Do you want fencing?
And make comments as you wish.