Epping Forest case study

Epping forest location

Essex, South East England

Epping forest size

2,500 hectares

Epping forest eecosystem

deciduous forest including grassland and marshes

Epping forest biodiversity

high: native trees, a lower shrub level, 700 species of fungi, 3 native species of woodpecker, stag beetles, fallow deer and more

Epping forest annual cycle

high flow rates between litter, soil and biomass stores reflects new growth each year

Epping forest nutrient cycling

soil → biomass plants, plants → animals, animals → soil (decomposition)

Epping forest history

deer hunting, grazing, firewood

Epping forest pollarding

cutting trees to shoulder height so they reshoot

Epping forest interdependence

trees loose leaves which decompose, new growth = berries for primary consumers = more primary consumers for carnivores

Epping forest management

car parks, path management, pollarding, maintaining grassland via grazing

Epping forest uses

recreation: horse riding, running, hiking, bike riding, Iron Age hill forts