Epping Forest is situated some 15 kilometres from the centre of London and has been around since the late Neolithic period, which is about 4000 years ago. The forest and the trees that we see today are not very old, dating from when the English first arrived on these shores about 1500 years ago. The Norman's turned the forest into a royal hunting ground which was then enclosed for a period of time. The land would have been deforested had it not been for the holders of common rights who opposed this and saved the forest for future generations. The forest itself was passed into the care of the Corporation of the City of London. The City Corporation really takes an active interest in Epping Forest and employs people who put the wildlife and conservation first. The forest itself covers more than 2300 ha with many pathways and inns for walkers to enjoy. Many Saxon and Viking settlements have been unearthed around the forest area. The forest consists of mainly oaks, birches, beeches and limes. The hornbeams were probably brought over when the Anglo Saxons arrived.

This photograph shows the different areas of the pond where various microbes make their home. Knowing where to look is very important when trying to locate a species of insect larvae,algae,protozoan or bacteria.

This photograph is of the 1998 trip to Epping forest and was taken at the Wake valley pond.

This photograph was taken at the 1999 June 6th annual excursion to the ponds of Epping forest. Eric Hollowday has been collecting rotifer from these ponds since the 1940's while his young friend Eleanor Durr is just beginning.The meeting starts at the Warren, which is the headquarters for the research team. Dr Jeremy Dagley the forest ecologist is always helpful (as are all his team) and the laboratories are made available for our use when we return from collecting in the field. A huge amount of research is carried out by the teams at the Warren on all aspects of forest life. The records of plant and animal life are kept for future reference.

The best way to capture the plankton of the open waters is by the use of a net. This net has various sizes of filter which can be used. When the sweep is finished the contents of the filter can be emptied into a suitable container.

Above are some typical ponds that are scattered around the forest area. Most of these are man made and their origins are probably due to the amount of live stock that were roaming around the forest at one time. On warm sunny days the forest becomes a haven for the East enders looking for a quiet spot to relax and forget about the hustle and bustle of city life. Why not give Epping forests web site a spin and see what they have to offer.   http://www.eppingforest.co.uk/

The best way to collect algae & protozoa is to make a collection of small jars with good sealable lids. Small brushes for handling the more delicate specimens are also useful. Pipettes and forceps are best bought from a specialist biological company. A good strong net with exchangeable filters is also a good idea so sweeps of the planktonic flora and fauna can be carried out from the shore. Probably the most important tool on any field trip is a note book and pencil; details of where and when the catch were made can be written down and put into the permanent record book, which should be kept at home or in the laboratory. Try to get the catch home as soon as possible in order to prevent the microbes from over heating and possible oxygen starvation; and never leave the catch in direct sunlight try to find a shaded area or a north facing window ledge.

It must be remembered that a licence is always needed to collect any plants, animals or pond life organisms from any of the ponds at Epping. This is done for real reasons and protects the forest from unscrupulous people who would take everything in sight. The forest is there for every one and that means that we should all take care of these dwindling habitats, the City of London do a great job in caring for the forest but they do need help from the local population.

Introduction to photomicrography.