Geograph - photograph every grid square

This beech tree must be nearly 300 years old; it has been pollarded many times. In the background you can see a clearing has opened up the forest canopy which will hopefully allow the regeneration of wild woodland flowers although bracken seems to be overwhelming the few bluebells that remain. The absence of beavers (to control trees) and wolves (to control deer) in this country means native woodland has to be actively managed to remain healthy. Our well meaning forebears didn't realise that simple preservation was actually neglect. It is going to take many decades of dedicated work to restore Epping Forest to its former glory. However without that 150 odd years of active neglect this glorious forest would probably have been covered in houses or suffered the fate of Hatfield Forest and been largely grubbed out for agriculture.