Knighton Wood

Wood, Forest in Essex

England

Knighton Wood

The River Ching Just about a mile from Chingford I was surprised at how small the river Ching was when I came across it walking section 19 of the London Loop. It is the river that gives Chingford its name. — The River Ching Credit: Claire Ward

Knighton Wood is a captivating forest located in Essex, England. Spanning across a vast area, it is a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike. With its rich biodiversity and stunning landscape, Knighton Wood offers visitors a unique experience in the heart of nature.

The wood is predominantly composed of oak trees, creating a dense canopy that provides shade and shelter for various species of flora and fauna. The forest floor is adorned with a vibrant carpet of bluebells in the spring, creating a breathtaking sight for visitors. The wood is also home to an array of other plant species, including wildflowers, ferns, and mosses.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Knighton Wood is a paradise. The forest supports a diverse ecosystem, hosting a wide range of animals and birds. Various species of mammals, such as deer, foxes, and badgers, roam freely within the wood. Birdwatchers can spot a variety of feathered creatures, including woodpeckers, owls, and thrushes.

The wood offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities and exploration. There are several walking trails and paths that wind through the forest, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the tranquility of nature. The forest is also equipped with picnic areas and benches, providing a perfect spot for relaxation and family outings.

Knighton Wood is not only a place of natural beauty but also plays an essential role in conservation efforts. It is protected under the Essex County Council's Woodland Management Plan, ensuring the preservation of its unique flora and fauna for future generations to enjoy.

Overall, Knighton Wood is a true gem in the Essex countryside, offering a peaceful retreat for nature lovers and a chance to reconnect with the natural world.

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Knighton Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.619051/0.034253764 or Grid Reference TQ4093. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The River Ching

Just about a mile from Chingford I was surprised at how small the river Ching was when I came across it walking section 19 of the London Loop. It is the river that gives Chingford its name.

Claire Ward

The Central Line looking south towards Buckhurst Hill

Halfway up the right side of the grid square. Taken from the footbridge over the Central Line (where it runs above ground), this was the worst part of my walk along section 19 of the London Loop, the bridge was grey, caged in overhead and covered with graffiti. Just as well I had a small lens as I had to poke it through the mesh.

Claire Ward

Walking the Loop

Running west-east across the middle of the grid square. Part of section 19 of the London Loop. An ancient cattle drove, probably first used some 2000 years ago but the practice of driving livestock between pastures died out in the 19th century.

Claire Ward

Knighton Woods Pond

Man made pond which was part of the Knighton Estate before being incorporated into Epping Forest

Brian Gotts

Lords Bushes Pond

Pond on the old Knightons estate now part of Epping Forest

Brian Gotts

Woodford Green village sign

Essex villages traditionally have village signs; Woodford Green (really a London suburb) recently acquired its own. The Green is part of the ancient Epping Forest and is the oldest village cricket field still in regular use. The sign depicts significant local images; cows grazing on the Green as of long tradition; Sir Winston Churchill, for many years the local MP (his statue shown in TQ3991 is at the far end of the Green); cricket and the church.

John Davies

Woodford Green Broadway

The growth of Woodford Green started with the arrival of the railway in 1856 (now the Central Line tube). The handsome parade of shops at the Broadway, opposite the station, is now a Conservation area. The small green in front was named Pankhurst Green in 1995 after the writer and campaigner Sylvia Pankhurst (daughter of the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst) who lived nearby from 1924 to 1956.

John Davies

Potato Pond, Woodford Green

Potato Pond alongside the old A11, Woodford High Road, is so called as it was used to wash potatoes being brought by farmers from East Anglia to the London markets. Behind is the old British Legion hall, now converted to apartments.

John Davies

Knighton Wood in winter

Knighton Wood with the adjacent Lords Bushes forms a small isolated patch of Epping Forest, surrounded by housing. It was enclosed in the nineteenth century from the forest to form the ornamental gardens of Knighton House, the home of the Buxton family, and returned to the Forest in 1930.

John Davies

Kings Avenue, Woodford Green

Looking south in Kings Avenue. The car in the centre is crossing the border from the London Borough of Redbridge into Epping Forest District. The tower block in the distance is Tamar Square, adjacent to Woodford tube station.

John Davies

All Saints Church, Inmans Row, Woodford Green

Looking north across the Green to the church, built 1874. The old A11 (now A104) is immediately to the photographers left.

John Davies

Roding Valley viaduct

Few stretches of the London tube network are as rural as the Woodford to Hainault branch of the Central Line. Here a train crosses the viaduct over the River Roding, not far from Roding Valley station. This line was built by the Eastern Counties railway in the mid nineteenth century and became part of the Central Line about a hundred years later.

John Davies

M11 Motorway and River Roding, Woodford Bridge

Here the M11 (centre and right) runs alongside the River Roding. The view is looking north from the footbridge which connects Ray Lodge park with the riverside path on the east bank. The blue speck in the centre (by the poplar tree) is the Essex county boundary sign

John Davies

Ray Lodge Park, Woodford Bridge

Looking east over the River Roding and M11 motorway to the ridge where Chigwell lies. The footbridge over the river, from which the view in TQ4292 was taken, can be seen just to the left of the tree

John Davies

Roding Valley Junction

Here the Hainault loop line joins the main Epping branch of the Central Line. The view is to the south and train is travelling south towards Woodford and London. The branch line to the left leads to Roding Valley station and the viaduct shown in TQ4293, then to Grange Hill, Hainault and Newbury Park, rejoining the main line at Leytonstone.

John Davies

Bancroft's School, Woodford Wells

Bancroft's was founded by the Drapers Company in 1727 and moved to its present imposing building in 1889. The arch under the red brick tower leads to the quadrangle and chapel.

John Davies