This week on the map
Find the places mentioned in this edition. The outline includes the forest and its neighbouring towns.
7 things to know about this week. Full detail is below the map.
Shops, cafés, restaurants & pubs
Local finds and changes around the forest.
Wagon Boulangerie
Already tradingHigh Road, Loughton
A bakery on Loughton High Road, registered with the council as a food business. We have no opening date for it.
Melo Coffee House Co
Already tradingThe Broadway, Chingford
A coffee house on The Broadway, Chingford, listed on the council's food hygiene register. We have no opening date for it.
Yakimono Robata Restaurant
Already tradingHigh Street, Epping
A Japanese robata restaurant on Epping High Street, listed on the council's food hygiene register. We have no opening date for it.
Road closures & access
Things that might affect getting around the forest.
High Beech, Loughton water mains replacement
OngoingLoughton
A roughly 19km, three-year mains replacement across more than 60 roads in Loughton. Streets already finished this year: Queens Road, Spareleaze Hill, Hillyfields, Woodbury Hill, Rectory Lane. Streets with work underway or starting around now: Traps Hill (Jun-Dec 2026), Kings Hill (Sep-Nov 2026), Carroll Hill (Sep-Dec 2026), Hillcroft (Oct-Dec 2026). England's Lane and Staples Road are scheduled Aug 2026-Jul 2027. Not confirmed again this week -- worth checking before relying on it.
Source: Thames Water project page
Bakers Lane / Cottis Lane, Epping carriageway improvements
OngoingEpping
Multi-phase carriageway reconstruction near Bakers Lane / Cottis Lane, Epping, with signed diversions via St John's Road, Coronation Hill and Lincolns Field. A July 2026 residents' letter put final surfacing around 26 July 2026 (subject to change), but no later update was found -- status as of October 2026 is unconfirmed. Not confirmed again this week -- worth checking before relying on it.
Source: Essex Highways: Bakers Lane / Cottis Lane project page
Shorter car park hours
OngoingEpping Forest car parks
Car park opening hours shortened from 7:00am-8:00pm to 7:00am-6:30pm from Monday 15 September 2026.
Baldwins Pond dam investigation works
OngoingBaldwins Pond
Cognition Land and Water Ltd is carrying out site investigations to inform future improvements to the Baldwins Pond dam. A public consultation is expected to follow, with construction expected to begin in spring (year not stated, presumably 2027).
Events in the forest
What's on this week, and what's coming up over the next month.
This week
Apple Day at Copped Hall
This weekCopped Hall, Epping
Family event in the Mansion and gardens at Copped Hall: apple identification by an orchard expert, produce and plant stalls, live music (Chingford Morris Men, Harlow Brass Band) and children's entertainment. Gates open 11am, last entry 4pm. Tickets £12 in advance or £15 on the day; free for Friends of Copped Hall, under-18s and carers.
Source: Copped Hall Trust: Apple Day
Coming up in the next month
Top Picks: litter pick at Hollow Ponds
Coming upHollow Ponds, Epping Forest
Free, volunteer-run litter pick at Hollow Ponds, part of the Epping Forest charity's recurring 'Top Picks' series.
Source: Eventbrite: Top Picks collection
The forest's grazing cattle
Epping Forest's conservation-grazing cattle move around the forest through the year.
Where the cattle are grazing
No change this weekSewardstone
The forest's grazing cattle haven't moved paddocks this week — they're still in the same area, close to Sewardstone.
A little closer to the forest
Local discoveries, things to do and updates for your next visit. You do not need the app to enjoy the Ledger.
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