The Church of the Holy Innocents, High Beach.

This beautiful church, surrounded by forest, was rebuilt in 1873 replacing an earlier church in Church Road. It is, however, well worth visiting.

Tennyson, the poet, lived in High Beach at Beech Hill Park between 1837 and 1840 and it was in this churchyard where he wrote part of the poem "In Memoriam".

Epping Forest in Autumn showing, in the bottom right corner, some Giant Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) - the light green plant.

It was in this forest that Dick Turpin, the notorious highwayman, plied his 'trade' for many years.

Looking out over the Lea Valley to London beyond. You can get refreshments here as there is a pub and at least one tea stall.

You'll see some sandy patches here, part of the Bagshot Beds, and this is why this area is called High Beach. These sands and gravels are approximately 50 million years old. Near the centre of the right hand part of the view you may notice a small light church shaped object - that is Waltham Abbey (easier to see in the larger view).

A pollarded Beech in Epping Forest.

Pollarding actually extends the life of the tree, although it wasn't done for that reason, and although a Beech tree would normally have an expected life span of 200-300 years there is a Beech pollard in Epping Forest that is estimated to be over 1000 years old.

Lichen (Cladonia sp.) in Epping Forest.