As many of you will know, I work for Epping Forest Heritage Trust, and I not only love the Forest, but I am also incredibly proud of all the work that our amazing volunteers and small staff team do to protect and preserve it:

From our Visitor Centre volunteers welcoming over 9,000 visitors to the Forest each year, to our volunteer walk leaders running free, monthly guided walks for over 800 people last year;

From the fantastic sessions our two Conservation Officers run for volunteers doing delicate hands-on conservation sessions in the Forest, to our partnerships with amazing community organisations with Black Girls Hike, Muslim Hikers and many others;

From our amazing Happy Loppers, a team of people with learning difficulties who are out in the Forest every Friday improving its biodiversity, to our dedicated volunteers responding to planning proposals which might adversely impact on the Forest;

From engaging far more people in the delights of the Forest through our website, social media and magazine, to developing a Walking App to help people explore the Forest confidently on their own.

The staff and volunteers all do such a fantastic job protecting and preserving the Forest.

Which means I am genuinely proud to be able to fundraise to support our work.

And on a personal level, the Forest has also been hugely important to me over the last few years - a place to walk to strengthen my ankle after having my Achilles replaced, a place to improve my mental wellbeing after struggling during the pandemic, a place to walk and talk with friends and family, and a place to be truly humbled by the ancient trees and iron age forts.

So if you are able to support this first-ever event fundraiser for the Trust, I would be truly grateful.

Thanks so much in advance for your support.

Peter