The Forgotten Forest of London
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- A walk through Hainault Forest in East London on the Central Line Loop. The forest once formed part of the mighty Forest of Essex along with Epping Forest and Hatfield Forest.
Here's the video mentioned above of my walk along the Rendlesham Forest UFO Trail • Rendlesham Forest UFO ...
Music in this video by the brilliant Puddle of Infinity
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Please watch: "Walk from St.Paul's through Islington to Highgate"
• Walk from St.Paul's th...
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Thanks John, brought back memories of some 65 years ago when a gang of us would build a boat out of an old bathtub and sail it on Hainault lake & make spears out of Holly. I was lucky as we lved right next to the Forest by The Old Hainault Oak. {now gone) Those were the days, once more many thanks.
In the opening shots of Hainault it's sad to see cars parked where the front gardens once were. So instead of a low wall and roses and dahlias in a pocket front garden, it's crazy paving and dropped kerbs. This not only deprives the suburban house of it's border on the world, but makes the footpath a permeable space at the caprice of drivers. Old news, but still a shame.
Quite agree and a real feature of the Outer 'doughnut' suburbs. I vaguely remember Ken Livingstone talking about trying to deal with this when he was Mayor but not sure it ever materialised
Sadly, these awful dropped kerbs are in abundance here in east London. When I first moved into this area nearly 20 years ago, there were hedges and gardens. New people have since moved in to many of these houses and the first thing to go is the front garden. We are one of the few remaining houses which still has hedges! Too much concrete and too many cars. :(
@@Nemie125 Sadly there is quite a bit of that up here in Yorkshire too. Where my Grandmother lived they had hedges dividing the gardens right the way down the street instead of walls or fences, it is fixed in my memory. Cats used to love walking through the gaps expanding their territory from one garden to another oh and hiding to try and catch the birds and the one who lived in the house next door to her was an expert at that.
Lovely! I am exploring forests in east London and this was really enjoyable
Thanks Surya - hope you have fun exploring the forest(s) - they're a real gift
Hainault Forest to Havering Park has always been lovely, we’re so lucky to still have this gem
Quite a trippy one this! Love it
great video John ,
I like the mix of history,autobiography and the music sequences,
very interesting,
loved the pint at the end of a long day,funny that.
Many thanks indeed - and yes that pint of East London Brewery Pale Ale went down very well
Hi John another nostalgic video trip for me spent a lot of my early teen years fishing at the lake,left school and worked in Roebuck Road,purchased a property in Cypress Grove, and ll
Lovely walk! What a beautiful space even if only 10 percent was saved.
Another very enjoyable video.Always look forward to watching them.
Thanks Stewart - I get a great deal of pleasure making them
Hainault is a beautiful forest and local to me (Redbridge) - was there only this morning although it's very muddy at the moment. :) I've never ventured out towards the fields but having watched this wonderful walk, I think I will do so once the mud has all dried up :)
Thanks Nemie - it's a really special place - I'm planning to walk over the fields towards Theydon Bois from the forest soon
Great channel, not sure how I haven't found it before.
Thanks Ian
Love the forest. Live local but not been in years . Will go now
stumbled across your channel interesting clever man subscribed will look out for your books so beautifuly quiet away from the traffic noise
Thanks for the kind words Norma
Do it in the snow,
That is a an amazing walk
Funnily enough I did last year during the Beast from the East - there’s a video on my channel
Hi John. In your video @8:35 we see these sharp spike prickly balls. Last year at Shooters Hill near Severndroog Castle, as i sat on the floor and leaned my hand on the ground, i hadn't realised the floor was covered in those balls and so hundreds of spikes went through my glove into my hand. I've been trying to find out what those ball things are called. Would you happen to know?
never mind ive found a video of you at Hainaut, still think itll be nice to see you go again
Only recently been to Hainault; lovely place, kids really enjoyed it, but there's a sense that the forest has really been encroached on, not dissimilar to Trent Park...
There are lots of freaky wood carvings in the forest there. Scared the shit out of me when I first found them.
Beech trees have a very smooth grey bark. The wood looks dense like it would make the axe ring
What's with the eerie music? I like it but seriously dude I keep thinks my something's gonna jump out at me
To my mind Johns background music is part of what makes his walks so unique. But I agree this is rather creepy!
Thanks for that, John. Saved me having to go out of the house today. LOL. Nice music too.
My pleasure - not the greatest weather today eh. Had to schlepp over to Hackney in the drizzle
Summer ended on cue: September the first.
Very nice channel you have, John! Thanks for your videos!
Thanks very much for your comment Victor - much appreciated
Love love love Hainault forest !
Hi John, I like these videos and find them very relaxing. After living in E17/E10/E11 all my life, it's nice to hear some different perspectives on places I know well. I seem to remember you did a walk years ago where you followed the Fille Brook I think it was? Are there any other little hidden rivers around here that you can follow? Also I have a couple of ideas for walks for you. When I was little, my granddad used to take me camping & fishing at Roydon Mills. Also my and a mate went camping there on our own when we were about 13 and followed the train track towards the sound of engines which lead us out at Rye House go cart track. In our minds it was like our own little Stand By Me adventure :) Also is there any mileage in a walk along the river Ching? or River Roding? I am not sure how accessible they are or if they would be interesting at all. Lastly, keep up the walks mate, as someone who is far less mobile now days due to health reasons it's very nice to watch the (local) world go by!
Ah I have just found your River Roding video :)
Many thanks for your comment - it's great to know that you've enjoyed the videos. I was thinking of doing videos on the Dagenham Brook and the Hackney Brook and I'd like to walk the New River one day although might have to wait for the long days next summer. Thanks for the tip and story about Roydon - I've been looking at it on the map recently so might venture up that way soon.
Funny you mention the UFO trail at Rendlesham, Hainault has had a few UFO sightings as well!
That mobility scooter was a bit of a puzzler.
Hello John. I know this is a very early video of yours, but still interesting. It was a little strange to see that abandoned mobility scooter there. Where was the owner and how did he get back home from there if the battery was flat? Personally, I would suspect some idiot kids had pinched it to ride around for fun until the battery went flat. If that was the case, I feel sorry for the owner. Nicely done video John.
Love it
Thank you
thank you so much for this mate
Glad you enjoyed it Richard
Did you find crab hill?
I think Crabtree Hill is the area near the end of the video with the chainlink fencing - either that or just before - I must admit I completely lost my sense of direction towards the end even by my standards
There was a railway planned to go out further !!
Which is best John, Apple maps or Google maps?
I’d say Google - but the OS app is good
Wondrous
This is so pretty. Why not do it again sometime.
Interesting commentary, keep up the good work :)
Thanks Dovki
This is a good channel.
Thank you
Part if Hainault was stolen and sectiined up but some was replanted as forest see story of Hainault Forest.. nice to add Fairlop Waters for a contrast..
The Miller & Carter pub roughly 10 years ago were very snobbish. You had to wear a shirt and trousers to get in to have a drink. Never went there again. A pub should be open to everyone, it ain't a nightclub !! Don't know if they've changed the rules since then !!
Thanks for sharing that. It seems to have relaxed a bit, I actually ended up down the road in Chigwell Row
How is it a forgotten forest ?
Shame on you John not knowing your trees you should know at least the common ones, again another great film enjoyed it has always, read up on your trees.
HI JOHN, IS YOUR LOCAL WETHERSPOON BOOZER THE WALNUT TREE LEYTONSTONE, NEARBY ONE OF THE NICEST EVER MACDONALDS, OF WHICH THE FIRST UK OUTLET WASAT WOOLWICH NOV 1974.
that's the one Peter
Your not too old to learn. Woodland trust app is great for tree ident.
See hainault forest railway proposed in 1857...
Great find. Horrific sound track makes it nearly unwatchable , sorry
I'm truly shocked that you as a lover of woods that you can't like Jack Hargreaves knock up a set of chairs and a plate out of wood with only a penknife...
Epping Forest got more money .
thats not a forest..
thats just trees..
real forests are in the high mountains and smells like forest..
english forests are awfull.. they look like shit especially with all the bushesh
Mate in this city this is all we have
@@marcusgotti8231 that's true bro... unfortunatelly... I miss real forests
No bears or wolves (yet!) though.
Bush’s
Do you think you were a disappointment to your DAD NOT BEING ABLE to name all the trees in the forest you love to Wonder through on a regular basis.. ? 👉😂👈🫶