Largest fly-tip in Epping Forest dumped near historic Iron Age site
It's sparked an investigation and a major clean-up effort.
Staff at Epping Forest have described their devastation after discovering one of the largest fly-tips ever dumped in the heart of the historic woodland.
The illegal waste, left at Long Running on 16th January, was found close to Loughton Camp, an Iron Age scheduled monument dating back to around 500 BC. The site is within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and carries a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation.
A statement from the City of London Corporation, which manages Epping Forest, condemned the fly-tip as “an appalling environmental crime” and confirmed its cleanup had cost thousands of pounds, creating “a significant burden on the Epping Forest Charity.”
Despite this, staff acted swiftly to remove the waste within 24 hours, protecting the area’s ancient heathland and woodland as well as its wildlife. An investigation into the incident is underway, with the aim of prosecuting those responsible whenever possible.
The Long Running area serves as a unique ecological mosaic of wet and dry heath supporting diverse flora such as heathers and sedges, as well as transient ponds formed in old gravel pits. However, restoration work is currently being carried out in parts of the heathland, trying to restore conditions for heathland wildlife and flora to thrive, with heather now only surviving in limited areas.
The dumping occurred just days after another fly-tipping case. The City of London Corporation reported on 14th January that a fly-tipper had been caught and prosecuted for leaving rubbish at Forest View. They were handed 80 hours of community service and over £800 in fines and compensation while the original owner of the discarded waste was issued a conditional caution.
The City of London has reminded residents to check that anyone removing waste from their homes or businesses holds a licence for responsible disposal, highlighting the strain illegal dumping places on frontline conservation efforts.