16 November 2009
Epping Forest Verderer appointment announced
Michael Chapman has been appointed as the new Verderer of Epping
Forest, an historic role which dates back to the 13th century.
Mr Chapman said: "As a walker and naturalist living in Theydon
and Epping all my life I have always enjoyed the Forest. I
hope as Verderer I will be able to help preserve the natural beauty
of the Forest so that it can continue to be enjoyed by all."
Mr Chapman, a solicitor has a keen interest in natural history
whose father was one of the founding members of the Theydon Bois
and District Rural Preservation Society. He is Vice President of
that society. He has also served as Chairman of the West Essex
Health Authority and is the current Chairman of the St Clare
Hospice at Harlow. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of
Essex.
The role of a Verderer involves playing a full part in all
Epping Forest matters of the City of London’s Epping Forest &
Commons Committee. The name Verderer is derived from the
Norman-French for green wood and originally helped administer the
Royal Forests.
To qualify for appointment as a Verderer, a person must reside
within one of the Forest parishes and not be a member of the Court
of Common Council of the City of London. All applicants should also
have a detailed knowledge of the Forest, the principles under which
it must be managed and the pressures operating on it. There are
four Verderers who are full members of the Epping Forest &
Commons Committee.
At the July meeting of the Epping Forest & Commons Committee
of the City of London, Verderer Michael Davies announced his
intention to resign by the end of the year, with the view to the
new incumbent being in position by then.
Under the terms of the Epping Forest Act 1878, a vacancy arising
between the septennial elections of Verderers requires an
appointment to be made by the Committee acting on behalf of the
City of London as the Conservators of Epping Forest.
Mr Chapman will take up his position in January 2010 will
represent the Northern Parishes - Epping, Theydon Bois, Loughton,
Waltham Holy Cross, Chingford and Chigwell.
This appointment will last until March 2013 when the septennial
elections to appoint all four Epping Verderers will take place.
Ends
Notes for editors
Epping Forest is the largest public open space in the London
area, measuring over 8000 acres, two-thirds of which is wooded and
the same proportion designated the Special Area for Conservation
(SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
In the second half of the 19th century large areas of the Forest
were being enclosed for development, with scant regard for
commoners’ rights or general recreational needs. Such was the City
of London Corporation’s concern over this that it fought a legal
battle against the enclosures, culminating in two ground-breaking
Acts of Parliament passed in 1878. One of these entrusted the
ownership and care of Epping Forest to the City of London, with the
second making similar provision for other open spaces under similar
threat.
In addition to providing local authority services within the
Square Mile, the City of London provides a large number of
facilities for the benefit of London and to the nation as a whole.
These include the Barbican Centre, 10000 acres of open space, three
wholesale London markets and maintaining five Thames
bridges.