During World War II this was ideal countryside to build homes for London folks, who wished to move into places of safety. Hence many bungalows were built in the woods in the Langdon Hills area â they say up to 200. The heating in the bungalows was coal fired and
The original statue of William Woodsman was originally carved by local artist Dave Chapple, a member of the Friends of Langdon Hills Country Park. This was a piece of public art carved in 1994 out of a giant oak around 200 years old that once stood in Coombe Woods and
Langdon Hills is the highest point in Essex and provides some fabulous far reaching views across the Land of the Fanns to Londonâs skyline. These hills stretch from The Essex Wildlife Reserve of Plotlands in the west to Lincewood, Marks Hill and Willow Park in the east. Also in the
When I was younger I was a Wildlife Ranger at Langdon Hills Nature Reserve. I started going to the sessions, when I was about 7 or 8 years old, to meet new people, and later my best friend started to come along with me too. At Wildlife Rangers, we spent
I was two weeks old, I opened my eyes and looked up. A peaceful view of the sun sparkling through the fluttering leaves of the trees above me. All was well in my world. That is the story of my life. As long as the woods are there, all is
Whatever the weather, rain, cold or snow, children and their families were invited to create an annually themed object such as bees and birds; one year it was dreamcatchers. The Ranger led a group walk from Beacon Field down the track through Coombe Wood to the majestic Pollarded Oak. This
Once again, a thousand children come to Westley Heights seeking Santa. Where is he? Who knows? In groups, the children are led through the woods, on the gravel path, by costumed characters from stories such as âWind in the Willowsâ, âAlice in Wonderlandâ and âThe Lion, the Witch and the
Coombe Wood, Langdon Hills in the 12th century It was dawn. The woods were waking up, Robin giving his territorial song, its pure notes resounding through the trees. Blackbird gave its excitable trill of notes and in the background were the rustles and secret movements of the other animals. Badger
It is a Wednesday morning, towards the end of April and a group of ladies from the Wednesday Womenâs club and some of The Friends of Langdon Hills meet us underneath the wooden statue of William Langdon Woodward. The sky is bright blue without a cloud to be seen. The
It wasnât until I saw a map of the Land of the Fanns that I realised that I had spent the last 30 years living around the edge of it. As I put my finger on the map, tracing out where we had lived, worked, studied and travelled, the regular
Thames Chase Trust, Pike Lane
Upminster, Essex RM14 3NS
01708 642970
landofthefanns@thameschase.org.uk
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