EPPING Forest staff say they have been “devastated” to find one of the largest fly-tips ever dumped in the very heart of the historic forest. The shocking pile of waste was fly-tipped on Friday, January 16, at Long Running, a site very near to a scheduled ancient monument and protected by both a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

A statement from the City of London, which has jurisdiction over the ancient woodland, said: “Those responsible for this appalling environmental crime have shown a blatant disregard for areas afforded the very highest levels of heritage and nature protection.

“The cost of clearing the fly‑tip has run into thousands of pounds, placing a significant burden on the Epping Forest Charity. Despite this, staff have worked swiftly to clear the site within 24 hours, removing the waste from this much‑loved area of historic ancient heathland and woodland and helping to protect wildlife and public access. The Epping Forest Charity’s Enforcement team will continue to investigate this incident and always pursue prosecution wherever possible.”

The flytip in Long Running, close to Loughton Camp, is one of two Iron Age earthworks, both Scheduled Monuments, thought to have been built around 500 BC. City of London adds that it was in Long Running’s mosaic of wet and dry heath, supports heathers, sedges, and transient ponds formed in old gravel pits. However, Long Running East, historically part of this heathland, has been largely lost to secondary infill by oak and birch.

A programme of Heathland restoration is being undertaken to reopen this habitat, creating the conditions for heathland wildlife and flora to thrive once again—especially heather, which now persists there in only a few areas. It comes just two days after the City of London Corporation reported on Wednesday, January 14, that a fly-tipper had been caught, prosecuted and fined for dumping their waste illegally in Forest View in Epping Forest.

They received 80 hours of community service and more than £800 in financial penalties and compensation. The original owner of the rubbish received a conditional caution.

A statement added: “We’re committed to protecting the Forest, its wildlife and the people who love it. Every bag dumped illegally, from garden waste to builders’ waste, takes time and money away from our frontline work.

“Householders are responsible for ensuring their waste is disposed of appropriately, so ensure that anybody removing waste from your home or business is licensed to do so responsibly.”