Ben Murphy has been re-elected as Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee.

Working closely with its local communities, the Epping Forest and Commons Committee sets policy for City Corporation-conserved open spaces in Essex, Buckinghamshire, London, and Surrey.

Managed as registered charities, they comprise Epping Forest – including Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats – and ‘The Commons’, which includes Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common, Ashtead Common, West Wickham and Coulsdon Commons, Farthing Downs, Kenley Common, Riddlesdown, and Spring Park.

Chairman of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Ben Murphy, said:

“I am honoured colleagues have re-elected me Chairman, as we continue our work to protect and conserve these natural assets for the nation. These open spaces play a critical role in the UK's response to tackling climate change.

“They include important wildlife habitats, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves. They also provide a wide range of sports and leisure facilities, holiday rentals, hospitality venues, and a number of heritage and cultural landmarks.

“Over the past year, I have enjoyed visiting all of our sites and talking to local stakeholders. I have listened carefully to what is working well and to areas for improvement. 

“As we begin the process of resetting our strategy later this year, we encourage as many people as possible to come forward and help shape the future.

“I look forward to working closely with our many diverse local communities and volunteers who remain the lifeblood of our forests, parks, heaths, and downlands."

Ben has served as a City Corporation elected Member for over six years and is a Common Councillor for ward of Bishopsgate. 

He sits on the Policy and Resources Committee, Finance Committee, Education Board, Natural Environment Board, West Ham Park Committee, Community and Children’s Services Committee, and Safeguarding Committee. Ben is also a Sponsor Trustee and Director of the City of London Academies Trust.

He was elected as a local councillor in Epping Forest in 2007 and served as Mayor of Epping. He has worked as a Chief Operating Officer for a number of global Investment Banks in the City of London.

The City Corporation manages over 11,000 acres of open space in London and south east England, including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and over 200 smaller sites in the Square Mile, investing over £38m a year.

The City Corporation’s green spaces, most of which are charitable trusts, are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve.

They remove around 16,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere a year, equivalent to 44% of the City Corporation’s annual carbon footprint.

They are protected from being built on by special legislation.