Hainault Forest was a large wooded area in the English counties of Essex and Greater London which was mostly destroyed after 1851.

[1] With an area of 135.31 hectares (334.4 acres),[2] Hainault Forest Country Park has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Oaks from the Forest were harvested to build ships for the Royal Navy, most notably HMS Temeraire (launched in 1798), which was famous for its role in the Battle of Trafalgar.

[10] The nunnery of Barking Abbey, established in the 7th century by St Erkenwald, was suppressed by Henry VIII in 1539, and its assets seized, during the dissolution of the monasteries.

Day began the fair as a benefit for his workers - they dined on beans and bacon, and this may be the origin of the English words bean-feast and beano.

[12][13] After the forest was largely destroyed, the fair continued at nearby Barkingside, with the last gathering of any size occurring in 1900.

The deer were removed, the trees grubbed out using machines specially designed for the purpose, and 92-96% of the forest converted to farmland.

The destruction was deplored by Sir Walter Besant in his works on London: the forest is also the setting for his novel All in a Garden Fair.

Hainault Forest Country Park protected areas include: open space parklands — with numerous public footpaths and a large lake; Hainault Forest Golf Club; and Foxburrows Farm — which is used in part for preserving rare breeds of animals.

Much of the remainder of the remnant, or the formerly forested area is built up, or consists of poor quality arable land.