THE MANAGEMENT OF EPPING FOREST.
63
the Conservators pollarded trees after paying Loughton £7,000 to extinguish the
lopping rights—cutting off boughs and branches and leaving bare stems, which
looked like nothing so much as magnified clothes props. They had a full appre-
ciation of the benefits that the Forest had derived from Mr. E. N. Buxton and
his brother, whose names would never be forgotten, and it was with real regret
that they opposed them and the policy which the Buxtons had taken under their
wing. But they must oppose. They had this remnant of old England, this
primeval bit of woodland, for which they were fighting.7
Mr. W. G. S. Smith asked whether a resolution would be taken.
The President thought it would be better not to do so, as they had only been
over a portion of the Forest where thinning operations had been carried on.
Mr. Smith : Thank you, sir.
Mr. E. N. Buxton said that he had occupied so much of their time that
afternoon that he had intended rather to listen than to speak at the meeting, but
after the very direct appeal of Mr. Lindley he must beg to be allowed a few
words. The pollarding to which Mr. Lindley referred was a very small detail.
He was not responsible for every tree that was marked ; he had never said
that, and he dissented from the policy of pollarding. But this was in the
discretion of th; Superintendent ; trees that were marked for removal were left
pollarded instead of being completely removed. Mr. Lindley had called attention
to a communication—a private communication—which was made to him some
some years ago. He (Mr. Buxton) did not wish to conceal from the Club that
there had been differences of opinion on the Epping Forest Committee in the
past, but surely they might disagree without imparting bitterness into the
controversy. When there was a difference he should not think it his duty to
appeal to the outside public, who might or might not always have just views on
these technical questions. As to the opening of spaces, he remarked that in a
few years the heather would come up, and then perhaps thorns, and after them
other trees, the nurses of the future. As he had said during the afternoon, the
question which some of their critics had not realised was, How was the Forest
to renew itself? He was strongly opposed to the policy of plantations; he
wished the Forest to renew itself. He asked them to look at the matter as a
whole and decide whether they thought that, on the whole, judgment had been
exercised. Mr. Smith did not wish a resolution to be put. He (Mr. Buxton)
did ; he was quite ready to face it. He did not understand why Mr. Smith
should be afraid of the fair judgment of ladies and gentlemen who had looked
into the question with impartial minds, and [who were, many of them, dis-
tinguished men, having special knowledge, not only of forestry and natural
history, but of the peculiar conditions and history of the Epping woodlands.
Mr. W. G. S. Smith (Secretary to the "Forest Fund"), reminded his hearers
of the indignation with which many years ago they witnessed a saw-pit made in
the vallum of Ambresbury Banks. Since then the Forest had been handed to the
Conservators, and it had been reserved to them to see now a steam saw-mill in
the Forest. (Laughter and cheers.) He went on to speak of beech trees two
hundred years old razed to the ground. In other parts the trunks of grand old
beech trees stood bare—like sausages. (Loud laughter.) They went into Monks
Wood and could look through it anywhere and see the sky, and they were told
that it was improved. (Hear, hear.) The beautiful slopes which used to be
covered with undergrowth were now beautifully smooth. (Laughter.) They went
down to the watercourse, over the edges of which old hornbeams used to lean,
7 See foot-note appended to report of Mr. Smith's speech.—Ed.