66 THE MANAGEMENT OF EPPING FOREST.
objection of the late Superintendent that the thinning of any of the pollard
beeches there would let the wind in and blow them all down. He still thought
mistakes had been made, as was only to be expected, but the present debate
had reference to recent thinning, say that of the last year or two, and, after what
they had seen that day, it gave him, as a generally hostile critic, great pleasure to
move the resolution :
" That in the opinion of this meeting, the general action of the Conservators in the
recent thinnings has been judicious."
Mr. A. Double, C.C, as a member of the Club, proposed to second the
resolution, but on the appeal of Mr. Salmon, who said that he did not think any
member of the Corporation, even though a member of the Club, should vote at
the meeting, Mr. Double gave way to the Rev. W. C. Howell, who, as an old
member of the Club and well acquainted with the Forest, heartily seconded the
resolution.
Mr. F. Carruthers Gould said : I am, I believe, one of the oldest inhabitants
of the district bordering on the Forest, for within a month or two I shall have
lived twenty-five years in the neighbourhood, and throughout the whole of that
time I have habitually frequented and enjoyed the beauties of this woodland.
And as there is probably no one in the room who has less respect than I have for
the ancient Corporation of London—(Laughter)—no one can accuse me of being
unduly prejudiced in their favour. When the correspondence about the Forest
clearings first commenced, f certainly formed the opinion that too much had been
done by the Conservators, and I was asked by some of my friends to intervene
and support the views of the critics, but I declined, as I had not had the opportu-
nity of seeing for myself the recent clearings, and I did not care to express a
definite opinion without personal investigation. A fortnight ago I had this
opportunity. I went with the pre conceived idea that too much cutting had been
done, and as it is a human weakness to try and make facts fit into pre conceived
fancies, I did my best to discover grounds for adverse criticism, but I am bound
to admit that these ideas which I had formed disappeared in face of the evidence.
I could find no ground; for the charge brought against the Conservators of wilful
and wanton Vandalism, of a desire to destroy the woodland character of the Forest,
and to turn it into an open park. This opinion has been strengthened by what I
have seen to-day. Certainly here or there in Monk Wood mistakes might have
been made ; certain trees had been cut down which might have been allowed to
remain, but I must confess that in every case there were distinct and intelligent
reasons given for the course taken. The whole thing, therefore, resolves itself
into a question of individual taste and judgment with regard to individual trees ;
and that being so, it appears to me that there can be no question ot Vandalism
generally. With regard to Lord's Bushes, I certainly formed at one time the
opinion that there had been too much clearing, but when I look at the result, and
see the healthy condition of the undergrowth, I must again acknowledge that the
thinning was judicious, and has improved that part of the Forest. Experts all
agree that, in dealing with Epping Forest, which is not a primeval forest,
clearing of some sort is necessary, and that being so, the question is—who
shall do it ? For my part, f am content that the responsibility should rest in
the hands of a body of whom Mr. Buxton is so active a member.
Mr. David Howard, J.P., F.C.S., said that he remembered the Forest
ever since he was a small boy, nearly fifty years ago, and certainly the last
description that could have been then given of it would have been "primeval"
forest. It would have been impossible to find a stretch of country more unnatural,