76 THE MANAGEMENT OF EPPING FOREST.
report how far the thinning which took place during last winter was carried out in
accordance with their recommendations.
Mr. Solicitor has been in communication with those gentlemen, all of whom
(with the exception of Mr. Robinson2) are willing to comply with our request ;
but, owing to various circumstances beyond the control of your Committee, it
has unfortunately been found impossible to arrange a meeting earlier than the
middle of July next. We regret, therefore, that we are unable, at the present time,
to report fully to your Honourable Court on the subject.
At a meeting of this Committee held on the 10th instant, we were attended
by a deputation consisting of the following gentlemen :—
Mr. Andrew Johnston (Chairman of the Essex County Council, and a former
Verderer of the Forest), Professor Meldola, Professor Boulger, F. Carruthers
Gould, Esq., Horace T. Brown, Esq., F.R.S., Sir Robert Hunter, William Cole,
Esq., H. Joslin, Esq. (High Sheriff of Essex), Professor Stewart, and F.
Chancellor, Esq. (Mayor of Chelmsford) ; who presented two Memorials in the
following words :—
To the Epping Forest Committee.
I.—Your Memorialists have heard with grave concern that your Committee
have been urged to put a stop to all further removals of trees in Epping Forest for
a period of years. The undersigned have examined the area in question, and are
of opinion that such a resolution, if sanctioned by your Committee, would be
productive of undoubted injury to the Forest, especially as regards those portions
of Loughton, Epping, Waltham and Sewardstone Manors which are covered with
. a dense growth of pollarded trees.
Those who have approached you with the request to which we have referred do
not appear to have apprehended the altered conditions which were brought about
by the arrest of pollarding enacted in 1878.
Many of these pollards; whether single trees or groups, are capable of picturesque
development, but only under healthy conditions and with adequate space. To leave
them all to grow together—several hundreds to the acre—will lead to mutual
destruction, while the continuous shade overhead destroys the undergrowth and the
varied vegetation which constitutes the chief charm of a forest, and the hope of its
reproduction in the future.
The evils we have indicated are already sufficiently manifest, and it must be
obvious to all competent observers that, unless timely steps are taken, a few years'
further growth must produce a singularly monotonous, artificial, and unhealthy
result.
Some of us have been familiar with the Forest for many years, and can certify
to the great improvement and the increase of natural growth which has
already resulted from the operations of your Committee, now continued for many
years.
To the Epping Forest Committee.
II.—We, the undersigned, being residents in Forest Parishes, beg to state that
we have witnessed with satisfaction a great improvement in the aspect of the
Forest, directly due to the removal, during the past sixteen years, of inferior stems,
and to the consequent advance in beauty of those that remain, as well as the
encouragement of healthy young growth. We are certain that it will be an
irreparable misfortune if the careful thinning which has been hitherto carried out
is not steadily continued.
We further beg to assure the Committee that, in our opinion, the operations
in Hawk Wood, so far from being excessive, still fall short of what is required for
the healthy growth of oak trees.
In Monk Wood there is already a marked improvement, following on your
removal, eighteen months ago, of a proportion of the poorest pollarded trees. The
 2 Mr. Robinson has since expressed his willingness to comply.