80 THE MANAGEMENT OF EPPING FOREST.
Bury, or Hawk Wood.—There are a number of Pollard Hornbeams in this
Wood which should be removed. They are damaging the Oak trees ; they
prevent the boles of the Oaks from being seen, and their removal would improve
the character of the Wood. We attach great importance to retaining the
character of this portion of the Forest as an Oak Wood, and we would recommend
that nothing further be done here beyond the gradual clearing out of the
Pollard Hornbeams.
Bush Wood, Wanstead.—The thinning done here during past years appears
to be judicious.
Wanstead Park.—The old Elms, with undergrowth of young Sycamore
coming up between them, are the principal feature of this Wood. The object
of thinning was to remove some stag-headed Elms, and those which interfered
with the development of the Sycamores. No other Elms, unless dead or dying,
need be removed ; as the Sycamore now has sufficient light and air to hold its
own against the Elm.
Walthamstow Wood.—In this Wood a number of Hornbeam Pollards have
been cut out, in single trees, here and there. In our judgment, a better effect
would be obtained, in future, by removing such Pollards as it may be desirable
to get rid of, in groups, leaving other portions unthinned in the meantime. By
adopting this course, a gradual return to a more natural condition of the
Woodland would be obtained, the artificial Pollards giving way to natural
and unmutilated trees.
Oak Hill, Woodford.—The thinning here has been carefully carried out.
Kate's Cellar, Loughton.—This Wood is typical of the large area of mono-
tonous Hornbeam Pollards which are, unfortunately, so conspicuous a feature of
Epping Forest. The clearings are too small, and too near each other. We
recommend that, in future, they should be of a bolder type, and further apart.
Although it may not be exactly within the terms of our Reference, we beg to
offer the following remarks for the consideration of your Committee :—
1. We would suggest that a plan of operations should be drawn up, showing
which areas it is proposed to deal with during the next ten years, and the
character of the operations. This Scheme should be drawn up by the Superin-
tendent of the Forest, and submitted to the Epping Forest Committee, who
might, if they thought well, take further advice as to the proposals made in the
Scheme.
2. It is desirable that when the plan is matured and approved, the execution
of the work should be placed in the hands of the Superintendent of the Forest,
who should be responsible to the Committee for the entire management
of the Forest.
3. At the present moment, the Forest is in places littered with heaps of cut
timber. This is very unsightly, and we strongly recommend that arrangements
should be made for the cut timber to be removed by the 1st of May in
each year.
[Signed.] A. B. Freeman-Mitford, James Anderson, William Robinson,
W. Schlich, A. D. Webster.