THE RE-AFFORESTATION OF HAINHAULT. 7
interest attracts attention. The upper part of this allotment seems
to have been felled at some time, probably not long after its
enclosure, and has since been allowed to reclothe itself with wild
growth, and offers to the observant eye striking illustration of
the process of natural re-afforestation. How far this natural
process can be assisted and hastened by art on the 540
acres adjoining is the problem which the Conservators have set
themselves to solve.
II.—LAYING THE LAND DOWN TO GRASS.
Foxburrows Farm was taken over at Michaelmas, 1902, and
Mr. Buxton was left a period of three years to get the farm
Fig 2.—view of Foxburrows farm when taken over for re-afforestation,
with a few trees (remnants of the old forest) injured or killed by
isolation and exposure.
under grass, and to carry out such planting as seemed desirable
for reproduction of woodland, while still allowing abundant open
spaces for recreation. The problem presented many difficulties,
and to understand these it is necessary briefly to describe the
geological features of the land.
Surface Geology.—The farm buildings lie in a horse-shoe
shaped hollow, the entrance to the hollow being between the
cottages in the Romford Road; the subsoil of this hollow con-
sists of London-clay. The hills forming the horse-shoe are