Appendix No. 1.
xxxv
of an irresponsible Committee sitting in camera, and apparently acting
in defiance of views repeatedly advocated by the press, by the public, and
by Parliament.
VI.
Epping forest, its present condition, with suggestions fob its
future Management; being Reports resulting from recent Visits
to the Forest.
By A. G. Burrows, F.L.S., and Prof. G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S.
[On April 21st, 18S3, at the invitation of our President, Prof. Boulger,
Mr. A. J. Burrows, of Pluckley, Kent, paid a visit of inspection to
Epping Forest. He was met by Sir T. F. Buxton, Bart., Mr. E. N.
Buxton, and Mr. D. J. Morgan, Verderers (Mr. A. Johnston, the fourth
Verderer, being prevented by his magisterial duties from attending) ; Mr.
W. H. James, M.P., of the Commons Preservation Society; Mr. J. E.
Harting, Editor of the 'Zoologist,' and Mr. W. Cole, Secretary. The
following Reports by Mr. Burrows and Professor Boulger are the outcome
of the day's explorations. The Reports were read at the Meeting of the
Essex Field Club on May 26th, and are published in ' Forestry ' for June.
Mr. Burrows touches upon some controversial matters, such as the
introduction of trees alien to the district, drainage, &c., but the Society
must not be identified with these opinions in any way.—Ed.]
I. Planting.—Considering the time the Corporation has had posses-
sion of the Forest, it is surprising that so little work of this kind has
been done. The present state of the woodlands is, to a great extent, the
result of a long-continued and merciless lopping and chopping, for the
purpose of obtaining fuel. This has caused decay in a more or less
aggravated form to set in upon the crowns of most of the Pollards. At
no very distant date a large proportion of these will fall to pieces, or be
blown over. This is more particularly true of the Hornbeams, which,
even under the most favourable circumstances, are not remarkable for
their longevity, and which have here been sorely tried by rotations of the
most vigorous kind. Besides preserving for the present as many sound
trees as possible of this kind, I would even now plant Hornbeam, Oak,
and, in the moister places, Alder. Innumerable fitting sites for such are
to be found—some for single trees, in the midst of low growths of pro-
tecting Hawthorns, Blackthorn, and Gorse ; and others for clumps of
various sizes, in places where cattle and deer can never crop and injure
them. Amongst the Hollies of Lord's Bushes, the Gorse on the roadsides
from Theydon Bois to the "Wake Arms," and thence to Ambresbury
Banks; right and left of the road from Warren Hill to the "Robin Hood,"
and between the former place and the " Connaught Water " ;—in hundreds
of such places, where undergrowths are being cut away, one regrets
that they were not first utilised as nurses, and afterwards partially
removed.
In most parts of the Forest the variety of trees is not great; and in
some places the grandeur of the scenery would be marred by the intro-
duction of other species of a lofty growth. Still there are innumerable
other spots where variety would be pleasing, and where taller trees would
be very effective. More broad-leaved kinds might be introduced with
advantage. With great care in the selection of sites, I am of opinion that
Poplar of every kind,—except, perhaps, the Lombardy,—the Wych Elm,
the common Elm, the Evergreen Oak, Spanish Chestnut, Willow, Wild
Cherry, Maple, Sycamore, and much more Birch might be planted. I