xl
Appendix No. 1.
manner. Though in the reservation of common lands these parochial
rights are apparently inevitable, they are certainly adverse to the best
interest of the forests, and therefore of the public, and should only be
exercised under the authority and supervision of the Forest officers.
Some of the disused gravel-pits, when really exhausted and not merely
abandoned by the whims of destructive diggers, might well be made into
natural, irregular, and picturesque pieces of water, instead of being
elaborately drained as at present.
We next drove to the " plain " by Chingford Station, an extensive grass
fallow marked by ridge and furrow and almost treeless. Though it may
be desirable to leave much of this open, especially when rendered more
level by rolling, as a drill-field and gallop, yet it would be well to take
advantage of the shelter afforded by Hawkwood on the crest of the hill
to break the stiff boundary of that wood by planting.
Between Hawkwood and Bury Wood there is a patch of fallow sepa-
rated from Chingford Plain by a belt of trees, and thus admirably adapted
for the site of a nursery, for which purpose it might be enclosed without
serious detriment to any one. In Hawkwood itself is au illustration of
pollard Hornbeams unthinned, overcrowded, killing one another, rotting
at their tops, and sending up vertical, unpicturesque, and leafless
branches. Probably half of these, if not more, might be removed with
advantage to the remainder ; but much judgment should be exercised in
selection, and there are other forestal operations which more pressingly
demand the attention of the Conservators. There is only a scanty
undergrowth of Hawthorn; but it must be remembered that in many
of our most beautiful tree-glades, such as High Beach and Little Monk
Wood here, and in Fir woods generally, we cannot have underwood.
In traversing Bury Wood, near Hawkwood Farm, we came upon an
open green glade or "ride" that well illustrated what such gangways
should be, as contrasted with those that have been made during the last
five years. Its sides were not straight or even, nor was the central space
unbroken. There were clumps of Blackthorn, Bramble, and Briar, with
here and there a fine young tree springing from the centre of one of these
natural chevaux-de-frise, enough, in fact, to prevent the passage of a
waggon, for which such "rides" are not intended. Many such glades
might be made with advantage to the beauty of the Forest and to its
safety from Forest fires ; but it is seldom desirable to run them fo:
than 200 yards or so in a straight line.
We next crossed an open space of another type, known as Ludgate
Plain, a somewhat swampy tract, with a stream running through it.
Considering that we have just experienced an unusually wet season, I do
not think this a spot that calls for artificial drainage, though the natural
watercourse might be kept clear. I should advocate the diversifying of
this and similar spots by the planting of clumps of Alder, a beautiful
tree not common in the district. Such trees as this and species of
Willow and Poplar would aid very much in preventing the accumulation
of stagnant water. It was pointed out that young trees can be well
notched in singly in the middle of a clump of Thorn, which will then
serve as a protection against deer and cattle. At the same time masses
of dead Bramble beneath the shade of grown trees are a source of danger
from their inflammability, and should be removed.
Passing much open ground about Fairmead Bottom, we then entered
the grand grove of Beeches at High Beach, and, after enjoying the view
over the Lea Valley, drove to Theydon Thicks, in the hope of sighting
some of the deer. The young Birches here form a most attractive
feature, and the general feeling of our party seemed to be against any
such introduction of exotics as that of Rhododendron ponticum, which