1. Variety pp. 151-157. This he described from north to south.
2. Preservation of Natural Features pp. 157-159.
3. Removal of the Artificial pp. 159-160.
4. Reproduction pp. 160-162.
5. The Policy of Thinning, pp. 162-164.
6. Drainage p. 164.
Variety
Buxton saw that much of the variety was due to differences in soils, aspect,
drainage and management history and claimed that the preservation of variety
should be an aim of the Epping Forest Committee.
He noted the preponderance of certain species in certain areas: "the Lower
Forest contains the finest specimens which we possess of pollard hornbeams."
. . . "in the future they may vie with the splendid group of old pollard horn-
beams at Hatfield" (Hatfield Forest, Essex. See Rackham, 1976).
The comparison is apposite and valid today. Both groups of hornbeam
were left uncut for almost a century. Some of those in Hatfield have been cut in
the last decade or so and most have regrown: those that have not been cut, both
in Hatfield and in Epping Lower Forest, tend to collapse through overweight
crowns.
Buxton was either thinking of only the next three to four generations'
pleasure, or did not know that the only way of perpetuating pollards indefinitely
is to pollard them: failure to do so is certain death.
In Epping Thicks he marvelled at the fine beech pollards, but then ap-
plauded the removal of "inferior hornbeam pollards" despite the fact that this
involved the creation of uniformity and not the preservation of variety
of species, nor the protection of pollards as required by the Act. Species
distribution is a sensitive and natural reflection of variation in soils and
drainage and thus part of the natural aspect. In addition Buxton believed rot in
the heart of pollard boles to be "fatal to the long life of the tree". Evidence does
not support this view.
He noted that tree-less parts of Theydon Manor "cleared a generation or
two back" had "a surface growth of heather". He also recorded coppicing in
the Manor — an unusual feature of the Forest. Both of these were major items
of diversity and would be highly prized for nature conservation today. However,
he recommended that the seedling birch and holly growing through the heather
be converted to high forest thus destroying by shade the variety provided by the
heather and the herbs and specialised wildlife living in it. The result has been
a lessening of habitat diversity.
Buxton deplored the thoroughness of pollarding in Loughton the con-
sequent absence of spears (trees grown from seeding without being coppiced or
pollarded): in this, Loughton differed from neighbouring manors, but he then
went on to prescribe action which would make it just the same as Theydon and
Epping Manors. At the same time, he again justified removal of hornbeam and
63