and insects and perhaps the revival of declining species. The choice of suitable
sites for further pollarding should be a simple matter.
Going further, by using old and modern species records, ecological ob-
servations such as those by Buxton, experience gained from management of
similar habitats elsewhere in south Essex (e.g. Danbury Common, Tiptree
Heath, Hatfield Forest, Hainault Forest and Writtle Forest) and knowledge of
species-requirements, it is possible to prescribe a basic management policy for
nature conservation in the Forest. The acceptance of nature conservation
principles in Forest management policy and their incorporation with other work
in each year's programme would do much to enhance the Forest's wildlife.
The wildlife we have and respect today is made up of species surviving the
change begun in 1878 to high forest, coarse pasture and, locally, drained
marsh. The losses are well-documented: so are those species once common and
now rare and perhaps lost (Crombie 1885, with special reference to the
diminution of lichens due to lack of light, Jermyn 1974 and Epping Forest
Conservation Centre's records). Conservation management is essential to the
maintenance of biological variety in the Forest.
CONCLUSIONS
How well have those clauses in the Act affecting nature conservation been put
into practice?
The principal Sections affecting nature conservation have already been
listed: their effect over one hundred years of management is now reviewed.
Section 5
While numbers of cattle were high, grazing was entirely beneficial to the
sward on the plains in keeping a short turf and preventing scrub and tree
growth. Now that numbers are much lower, the sward has coarsened and scrub
and trees are rapidly encroaching on to the plains. Conservators could redress
the balance by increasing the number of cattle on the Forest.
Section 6
Digging many small pits for gravel provided pools and wet hollows: some
are now partially filled or overgrown. Clearing the vegetation and letting light in
or the deliberate digging of new pools in the open could benefit nature con-
servation.
Section 7 (I)
The Conservators have very successfully maintained the Forest as open
space and thus preserved an extremely valuable tract of semi-natural vegetation
to the benefit of many interests, including nature conservation.
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