ITS MANAGEMENT 151
tion than can be found in any other English
forest. Our aim should be to preserve, and
emphasise, this variety, which constitutes one of
the greatest charms of our woodland.
Let me now endeavour to point out the special
features which characterise the most important
blocks of woodland, and, so far as I can, the reasons
for the differences which we find, as well as the
policy which I suggest should prevail in the
future.
Beginning at the north end, the Lower Forest,
beyond the town of Epping, contains the finest
specimens which we possess of pollard hornbeams,
with splendid buttressed stems. The naturally
heavy and wet soil seems to favour this species.
The individual specimens have always had more
room here than is the case elsewhere. The
purpose here has been to select the finest trees
and groups, and give them a chance of develop-
ing still further, till in the future they may even
vie with the splendid groups of old pollard horn-
beams at Hatfield. The process, if not complete,
is so forward that very moderate thinning will
suffice in future. Along with the hornbeams are
a good many unpollarded oaks and a few ashes.
Coming south of Epping, we find in Epping
Thicks a far drier soil, naturally drained by the
deep little valleys which cross it. These not only
furnish in themselves a new and very beautiful
feature, but favour, on the dry ridges, a splendid
undergrowth of holly in conjunction with the
finest beeches which the Forest can show. A
large number of inferior hornbeam pollards have
been taken out, so that the beeches are now seen
in majestic groups. Below the wide green ride
there are some well-grown oaks, and here also
a few more of the paltry pollards might well be
removed. When this is done, this beautiful wood
will go on improving without further interference
for many years. There are here a few unpollarded
hornbeams of large size. These are a great rarity
in Epping Forest.
On the opposite side of the valley we find a