THK ISFANAGEMENT OK EPPING FOREST. 63 



the Conservators pollarded trees after paj'ing Loughton /7,ooo to extinguish the 

 lopping rights — cutting off boughs and branches and leaving bare stems, which 

 looked like nothing so much as magnified clothes props. They had a full appre- 

 ciation of the benefits that the Forest had derived from Mr, E. N. Buxton and 

 his brother, whose names would never be forgotten, and it was with real regret 

 that they opposed them and the policy which the Buxtons had taken under their 

 wing. But they must oppose. They had this remnant of old England, this 

 primeval bit of woodland, for which they were fighting.'' 



Mr. W. G. S. Smith asked whether a resolution would be taken. 



The President thought it would be better not to do so, as they had only been 

 over a portion of the Forest where thinning operations had been carried on. 



Mr. Sm'th : Thank you, sir. 



Mr. E. N. Buxton said that he had occupied so much of their time that 

 afternoon that he had intended rather to listen than to speak at the meeting, but 

 after the very direct appeal of Mr. Lindley he must beg to be allowed a few 

 words. The pollarding to which Mr. Lindley referred was a very small detail. 

 He was not responsible for every tree that was marked ; he had never said 

 that, and he dissented from the policy of pollarding. But this was in the 

 discretion of th; Superintendent ; trees that were marked for removal were left 

 pollarded instead of bjing completely removed. Mr. Lindley had called attention 

 to a communication — a private communication — which was made to him some 

 some years ago. lie (Mr. Buxton) did not wish to conceal from the Club that 

 there had been differences of opinion on the Epping Forest Committee in the 

 past, but surely they might disagree without imparting bitterness into the 

 controversy. When there was a difference he should not think it his duty to 

 appeal to the outside public, who might or might not always have just views on 

 these technical questions. As to the opening of spaces, he remarked that in a 

 few years the heather wjuld come up, and then perhaps thorns, and after them 

 other trees, the nurses of the future. As he hai said during the afternoon, the 

 question which some of iheir critics had not realised was. How was the Forest 

 to renew itself ? He was strongly opposed to the policy of plantations ; he 

 wished the Forest to renew itself. He asked them to look at the matter as a 

 whole and decide whether they thought that, on the whole, judgment had been 

 exercised. Mr. Smith did not wish a resolution to be put. He (Mr. Buxton) 

 did ; he was quite ready to face it. He did not understand why Mr. Smith 

 should be afraid of the fair judgment of ladies and gentlemen who had looked 

 into the question with impartial minds, and Vho were, many of them, dis- 

 tinguished men, having special knowledge, not only of forestry and natural 

 history, but of the peculiar conditions and history of the Epping woodlands. 



Mk. W. G. S. Smith (Secretary to the " Forest Fund"), reminded his hearers 

 of the indignation with which many years ago they witnessed a saw-pit made in 

 the vallum of Ambresbury Banks. Since then the Forest had been handed to the 

 Conservators, and it had been reserved to them to see now a steam saw-mill in 

 the Forest. (Laughter and cheers.) He went on to speak of beech trees two 

 hundred years old razed tj the ground. In other parts the trunks of grand old 

 bjech trees stood bare— like sausages. (Loud laughter.) They went into Monks 

 Wood and could look through it any.vhere and see the sky, and they were told 

 that it was imp.oved. (Hear, hear.) The beautiful slopes which used to be 

 covered with undergrowth were now beautifully smooth. (Laughter.) They went 

 down to the watercourse, over the edges of which old hornbeams used to lean. 

 7 See foot-note appended to report of Mr. Smith's speech. — Ed. 



