66 THE MANAGEMENT OF EPPING FOREST. 



objection of the late Superintendent that the thinning of any of the pollard 

 beeches there would let the wind in and blow them all down. He still thought 

 mistakes had been made, as was only to be expected, but the present debate 

 had reference to recent thinning, say that of the last year or two, and, after what 

 they had seen that day, it gave him, as a generally hostile critic, great pleasure to 

 m^ve the resolution : 



" That in the opiniofi of this meeiing. the general action of the Conservators in the 

 recent thinnings has been judicious^' 



Mr. A. Double, C.C., as a member of the Club, proposed to second the 

 resolution, but on the appeal of Mr. Salmon, who said that he did not think any 

 member of the Corporation, even though a member of the Club, should vote at 

 the meeting, Mr. Double gave way to the Rev. W. C. Howell, who, as an old 

 member of the Club and well acquainted with the Forest, heartily seconded the 

 resolution. 



Mr. F. Carruthers Gould said : I am, I believe, one of the oldest inhabitants 

 of the district bordering on the Forest, for within a month or two I shall have 

 lived twenty-five years in the neighbourhood, and throughout the whole of that 

 time I have habitually frequented and enjoyed the beauties of this woodland. 

 And as there is probably no one in the room who has less respect than I have for 

 the ancient Corporation of London — (Laughter) — no one can accuse me of being 

 unduly prejudiced in their favour. When the correspondence about the Forest 

 clearings first commenced, I certainly formed the opinion that too much had been 

 done by the Conservators, and I was asked by some of my friends to intervene 

 and support the views of the critics, but I declined, as I had not had the opportu- 

 nity of seeing for mj-self the recent clearings, and I did not care to express a 

 definite opinion without personal investigation, A fortnight ago I had this 

 opportunity. I went with the pre-conceived idea that too much cutting had been 

 done, and as it is a human weakness to try and make facts fit into pre-conceived 

 fancies, I did my best to discover grounds for adverse criticism, but I am bound 

 to admit that these ideas which I had formed disappeared in face of the evidence. 

 I could find no grounds for the charge brought against the Conservators of wilful 

 and wanton Vandalism, of a desire to destroy the woodland character of the Forest, 

 and to turn it into an open park. This opinion has been strengthened by what I 

 have seen to-day. Certainly here or there in Monk Wood mistakes might have 

 been made ; certain trees had been cut down which might have been allowed to 

 remain, but I must confess that in every case there were distinct and intelligent 

 reasons given for the course taken. The whole thing, therefore, resolves itsell 

 into a question of individual taste and judgment with regard to individual trees; 

 and that being so, it appears to me that there can be no question ot Vandalism 

 generall3\ With regard to Lord's Bushes, I certainly formed at one time the 

 opinion that there had been too much clearing, but when I look at the result, and 

 see the healthy condition of the undergrowth, I must again acknowledge that the 

 thinning was judicious, and has improved that part of the Forest. Experts all 

 agree that, in dealing with Epping Forest, which is not a primeval forest, 

 clearing of some sort is necessary, and that being so, the question is — who 

 shall do it ? For my part, I am content that the responsibility should rest in 

 the hands of a body of whom Mr. Buxton is so active a member. 



Mr. David Howard, J. P., F.C.S , said that he remembered the Forest 

 ever since he was a small boy, nearly fifty years ago, and certainly the last 

 description that could have been then given of it would have been "primeval 

 forest. It would have been impossible to find a stretch of country more unnatural. 



