MUNICIPAL PARKS 127 



It gives a point and centre to the meandering paths, and 

 comes as a distinct rehef. In Southwark Park an avenue 

 is growing up into fairly large trees. It seems stuck on to 

 the Park — it is not straight, but it is not a definite curve, 

 and it ends somehow by turning towards the entrance at 

 one end and twisting in the direction of the pond at the 

 other. So it remains a shady walk, but not an avenue 

 with any pretension to forming part of a design. 



It is not for the formal only this appeal is made, it is 

 for less formality and more real wildness, also a protest 

 against the monotony of the green banks, and bunches of 

 bushes, and meaningless curves, too often the only form 

 of design. The aim in every case must be to have as 

 much variety as possible without incongruity, and to make 

 the utmost use of the ground ; to give the most pleasure 

 at the least expense. 



One of the great difficulties must always be the 

 numbers of people who enjoy these parks. The grass 

 suffers to such an extent that portions must be periodi- 

 cally enclosed to recover. Then the children have to 

 be kept at a certain distance from the flowers, or the 

 temptation to gather one over-masters the fear of the 

 park-keeper. 



A green walk between trees would be a pleasing 

 change from gravel and asphalt in a less-frequented 

 part of some park, but it would doubtless have to 

 be closed in sections, or there would soon be no turf 

 left ; but such an experiment might well be tried. 

 The attempts in Brockwell, Golder's Hill, and Ravens- 

 court at " old English gardens " are most successful, 

 and a welcome change in the monotony, and one has 

 only to look at the crowded seats to see how much 

 they are appreciated. 



