NORTH-WEST AND NORTH LONDON 187 



small, interesting, wild aquatic birds have not 

 succeeded in colonising in this park. 



A mile and a half east of Waterlow Park 

 there is the comparatively large park, containing 

 an area of 115 acres, which was foolishly mis- 

 named Finsbury Park by the Metropolitan 

 Board of Works. It is the largest and most 

 important open space in North London, and 

 with the exception of that of Battersea is the 

 best of all the newly-made parks of the metro- 

 polis. It promises, indeed, to be a very fine 

 place, but its oldest trees have only been planted 

 twenty-eight years, and have not yet attained to 

 a majestic size. There is one feature which will 

 always to some extent spoil the beauty of this 

 spot namely, the exceedingly long, straight, 

 monotonous Broad Walk, planted with black 

 poplars, where the trees are all uniform in size 

 and trimmed to the same height from the 

 ground. Should it ever become necessary to cut 

 down a large number of trees in London for fuel, 

 or for the construction of street defences, or 

 some other purpose, it is to be hoped that the 

 opportunity will be seized to get rid of this un- 

 sightly avenue. 



