38 FOEESTS, WOODS, AND TEEES 



2. To use method and foresight rather than to wait for 



public agitation at the last moment. 



3. To secure the fullest use of the parks by catering to 



all tastes. 



4. To trust the public as much as possible in the enjoy- 



ment of what is after all their own property. 



To these counsels may be added others suggested by 

 Mr. Basil Holmes, the Secretary of the Metropolitan Public 

 Gardens Association (3). The most important is, in every 

 city and town, to get voluntary Open Spaces Associations 

 to work, who will exert continuous pressure on the 

 Corporations in regard to the laying out of parks and open 

 spaces. Such voluntary agencies can plan skilfully for the 

 future, and see that land is acquired before it is built over. 

 Corporations will often maintain what is handed over to 

 them by the gifts or forethought of such associations or 

 individual citizens. 



The great advantage of the Town Planning Act is that 

 an area, developed under a plan, will have parks and open 

 spaces greater in amount and more evenly distributed than 

 the haphazard systems of the past. Three zones should be 

 clearly recognised in a town, in order to plan skilfully for 

 its needs of parks and open spaces, namely, a central 

 district, the more modern parts adjoining, and the suburbs. 



Encroachments on public lands, burial grounds, and the 

 like should be checked by the watchful care of the voluntary 

 associations, and suitable parks should be suggested for 

 acquisition by gift or purchase. Several large towns are 

 still in need of parks and recreation grounds, and voluntary 

 associations should be started in such places. Any house 

 in a park acquired should be utilised for some public 

 purpose, as library, museum, shelter, refreshment room, etc., 

 and not be afterwards allocated for some special class of 

 people, involving a portion of the open space being cut off 

 to form a separate garden for the house. The whole of 

 Golders Hill was secured for the public by private and 

 public subscriptions ; and it was with great difficulty after- 

 wards that the London County Council was prevented from 



