PAEKS IN TOWNS AND MUNICIPAL FOEESTS 39 



using the house and a large strip of adjoining ground as a 

 permanent convalescent home. The free use of common 

 lands is occasionally interfered with by letting portions for 

 golf and other games. Much good work has been done by 

 the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society, which 

 was founded, as a result of the report of the Committee of 

 the House of Commons appointed in 1864, to inquire into 

 the best means of preserving the forests, commons, and open 

 spaces in and near London for public use. Wimbledon 

 Common, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, etc., which were 

 in danger of being enclosed, have been kept for the people. 



The Metropolitan I'ublic Gardens Association, which was 

 founded in 1883 by the Earl of Meath, has done much 

 useful work in continuously drawing attention to the 

 necessity of providing town dwellers with parks, gardens, 

 and recreation grounds within easy reach of their homes. 

 The Association has laid out numerous disused churchyards 

 and burial grounds, enclosed squares, and waste places. 

 These, according to circumstances, are either laid out as 

 gardens, or as gardens and playgrounds combined, or as 

 playgrounds pure and simple. The extent of this work is 

 shown by the fact that from 1884 to 1912 the Associa- 

 tion spent £44,248 in laying out 115 open spaces, and 

 contributed £9679 to the acquisition or formation of 

 47 gardens, playing tields, etc. Before laying out each 

 ground, the Association arranges for its permanent main- 

 tenance by securing its transfer to the London County 

 Council or local authority, under the Open Spaces Acts, or 

 by obtaining special giants from public bodies or private 

 individuals. The Association plants trees in suitable 

 thoroughfares, and gives advice in pruning which is greatly 

 needed, owing to the way in which trees are often maltreated 

 by unskilful pruning and lopping. It has promoted further 

 legislation for giving public bodies all over the country 

 increased powers for purchasing land for public recreation, 

 as the Open Spaces Acts of 1887, 1890, and 1906, etc. 



Onje of the questions (4) to be considered in town 

 planning is what proportion of the area of a city should be 



