202 OUR WOODLAND TREES. 
rous gatherings held sometimes in Epping Forest, 
and sometimes outside it, with the object of 
aiding in the work of preserving one of the few 
Royal forests now remaining in Britain for the 
healthful enjoyment of the people. And here 
perhaps it will scarcely be digressing from the 
subject of the preceding chapters, or foreign to 
the purpose of this volume to give some account, 
and briefly, of ‘The Battle of the Forest,’—not a 
martial contest, but a battle for the right. Is 
there one inhabitant of our vast metropolis, 
whether young or old, rich or poor, who can be 
indifferent to the pure air, to the Trees, to the 
grass, and to the sweet flowers which are only to 
be found in perfection away from the centres of 
industrial life? Can any one indeed, be indif- 
ferent to the noble efforts which have to be con- 
tinually made and sustained to rescue from the 
hands of the spoiler, or from the dread encroach- 
ments of bricks and mortar, the few beautiful 
and interesting spots which yet linger around 
us? Ina great city in the sultry heats of summer 
we often long for the pure air of heaven, and for 
a sight of the fresh and beautiful objects with 
