The United Kingdom 71 
bought in the environment of London 
for the protection of their original 
aspect as far as possible. 
During the years 1877 to 1884, Ep- 
ping Forest, of 5,610 acres, was bought 
for £2 1 1 ,000. This includes the land, 
the timber, and the abolishment of 
the rights of lopping. It lies upon a 
moraine, and possesses natural wood- 
land, heaths, and ponds. I ts indigenous 
plants include oak, beech, hornbeam, 
birch, holly, apple, gorse, and willows. 
Besides this, very little planting has 
taken place for many years ; and it 
is, generally speaking, a natural forest 
which has been much disfigured by 
the custom of lopping in former times. 
It is the duty of the committee to 
preserve at all times, as far as possible, 
the natural aspect of the forest, and 
to protect the timber. The only 
cutting-down allowed is the necessary 
thinning-out for the protection and 
