50 
NATURE NOTES. 
AN OPEN SPACE FOR DEPTFORD. 
HE belief in the old sa3’ing that “ the streets of London 
are paved with gold ” dies hard, and its almost 
implicit acceptance among the rustics of the home 
counties and of the East of England has swelled the 
district known as the London Basin with an almost overflow- 
ing population. If some of the pretty rural spots twelve or 
fourteen miles out of town are in jeopardy of falling into the 
hands of the builder for ever, owing to the increased value 
of land per acre, it is little wonder that the fields and hedgerows 
that lie closest to the crowded streets share the common fate of 
being swept away, to be covered with small houses for the 
accommodation of the aforesaid rustics, who pour into London 
and there dwell for the remainder of their too often shortened 
lives. Yet, indeed, many such a place has escaped the destruc- 
tion of its natural beaut}', and, what is far better still, has been 
saved to be a source of happiness to the dwellers around. As 
instances of suph there need only be mentioned Parliament Hill 
and Fields, part of Highgate Wood, Finsbury, Clissold and 
Waterlow Parks, and Hackney Down in the North and North 
East of London ; and Brockwell Park in the South. Every one 
of these would have been partially, if not wholly, built over by 
this time if it had not been for the action of energetic societies 
and the munificence and generosity of individuals. 
^^’hy should not the Hilly Fields of Brockley be included 
in that list ? During the last few months— though indeed it 
has been known and talked about for more than a year — the 
public of London have had it impressed upon them that this 
sole remaining open space in a crowded district in the South- 
East of the IMetropolis is within a little of being handed over to 
the builder. ]\Iiss Octavia Hill, one of the most earnest and 
practical workers on behalf of the Open Spaces movement 
London has ever had, says in a forcible and convincing letter to 
the Daily Graphic : — “Of the ;^42,ooo which it will cost to 
purchase this hilly ground for ever for the people, by far the 
larger part is, the Committee believe, practically secured, thanks 
to donors in the locality, the Greenu-ich District Board, and the 
London County Council. Surely Londoners in general will not 
lose so splendid an opportunity for benefiting their fellow- 
citizens for all time to come. If the land is to be secured, 
T^,g 8 o must be immediately promised. I shall myself be 
delighted to receive promises, as will l\Ir. \\'alter Derham, 76, 
Lancaster Gate, Hon. Secretary to the Joint Committee repre- 
senting the Commons Preservation Society, the Kyrle Society, 
the ]\Ietropolitan Gardens Association, and residents in the 
neighbourhood. No money will be called up unless the scheme 
is carried through.” It would be a thousand pities that, when 
over ;^36 ,ooo have been promised, the land should be lost for 
the want of the remaining one-seventh of the purchase money. 
