84 
NATURE NOTES 
ture felt not only the fall to normal rates, but the first depression 
from foreign competition after the introduction of free trade, one 
panacea was the cultivation of waste, and Hainault Forest was 
grubbed up in pursuance of this policy. 
It is practically only within the last thirty years that the 
value of our open spaces as healthful pleasure-resorts for the 
nation at large has been recognised, and only during the latter 
half of this period that the desirability of the preservation of our 
wild flora and fauna, and the “balance of nature” in what are 
now known as “ sanctuaries,” has come to the front. Open 
spaces with trees and grass are excellent things ; but if the 
cockney “ sportsman,” the trade “ collector,” the ignorant keeper 
and that survival of savagery, the all-destroying schoolboy, are 
to deprive them of all the charms of rare fern or floral beauty, of 
insect colour, or of bird’s song, it is felt that they are deprived 
of a large portion of the influence for good that they might exert 
upon the spirit of those who visit them. Beyond any rights of 
Crown, commoners, or other residents, our forests and their wild 
life are the heritage of the nation. 
Actuated by mistaken zeal for the preservation of the New 
Forest as a recreation-ground, an Act of Parliament was passed 
which will preserve the existing trees as long as they live, but by 
stopping all planting makes no provision for regeneration. If it 
be not modified the existence of the woodlands of the Forest is 
doomed. Of this the Crown officials are aware ; so that when 
they come to Parliament with a Bill, it might be expected that 
it would deal with this matter. It is stated, however, that the 
Bill, drafted by the Commissioners of Woods, which is to be 
shortly introduced, is to enable them to enclose 250 acres in 
parcels of 25 acres, for gas, drainage and waterworks, or in sites 
not exceeding five acres for churches and schools, and to afford 
facilities for new roads to private houses. There is, apparently, 
to be some compensation to the commoners ; but there does not 
appear to be any stipulation, such as was, we believe, included 
in the Epping Forest Act, that such enclosures shall be made 
only at a fair price, and that — in the interest of the general 
public — all proceeds shall be devoted to adding to the Forest 
area elsewhere, so that its entire area may be as little 
diminished as possible. There are, perhaps, more conflicting 
interests to be considered in the administration of the New 
F orest than in the case of any of our other woodland areas ; 
but, as nature-lovers, we are all interested in the matter, and we 
can only express the hope that any proposed legislation will 
receive most careful consideration by the Amenities Committee 
of the two Houses. The Commons Preservation Society has 
already expressed itself as decidedly opposed to the Bill in its 
present form. 
