ANNUAL REPORT 
103 
For a full account of the agitation now being carried on by the 
Croydon branch for the preservation of Crohanihurst from the builder, 
the members are referred to the pages of the magazine. It will be suf- 
ficient to say that at an enthusiastic public meeting held in Croydon on 
March 10, resolutions were unanimously adopted and forwarded to the 
Whitgift Trustees, to the effect that the meeting was strongly in favour 
of the acquisition of the whole of Crohamhurst for the people for ever, 
and hoped that, if it was not within the power of the Whitgift governors 
to present the Hurst as a free gift to the town, they would name such a 
moderate price for it as would enable the Croydon County Council to 
acquire it. The Selborne Society is deeply interested in saving all 
beautiful open spaces for the purpose of employing them as sanctuaries 
for bird and beast, and for the public use and recreation, especially in 
the outskirts of London, where the more attractive woodland hills and 
dales are in danger of falling into the hands of the speculative builder, 
and of being ruined by his bricks and mortar. The efforts of the Council 
are, therefore, more and more exerted in strengthening the hands of 
such local bodies as are public - spirited enough to attempt to rescue 
these threatened cases from the builder. In this way the Churchyard 
Bottom Wood and Golder’s Hill Estate have been recently set apart as 
public recreation grounds, and Wolmer Forest has been secured as a 
bird sanctuarj'. 
The beautiful scenery of Richmond has been so often threatened in 
recent years that the Council finds it necessary to keep a watchful eye 
upon this district. Last year, the attempted sale of Glovers Island 
occasioned much anxiety. During the year just ended the Richmond 
Town Council have taken steps to obtain a scheme to control Petersham 
Common, which it will be remembered the Dysart Trustees unsuccess- 
fully sought power to enclose for building purposes in 1896. As Clause 3 
of the scheme proposed powers to lop trees, remove seedlings, and thin 
underwood, which might interfere unduly with the natural romantic 
beauties of this common, the Council were represented by Mr. George H. 
Edwards at the Local Government Board inquiry held recently. They 
are glad to report that by a slight modification of the clause the danger 
has happily been averted. 
The New Forest is again in danger. Notwithstanding the public 
opposition to the former Bill, another is being brought forward to permit 
of parts of the forest land being enclosed for various purposes, and every 
effort should at once be made if this most beautiful wild forest is to be 
saved. 
A small committee has been appointed, consisting of representatives 
of societies interested in the reparation of Nether Hall Gateway at 
Roydon in Essex — a fine specimen of Tudor architecture. The Council 
has delegated Mr. J. E. Comrie, C.E., to represent the Selborne Society 
on the committee. Mr. R. Marshman Wattson attended, on behalf of 
the Society, the meeting called by Sir Benjamin Stone, M.P., of represen- 
tatives of societies interested in the movement to procure photographs of 
buildings of historical and architectural interest. 
The proposal put forward last year to increase the branch contributions 
