A VISIT TO LAKELAND . 
191 
forms may be studied in unrestrained development, is a bit of 
nature which the Selborne Society would preserve, as it would 
preserve a rare fern or a bird visitor to our shores. It is entirely 
at one, therefore, with the Open Space Societies in such work 
as the exclusion of railways from the Lake District, the protec- 
tion of the New Forest, and the guardianship of foot-paths and 
roadside strips. Each of the Societies we have named — the 
Commons Preservation Society, the Kyrle Society, the Metro- 
politan Gardens Association and the Selborne Society — is an 
expression of the need of man to be in touch with nature, and it is 
a striking testimony to the reality of that need that it should 
have expressed itself in so many different forms. It would 
perhaps be a mistake to sink the individuality of each agency in 
the attempt to produce one large and powerful body. But there 
can be no doubt that constant intercourse between the several 
Societies would be most beneficial, and Nature Notes might 
perhaps be made the means of communication. Every 
“ interest ” now-a-days has its organ in the Press. The Open 
Space Societies have hitherto relied on the popularity of their 
work to command sufficient attention from the general news- 
paper. They have not been disappointed. But it is worth 
consideration, whether there should not be something like an 
official record of the progress made in the work of preserving 
open spaces and natural objects, now that that work has so many 
branches. Not only would such a publication chronicle results, 
but it would afford a convenient means of discussing and further- 
ing new projects. Robert Hunter. 
Note. — In the foregoing paper my design has been to give a general view of 
the movement for securing to the public the enjoyment of open spaces and natural 
beauty, and I have naturally only alluded to societies which have worked on 
national or, at least, Metropolitan lines. I am far, however, from under-rating 
the valuable work of local societies ; in some cases the central bodies have acted 
as the advisers, in others as the allies, of such societies. Foremost among them 
may be mentioned two societies formed to protect the New Forest : one consisting 
entirely of land-owners and commoners, the other of wider scope more recently 
founded by Mr. Auberon Herbert. Of equal importance is the Lake District 
Defence Society, which has played an important part in saving the mountains and 
valleys dear to poets and painters from profanation at the hands of railway 
promotors and other speculators. Then, in former days the Wimbledon Common 
Committee and the Hampstead Heath Committee, and more recently the Heath 
Extension Committee and the Banstead Common Committee, have raised large 
funds and fought hard fights ; and many other committees formed to protect 
particular commons might be named. Local effort is essential to the protection 
of open spaces, and local effort is seldom of much value unless it takes the definite 
shape of a society or committee. — R.IL 
A VISIT TO LAKELAND. 
S I have recently spent seven weeks in the English 
Lake District, it has occurred to me that Selbornians 
may be interested in hearing the result of my observa- 
tion as to plant destruction in the portions of Lakeland 
which I visited. I may mention that I divided my visits into 
