IRature IRotes : 
TEbe Selborne Society's dfoagastne. 
No. ioo. APRIL, 1898. Vol. IX. 
SELBORNIANA. 
Tree Planting on Hampstead Heath. — The Parks and 
Open Spaces Committee of the London County Council have 
issued a report with reference to their action in planting trees 
on certain parts of Hampstead Heath. Objection having been 
made to the trees planted near the Willow Road and the 
Spaniards Road, on the ground that as they grew they might 
obstruct the views towards Highgate and London, the com- 
mittee pointed out to the objectors that the trees near the 
Willow Road were intended to take the place of willow trees 
planted by the lord of the manor forty years ago which were 
fast decaying, while those near the Spaniards Road were orna- 
mental and were intended to check the scour of the fine sand 
which, owing to the decay and disappearance of the coarse grass 
and gorse on the steep slopes between the road and the Vale of 
Health, washed down in great quantities after rain and choked 
the storm-water pipes. Trees of light foliage were here pre- 
ferred, such as birch and mountain ash, which would not inter- 
fere with the growth of gorse, broom, and briar. In planting 
the trees care had been taken not to interfere with vistas and 
distant views. The fir plantations on the heath, planted by the 
Metropolitan Board of Works about 1870, were also being 
thinned and about 100 trees removed east of the Spaniards Road 
and about 90 trees on the west and north-west Heaths. The 
subsoil of Hampstead Heath consisted principally of fine Bagshot 
sand, and, owing to the increased use of the Heath and the con- 
sequent wearing away of the coarse grass and gorse, it had been 
found very difficult to preserve the undulating character of the 
Heath. Where the sand was exposed, every storm washed con- 
siderable quantities of it from the hillocks into the hollows. 
