About Trees
Good men plant trees. bad men cut them down:. with this old observation I am in full agreement. But there are trees and trees. I was not pleased to see the encroachment of regi- mented conifer plantations upon a familiar wild and hilly landscape this summer. Some national parks have been given an altogether unwelcome dose of such planting. I commend a booklet just produced by the Standing Committee on National Parks on the subject. A promise was recently given on behalf of the Forestry Commission that henceforth greater care would be taken over this aspect of what is rather drearily called 'amenity,' and this booklet demonstrates how afforestation can enhance a landscape instead of smothering it. What is needed is imaginative planning, and a less single-minded devotion to ranks of conifers.
Also on this subject, 1 sec that the Metropoli- tan Public Gardens Association is to hold a 'tree conference' at Guildhall next month. Its chairman, Mr. F, E. Cleary. is an enlightened property magnate who has done as much as any. Londoner to encourage the making of gardens in public places and, above all, the planting of trees. As London grows progressively uglier— or where not actually uglier, then often duller-- such work 'is valuable. Mr. Cleary's particular point is that trees in cities must be properly cared for, not merely stuck in the ground and left in their unfriendly environment. The con- ference will emphasise this to those concerned.
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