Country Life
PRESERVING ENGLAND. "
A French fanner once said to me in reference to certain hedgerows : " Everything in England is for beauty, not use." We may accept the criticism as, at least in part, a compliment ; and in other regards than farming the soft impeachment is true. It is, for example, pointed out in the latest and one of the best of the pamphlets issued by the Council for the Preser- vation of Rural England that " Unlike America and some Continental countries the principle of public aesthetics is embodied in our legislation." " Amenity " is included as one of the three fundamental objects of Town—and of rural— Planning. The pamphlet in question should be in the hands of every public body, especially the District Councils. The councils have power to forbid ugliness ; and thanks to the thoughtful energy of the C.P.R.E., panels of architects, working gratuitously, are ready to give advice : the councils can do better than forbid, they can direct.
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