THE NATIONAL TRUST REPORT,
1922-1923.
ONCE more we notice the appearance of the Report of the National Trust (25 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. 1), and once more we must say that it is the most charming, the most satisfactory, and the most interesting of all the Reports issued by the Societies which compete in services to the public. The noble list of the natural pictures in the Trust's National Gallery grows year by year in number as also in beauty. Among new acquisitions the first in importance is St. Boniface Down, a splendid piece of downland (224 acres), the generous gift of Mr. Llewellyn Evans. The Downs in question are above Ventnor, and the top of St. Boniface Down is actually 787 feet above sea-level, and the highest point in the Isle of Wight. Another very pleasant acquisition is Leith Hill Tower, which enables the members of the Trust to feel that they have reached the thousand feet limit in Surrey. That is the height of the top platform of the tower. Mr. Macandrew was the donor.
Great Bookham Common, one of the most beautiful of the low-lying Surrey commons, and a large number of its noble oaks have been saved by the Trust. The Council hopes, however, that a sum of .C800 may be immediately forthcoming so as to save more of the trees, and the sylvan solitudes which they adorn. At Box Hill there has been a considerable addition made to the acreage already possessed by the Trust owing to the great public spirit shown by the proprietors of Country Life. They have got together £6,000 of the £7,000 required, but time is running out. The purchase must' be completed before September 30th, 1923.
The illustrations, as usual, are fascinating. The picture of " Coombe Bottom, St. Boniface Down, Isle of Wight," exactly illustrates the Tennysonian line : " Close to the edge of a noble down." Very attractive is the picture of Leith Hill Tower ; but perhaps the most fascinating of all is the Scolt Head and the long, low, flat sands, shining waters, and minia- ture mountain range of the dunes. The two small photo- graphs of Bookham are also very refreshing in the present heats.
Previous page
