§ MR. T. SKEWES-COX (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, whether any unusual and extensive felling of timber has recently taken place in Richmond Park; and, if so, whether any herons' nests and eggs have been destroyed thereby?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sNo unusual or extensive felling of timber in Richmond Park has recently taken place. In connection with the ordinary thinning, several trees were marked for felling in the Penn 737 Ponds plantation, and were sold in the usual course last January. The contractors who purchased them commenced felling them soon afterwards, but in the meanwhile herons had built in some of them, and I regret to say two nests were thus destroyed. The cutting of timber within this plantation was thereupon stopped, and no further felling within close proximity to trees where birds are nesting will be permitted until the close of the nesting season. T am glad to assure my hon. Friend that there are still a large number of nests, and that the birds disturbed appear to have again nested.