The Park is a piece of ground of from 40 to 50 acres in extent, and forming a basin open at one point to the south-east and to the sea, and every where else surrounded by rising ground, which shelters the interior of the basin from the north, west, south-west, and north-east. The area is arranged in such a manner as to be eventually surrounded by a belt of villas, containing from 1 rood to 2 acres each, and all looking on the basin, which is planted as a park, and contains upwards of 20 acres. This park, which will be equally enjoyed by all the surrounding villas, is, in the words of the prospectus for letting the ground, "not to be built upon, but to be left free, and for ever appropriated, as at present, for lawn and plantations." The trees in the park are of ten years' growth, and average from 15 ft. to 20 ft. in height; and, considering the soil and the situation, they are in thriving state. The situation is naturally sheltered; and, when it is farther protected by being surrounded by a belt of villas and their gardens, the trees will admit of being thinned out, when the roots of those which remain, having greater range, and their tops more room, they will grow much faster. Indeed they are at present much too thick, even for an exposed situation. We suspect the ground was not properly prepared at first planting; for, had it been deeply trenched and manured, the trees need not have been planted nearly so thick, and they would have grown much faster. There is also a want of single trees and small groups to break the larger masses, and these ought to be added without delay from the thinnings, each tree being headed in, in the Belgian manner (p. 131.). There is a plan of this park, and a view exhibiting the general appearance which will be produced by the surrounding line of villas, very beautifully lithographed by Hulmandel. There are three entrance-gates, erected from designs by Mr. Barry, all excellent, but more particularly that called St. George's Gate, which calls to mind the portals to the villas in the neighbourhood of Florence. There is a steam-engine in an elegant tower in the highest parts of the grounds, for the purpose of raising water from a deep well, so as to supply all the houses that may be built, even to their upper stories. Some borders of shrubs and flowers have lately been planted along the outer drive of the park by Mr. Attree, the proprietor, which we notice because they have been very tastefully planted in groups, so as to form masses of the same forms and colours, and blending into one another at their boundaries. The masses of lavender, rosemary, rue, red valerian, wallflower, rocket, columbine, and other plants which thrive well on chalk, look remarkably well; and among the shrubs Coronilla E'merus was conspicuous, being then in full bloom.
