THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
83
A Forest Ramble, and Second Inspection of the Forest by the Club.
Saturday, May i8th, 1895.
Conductors—Mr. E. N. Buxton, Vice-President (Verderer), Prof. G. S. BOULGER,
F.L.S., Vice-President, Prof. Meldola, F.R.S., Vice-President, and the
Secretaries, Messrs. W. and B. G. COLE.
In connection with this meeting, it was decided to combine the usual Spring
Ramble through the Forest with an inspection of some portions of the woodlands
which had recently been thinned by the Conservators, about which operations
much newspaper controversy had again recently arisen, so as to permit members
and their friends to form a judgment as to the true state of the case. Mr. Buxton
kindly offered to act as principal "Conductor," and to point out precisely the
nature and extent of the Conservators' work in those parts of the Forest in which
the removal of the trees had been most criticised.
A very large and widely representative party of about 100 in number, including
the Verderers, Chairman, and other members of the County Council, Col.
Lockwood, M.P. for the Division, scientific men and experts in forestry and estate
management, as well as the President, and most of the more prominent members
of the Club, assembled at Chingford Station at a little after two o'clock, and quickly
entered the numerous vehicles which had been provided to convey the party
rapidly from point to point. The weather was somewhat ungenial, and
consequently the Forest did not bear its best aspect, albeit many visitors new to
the district expressed themselves charmed and delighted at the extent and beauty
of the woodlands. Undoubtedly the two best times for viewing the Forest
are spring and autumn, and the following words from Mr. Buxton's excellent little
book "Epping Forest" were entered on the programme :—
" Of the thousands of Londoners who refresh themselves by a visit to our
groves, comparatively few do so at the two periods of the year when they are most
beautiful—early May and late October [the period of our Fungus Meetings].
To the Tree Lover I strongly recommend the former month. It is then, when
the first burst of spring takes place, that the distinguishing characteristics, and
especially the colours of each tree, can best be seen. A few weeks later the
yellow of the young oak foliage, the grey green of the birches, and the burnished
light-reflecting quality of the beeches, are merged in one uniform dark green,
lovely in its varied shapes and play of light and deep shadow, but monotonous as
to colour. The blackthorn in April, the hawthorn in May, a month later the
crab, the sheets of the water-violet and water-ranunculus, supply the masses
of white without which no group either of flowers or trees is complete."
The programme continued by directing the attention of naturalists and lovers
of woodland scenery to the interest of much of the ground to be traversed, and
specially referred to the many trees and woodland plants then in flower, and
pointing out that "since light and air have been freely admitted, plants formerly
uncommon are appearing in increased numbers and blossoming gaily. Two of our
prettiest woodland insects—the Holly-blue butterfly (Lycaena argiolus) and the
exquisite little moth, the Long-horned Adela viridella, are now common, the
former flitting in the holly thickets, and the latter in companies rising and falling
in small clouds over the early leafing branches of the oaks. On the outskirts of the
woods we may hope to see the Orange-tipped Butterfly, one of our loveliest native
insects, the 'Wood-lady' of the early Aurelians."
The first halt was called at Bury Wood (sometimes called Hawk Wood), mainly
composed of spear oaks, hornbeam, and blackthorn. Mr. Buxton stated that the
oaks were from eighty to 150 years' growth, and in that part of the wood which