THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 85
been printed in The Essex Naturalist (ante, pp. 49-50), and at the meeting
his pleas for the formation of a protected area were very warmly seconded and
emphasised by the President, Mr. D. Howard, and by Mr. F. Carruthers Gould,
who incidentally remarked that in his opinion birds were increasing in the Forest,
and mentioned that his son during a summer afternoon's ramble had noted,
amongst many other species, the willow-wren, chiff-chaff, starling, chaffinch, bull-
finch, yellow-hammer, redstart, wren, great-tit, blue-tit, marsh-tit, and jay.
Quitting the "King's Oak," the party was driven to near Ambresbury Banks,
in order to allow of an inspection of Epping Thicks, one of the most beautiful
sections of the Forest, and containing the finest timber, where one gets the
prettiest peeps through the glades into the interior of the woods on either hand.
Over a part of this area the undergrowth has almost disappeared, having been
checked by the overgrowth. A considerable number of hornbeam pollards
were removed during the season of 1894-5, but in parts of the woods it is quite
manifest that more thinning must be done. Some parts thinned years ago, are
now in a flourishing state, and are delightful object-lessons in woodcraft.
A pleasant drive back to Chingford and Loughton Stations, during which the
nightingales were heard commonly, brought the meeting to a close.
Many excellent reports of this meeting appeared in the newspapers, and we may
particularly mention those in the "Daily News," the "Gardener's Chronicle,"
"Nature," the "Essex County Chronicle," and the "Essex Times." As many
people of position and influence were present at the meeting, the practical
demonstration afforded was of great value, and it cannot be doubted that many
were convinced of the soundness of the general plan of management now adopted
by the Conservators. Differences of opinion on matters of detail will, of course,
arise, and are salutary in attempts to find out the best methods, but we feel sure
that very few who have known the woodlands from the time when they were
intrusted by Act of Parliament to the care of the Corporation, will deny that
great improvement is now manifested. The mistakes made were in the very early
days, but since a scientific system of forestry has been in operation, most of the
woods are yearly becoming more and more "natural" and luxuriant.
Attention is called to the Reports of the Experts, and other official statements
printed in the last volume (Essex Naturalist, vol. viii., pp. 117-121), and in the
present volume, ante pp. 74-80.
Field Meeting in Ongar Park Woods and 157TH Ordinary Meeting.
Saturday, June 15th, 1895.
A VERY pleasant field excursion was made in the above district by the kind
invitation of W. S. Chisenhale-Marsh, Esq., J.P.
A few of the members went down early in the morning, and spent the time
until the arrival of the main party in botanising and observing the insects in these
extensive woods. They were part of the Royal Forest of Essex, under the
illegal afforestations of Richard and John, but in later times were thrown out of
the Forest, and became one of the "Purlieus," for the history of which the reader
is referred to Fisher's "Forest of Essex.'' The district had not been visited by
the Club since July, 1884, in the report of which meeting (in "Journal of Proc.
E.F.C.," vol. iv., pp. civ.-cviii.) is printed the late Mr. James English's account of
the entomology of the woods. The reader will also find a sketch of the Botany of