THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
253
NATURE-RAMBLE IN HAINAULT FOREST (516th
MEETING).
Saturday, ist May, 1920.
A forest ramble in early springtime, when, as old Chaucer has it,
. . Aprille with his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes,
And smale fowles maken melodye,"
was sure to be welcomed, and over 50 of our Members turned out to taste
its joys.
The field-meeting was planned to offer to those participating the three-
fold opportunity of studying the flowers, birds and insects of newly-
awakened Nature. The President, Mr. R. Paulson, F.L.S., F.R.M.S.,
acted as botanical referee. Mr. William E. Glegg recorded the birds seen
or heard, and Mr. C. Nicholson, F.E.S., led the entomologists present.
By invitation Keeper Evan Jones, who has been in charge of the Forest
ever since its acquisition as a public pleasaunce, and who has been largely
responsible for its development from an arable farm into the present open
breezy gorse land and penetrable woodlands, accompanied the party and
acted as guide in the thicker portions of the "woody part."
The visitors assembled at Grange Hill station shortly after 2 o'clock,
and proceeded along the road to Chigwell Row, and thence across the
recreation ground to the Forest. Here the party divided into smaller
groups ; some devoted themselves to the wild plants of the woods ; others,
charmed by the birds which were singing all around,
The ousel cock so black of hue,
With orange-tawny bill,
The throstle with his note so true,
The wren with little quill ;
The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,
The plain-song cuckoo gray,
gave their attention to the just-returned summer migrants, while yet
others sought for water beetles and their larvae in the Forest pools ;
or listened attentively to Keeper Jones' account of the rehabilitation
of the wilderness and of its ferae naturae which have found their way to
it as to a sanctuary. All alike enjoyed the glorious views across the val-
ley of the Thames to Shooter's Hill and the higher ground of Kent.
Tea was taken at the Retreat at Chigwell Row, adjoining the Forest,
after which a formal meeting of the Club was held, with the President in
the chair, when
Mr. F. J. Lambert, of 35, Leighton Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, and
Mr. W. H. T. Tarns, of 8, Whitta Road, Manor Park, E.12,
were elected members and three candidates were nominated for election.
The President then called upon the Conductors for reports on the.
finds of the afternoon.