THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 281
should be regarded as a nature reserve, and that the Metropolitan Water
Board should be respectfully urged to order the discontinuance of the
practice of shooting wild birds on its property."
" That the London County Council be earnestly appealed to to take
such action as will ensure that the ancient Court House at Barking
shall be maintained on its present site."
The President then moved that the cordial thanks of those present be
accorded to the Rev. I. L. Seymour for his kind conductorship at Maldon, and
to our host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Thomas, for their kindly hos-
pitality at their home. The proposal was carried with acclamation.
Mr. Seymour and Mr. Thomas in turn responded, and the Meeting ad-
journed.
Some time was spent, under the conduct of our host, in making a tour of
the gardens. At half-past six leaves were taken, and the visitors walked back
to Maldon, where the 7.22 o'clock train to town was caught and a most en-
joyable excursion brought to a close.
FIELD MEETING AT ROYDON AND PARNDON
(567TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 23RD JUNE, 1923.
A day of mild regrets ! Regrets on the part of those members who,
daunted by the long continuance of cold, dull weather, did not send in their
names to join this field-meeting, and, in lesser degree, regrets of those who,
having joined, had to endure the fatigues of an eight-mile cross-country walk,
partly by way of ploughed land, and in the broiling heat of an unanticipated
hot, cloudless day, with little breeze and the thermometer at 75 ! Yet it
is doubtful if a single person of the little band of 17 who made up the party
would have missed the joy of seeing, and being in, the charming Essex coun-
try, bathed in sunlight as it was, to avoid the minor discomforts of the
sudden heat.
The main object of the meeting was a botanical one, it being desired to
collect and record plants in the more northerly portion of the "Forest dis-
trict" with a view to the revised list of plants which a Committee of the
Club is compiling. Our member, Mr. Geoffrey Dent, acted as topographical
guide throughout the day.
Setting out from Roydon station at shortly after 12 o'clock, the route
was along the footpath skirting the river Stort on its Essex bank until near
its junction with the Lea, Thalictrum flavum, Valeriana dioica, Mimulus
luteus, Eupatorium cannabinum, Lychnis flos-cuculi and Iris pseudacorus
being noted by the way. Thence the party struck inland to Nether Hall,
the picturesque ruins of which 15th century fortified manor-house, with
gatehouse and encircling moat, were thrown open to the party by courtesy
of the owner, Mr. Walton ; who also kindly showed the visitors one of his
barns, a magnificent interior with a vista of curved oak roof-timbers like a
church.
From Nether Hall, a cross-country field walk was entered upon towards
Great Parndon, collections of flowering plants being assiduously made en
route. On the higher ground, where Chalky Boulder Clay overlies the London