THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
97
Buckhurst Hill, and further over the Roding Valley to Claybury ; the
hills of North Kent were plainly visible in the clear atmosphere which a.
northerly wind always brings to the Forest district.
A tour of the grounds followed, under the guidance of our host. The
natural slope of the ground has been taken advantage of in the lay out o£
the garden to form a succession of terraces, with cement balustrades, steps
and walls in the Italian style, and there is also a square sunk enclosure
with central fountain, familiarly known as the "Roman bath," and a.
picturesque bridge over the pond in the lower portion of the grounds. This
elaborate scheme of garden decoration is the work of a former owner,
who spent many thousands of pounds upon it.
A fine rock garden has been formed by the house, where it gets the
full afternoon sunshine, and everywhere the grounds were full of Daffodils,
Narcissi, Primulas, Fritillaries, and other spring plants, growing broadcast
in the grass beneath the trees. In the lower, damper portion, a profusion
of interestingplants, including Caltha palustris, Trollius Europaeus, various
Anemones, Grape Hyacinth, and Trillium made a most attractive
collection. By permission of Mrs. Boake, the owner of the neighbouring
garden at "Highstanding," that also was visited by the party, the
water-and-rock garden attracting special attention. Mrs. Boake is a great
bird lover, and she gave an interesting demonstration of her attachment
to her feathered neighbours, inducing robins to come at her call to take
mealworms from her hand, and even from between her lips—a feat which
was repeatedly performed, notwithstanding the presence of so many-
onlookers. Mrs. Boake's conservatory was also inspected and admired.
The warm thanks of the party were given to Mr. and Mrs. Dietrichsen
and to Mrs. Boake for their kindly hospitality, and leaves were taken at
6.30 o'clock, the consensus of opinion of the visitors being that a most
enjoyable day had been spent.
FIELD MEETING AT WENDENS AMBO AND NEWPORT
(627TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 21ST MAY, 1927.
A party of twenty-six members travelled down by motor char-a-banc
from Loughton, others came by private car, and in all some thirty-five
persons met our conductor, Mr. George Morris, B.Sc., F.R.A.I., at the
appointed rallying place, the "Fighting Cocks" inn at Wendens, at a few
minutes after twelve o'clock noon. Later in the day a contingent of
members of the Friends' School Natural History Society from Saffron
Walden joined the party, which then totalled over 50 persons.
On leaving the vehicles the visitors entered upon a ramble through the
village of Wendens Ambo, visited the church with its fine Norman tower,
and proceeded by field path, following the course of a small tributary
stream of the Cam, back to the starting point, lunch being taken in a
meadow en route. Twayblade Orchis, Adder's Tongue Fern and Ragged
Robin were found in a marshy copse bordering the stream, and quantities
of the bright blue flowers of Veronica beccabunga rejoiced the eyes of the
botanists of the party.
The old watermill at Wendens, now in a sadly dilapidated condition,
was visited.