54
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Woodford Bridge, at 2.30 o'clock and proceeded down the lane towards the
Roding. A hedgebank clothed with an abundance of the not common
grass, Melica uniflora, with its delicate sprays of flowering glumes, soon
attracted attention, and a specimen of the Wild Service, Pyrus torminalis
in the same hedge was noted, not however in flower. An especially fine
Spindle-tree, Euonymus europaeus, crowded with its pretty green flowers,
was also observed. Some small ponds by the lane, for long the only re-
corded station in Essex for the liverwort Ricciocarpus natans, were searched
in vain for further specimens of this rare plant.
The site of Luxborough House, fronting its ornamental circular basin
(now a reed-covered pond, or rather, swamp) was pointed out by the Hon.
Secretary. This one-time smaller edition of Wanstead House is now-
represented only by its stables and farm-buildings, which remain a pic-
turesque element in an unspoilt rural landscape. It is indeed saddening
to reflect that the charming scene of "ancient peace" which the party
looked upon is in all probability doomed soon to be destroyed by an
unwelcome London County Council housing-estate which is in contempla-
tion for this very spot.
Crossing the river by a wooden footbridge and passing under the
lofty arch of the railway, the visitors made their way, not without diffi-
culty on account of mud, along the overgrown green lane known as
Squirrels Lane, which leads through the Roding meadows to Lord's
Bushes. Some fine bushes of the Wild Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus,
were seen in the lane, in its lower, damper portion. The somewhat local
homopteron, Triecphora vulnerata, the Scarlet Hopper, was noticed on
grasses, hereabouts, by a non-member of the party.
As time was passing, the route through Lord's Bushes had to be tra-
versed quickly, as it was desired to pay a visit to Knighton Wood, once a
part of the late Mr. E. N. Buxton's grounds, but now vested in the Cor-
poration of London as a public resort. The visitors found this delightful
piece of woodland looking at its best, with numerous banks of many-
coloured rhododendrons and azaleas in full bloom—a magnificent sight.
Unfortunately, but scanty time was available to feast one's eyes on these
beauties as the appointed time for tea at the Barclay Hall Restaurant at
Woodford Wells had almost arrived and the place was still distant.
After tea a short formal meeting of the Club was held, with Miss G.
Lister, F.L.S., in the Chair, when Miss Grace S. Calder, of "Wyvis,"
Seagry Road, Wanstead, Eu, and Mr. John M. Bull, B.A., F.R.G.S., of
Runsell Green, Danbury, were elected members of the Club. Our two
conductors. Miss Greaves and Miss Prince, gave informal reports on the
flowers noted during the ramble, which totalled 73 species. Of the birds,
28 were noted, including chiff-chaff, willow warbler, blackcap, garden war-
bler, Whitethroat, nightingale, tree pipit, yellow hammer, cuckoo, swift,
swallow, martin, peewit, moorhen and green woodpecker.
Thanks to the conductors concluded a most enjoyable afternoon and
the company dispersed.
VISIT TO SAFFRON WALDEN (704th MEETING).
SATURDAY, 25TH JUNE, 1932.
A party of forty members assembled at 11.30 o'clock on this date at
the "Fighting Cocks" inn at Wendens Ambo, after a delightful drive