THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 227
BOTANICAL RAMBLE IN THE SOUTH WEALD DISTRICT
(837th Meeting).
SATURDAY, 10TH JULY, 1943.
A period of frequent and heavy rains ushered in a cloudless dawn which, alas,
soon filmed over and was followed by renewed rain which, by midday, became
continuous and heavy : but which failed to daunt the nineteen members who
faced this gloomy outlook and formed the little party.
Assembled at the corner of Gubbins Lane, on the main road to Brentwood,
just beyond "Gallows Corner" at 11.30 o'clock, the party proceeded along
the private "Chase," passing the imposing Newhall Farm to Gooshays farm,
where the field-path to Haroldhill Farm and on to the public road at Noak Hill
was taken, lunch being consumed en route and botanical and entomological
research being actively pursued. But by this time the rain had set in decidedly
and further cross-country walking in wet grass was unwise, so that the remainder
of the ramble to South Weald had to be confined to the roads—a succession of
delightful tree-bordered lanes which yielded extensive views over the country to
the south, but which naturally limited further search for wild flowers and insects.
At South Weald, after a visit to the Church, the ancient portion of which is
practically confined to the lower portion of the S. wall with its late-Norman
doorway and to the W. Tower dating from about A.D. 1500, the rest being modern
work, tea was taken in the dignified Georgian "Tower Arms" inn, which exhibits
a panel above its pedimented doorway bearing some initials and the date of its
erection in 1704.
A further walk of a mile brought the somewhat weather beaten visitors to the
main Brentwood road, where a choice of public vehicles afforded means of rapid
if not comfortable transport to home quarters.
This walk through a beautiful and well-wooded countryside, truly the "weald"
of Essex, was led by the Misses Steward and Prince. The botanists of the party
listed 152 plants in flower, including Linum usitissimum (escape from cultivation),
Ononis spinosa, Vicia cracca, Spiraea Ulmaria, Agrimonia Eupatoria, Circaea
lutetiana, Sison Amomum (in bud only). Oenanthe Phellandrium, Silaus pratensis,
Caucalis Anthriscus, Galium verum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Anthemis Cotula, and
Senecio erucifolius.
BOTANICAL RAMBLE IN THE COPT HALL NEIGHBOURHOOD
(838th Meeting).
SATURDAY, 14th AUGUST, 1943.
This excursion, arranged to afford a variety of scene (and incidentally of wild
plants, these being the special objects of the expedition), was attended by 24
members, who duly assembled at the "Wake Arms" corner at 11 o'clock.
The route chosen, comprising forest and lane, green ride and again forest,
was from the assembly point through some of the less frequented parts of the
woodlands near Woodridden Hill down to Honey Lane Plain, thence to Upshire
by country lane, on by a mile-long green bridlepath to that part of the Forest
known as St. Thomas's Quarters, past Copt Hall lodges, and so to Bell Common,
where tea was taken at 4 o'clock at the "Bell Inn."
Throughout the ramble all wild plants noted in flower were carefully recorded,
with the result that a total of 144 was reached : the list included such interesting
forms as Ononis spinosa, Trifolium fragiferum, Agrimonia Eupatoria, Circaea
lutetiana, Sison Amomum (in quantity), Angelica sylvestris, Pulicaria dysenterica,
Achillea Ptarmica, Senecio erucifolius, Erica Tetralix, Menyanthes trifoliata,
Melampyrum pratense, Lycopus europaeus, Scutellaria galericulata, Stachys
Betonica and Typha latifolia (in fruit).
Limnanthemum peltatum was seen covering the surface of a pond, but not in
flower.
A fine orange-coloured specimen of Polyporus sulphureus was seen growing on
a tree-trunk, and a large group of P. squamosus on a fallen trunk.
A party of Long-tailed Tits flitting from tree to tree in the woodlands attracted
deserved attention.