46 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
RAMBLE IN HAINAULT FOREST (863rd Meeting)
SATURDAY, JULY 20TH, 1946
About 10.45 a.m. a small party of members gathered outside the Maypole
Inn, Chigwell Row. The nearby Recreation Ground was first visited and
here much of interest was found. The pond has been changed of late years
by a war-time extension in the form of a wide water-filled ditch in which
Potamogeton natans flourishes and was seen in full flower ; dragonflies were
much in evidence.
After watching a Spotted Flycatcher feeding, the party skirted the southern
edge of the Forest to Mile Plantation, where lunch was taken and some
time was allowed for exploration before re-assembling at the Beehive Inn,
Lambourne End.
The party then followed bye-lanes and footpaths by Lambourne Church
to Abridge, where tea was taken. A short formal meeting then followed,
with Mr. William Howard in the chair. The following persons were elected
to membership:—
Miss Agnes Kennedy and Miss Mary Kennedy, of "St. Antony's,''
Knighton Drive, Woodford Weils.
Miss C. McAlpine, of 3, Chadwick Road, Leytonstone, E.11.
Mr. A. Dale Womersley, of "The White Cottage," Bentley, near
Brentwood.
Mr. F. F. Laidlaw, F.R.E.S., of The Rectory, Woodham Mortimer,
Maldon.
The day produced most for the botanists of the party, though it also
provided much for the entomologists. The huge total of 256 wild-flowers
was recorded, but certain of these require confirmation where the actual
specimens were not critically examined : the list included Chelidonium
majus, Spergula arvensis, Linum usitatissimum. Rhamnus Frangula, Ononis
spinosa, Anthyllis Vulneraria, Ciraea lutetiana, Hippuris vulgaris, Senecio
squalidus, Salvia pratensis and Polygonum Bistorta.
A good number of birds was seen and heard, amongst those recorded
being Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Chiff-chaff, Corn Bunting and Pheasant.
AUTUMN RAMBLE IN EPPING FOREST (864th Meeting)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1946
Despite dull and threatening weather, 17 members of the Club
met at the Ching Bridge on Whitehall Road, Chingford, at 11 a.m. for a
ramble in Epping Forest under the guidance of Mr. Joseph Ross.
The first part of the route was by Whitehall Plain to Connaught Water,
but because of the wet conditions underfoot it was advisable to keep to the
trodden track and not to walk so close to the brook as had been intended.
None the less it was possible to visit the stations of some of the more
uncommon Forest plants, and to do a considerable amount of general botanical
observation.
A halt was made at Connaught Water for lunch; rain now became
more persistent and rather heavy and the intention to visit that part of
Fairmead on the Loughton side was abandoned. A large number of big
beautifully coloured Cherry Galls on an oak near Connaught Water was
seen; and then, in traversing the woodland, a luxuriant growth of bracken
(some of it growing amongst scrub being very tall) was passed through.
Later a great variety of fungi was found in the more open woodland, and a
well-grown plant of the fern Lastrea aristata Rendle and Britten was seen
growing in the crown of a pollard hornbeam.
Leaving the woodland near the Low Road to High Beach, Fairmead
Bottom was crossed and the woods re-entered on the east side of the rise;
the road between the "Robin Hood" and High Beach was reached and the