83
BOOK NOTICE
Hatfield Forest. Published by the National Trust. Price 1s.
This little book forms a very useful guide to visitors of the Forest. It
contains two maps, one taken from the one mile to the inch Ordnance
Survey, the other is on the six miles to the inch scale: it is illustrated by a
photograph of a group of fine pollarded hornbeams growing in one of the
chases. The Forest lies near the north-west corner of Essex and covers
nearly 1,000 acres of ground, and was originally part of the Royal Forest
of Essex. It gradually passed into the hands of a succession of private
families, until in 1923 it was purchased by the late E. N. Buxton of Knighton,
Buckhurst Hill, and some of his family, who generously presented it to the
National Trust.
The property consists largely of woodland, traversed from north to
south by a broad strip of grassland, and containing a lake which has become
popular both for boating and fishing. An account is given of the old Forest
laws which were very severe on those who broke them by injuring deer or
timber that might serve as food for deer, such as oak, crab, pear or hawthorn.
A brief description is given of remains of ancient earthworks in one of the
coppices, of the "Shell House" and of the present condition of the Forest
with its timber and wild plants. The policy of the National Trust is to
encourage natural timber and the wild animals. The last of the red deer
were killed off during the 1914-18 war. A few fallow deer, which were
originally introduced, remain, but owing to the harm they do to neighbour-
ing crops, their numbers have been reduced. A short account is given of
other mammals still living in the Forest, and its birds, fish and insects. The
revenue of the Forest is derived from rents charged for grazing cattle and
fees for boating and fishing.
The book is on sale at the "Shell House" in the Forest.
G. Lister.
REPORTS OF MEETINGS
ORDINARY MEETING (867th Meeting)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25th, 1947
This meeting was held, as usual, in the Municipal College, Stratford,
with the President, Dr. Frank W. Jane, in the chair: it was devoted to
exhibits and short papers by members, of whom twenty-five attended.
Mr. Sidney Waller, of 14, South Esk Road, E.7, and
Mr. D. A. Brassett, of 93, Percy Road, E.16, were elected to membership
of the Club.
Miss Lister exhibited some of her delightful drawings of Petasites
fragrans, "White Coltsfoot," etc.
Mr. Howard showed Euphorbia Lathyrus (Caper Spurge) and the early
flowering twigs of Wild Plum (Prunus domestica) with twigs of Bullace (P.
insititia) for comparison.
Mr. Pratt showed some of the more showy Lepidoptera collected by him
during 1946.
Mr. Ross showed a very rare moss, Orthodontium gracile var. hetero-
carpum, found on a log near Ambresbury Banks in Epping Forest (see Note,
p. 68).
Mr. Ross also read his detailed report on the Mycetozoa he had found
in the Forest during the past year. The number constituted a record and
included some forms new to Essex (see p. 54).