220 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
members to such an attractive locality, the meeting was brought to a close
and the coach commenced the return journey to Wanstead.
A list of 94 plants recorded during the day has been submitted by Mr.
Bernard Ward. It includes six ferns and 18 mosses and liverworts.
Spring Meeting in Epping Forest (960th Meeting)
SUNDAY, 10 MAY, 1953
Over 40 members and friends met at Loughton Garage at 11 a.m. and
then walked up the hill to Goldings Hill Ponds. Here a halt was made
to watch and listen to the birds and to see the plants in this prolific
locality. The weather was sunny but a rather cool wind was blowing and
it was noticed that the volume of birdsong was rather low for the time of
year.
The walk was then continued through Monk Wood to the Epping New
Road and a visit paid to Wake Valley Pond where further opportunity
was found for some bird watching. Two Mallard ducks, each with duck-
lings, were seen on the pond and a Nuthatch was calling in the surrounding
trees. It was by now approaching the time for lunch, and after a further
short walk a halt was made at a spot in the Forest near the "Wake Arms",
where logs and grassy banks afforded sheltered and sunny seats for the
picnic. During the lunch halt particularly good songs of a Whitethroat
and a Song-Thrush were continually heard.
At 2 p.m. the party continued the walk to Woodredon Farm, whence
some members carried on to Upshire while others took a shorter route
through the green lane and the Forest to Ambresbury Banks. Beyond the
ancient earthwork some time was spent by the three ponds on the route
to the Bell Inn so that this, the rendezvous for tea, was reached little
before the appointed hour of 4.30 p.m.
A very nice tea was enjoyed by the party, which now numbered 44, and
after the meal Mr. Bernard Ward was elected Chairman for the usual short
formal meeting. Mrs. Harris commented on the birds seen and heard
during the day. The list of species recorded numbered 33 and did not
include any rarities, neither were there any notable absentees but except
in a few instances the birds were not singing very freely. Miss Johnson
commented on the flowering plants seen. A Common Lizard and a Grass
Snake had been seen.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Pratt for leading the party and the meeting
was declared closed.
Mr. Howard reports that 67 species were observed in the small area of
the Forest traversed. The aquatic vegetation was of especial interest, and
showed that the Water Violet (Hottonia palustris L.), Bog Bean
(Menyanthes trifoliata L.), Canadian Water-thyme (Elodea canadensis
Michx.) and Yellow Water Lily (Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm.) still flourish in
several of the Forest ponds.
Visit to Warley and District (961st Meeting)
SUNDAY, 7 JUNE, 1953
Some members met at Brentwood Station at 11 a.m. and walking up the
hill to Warley, traversed a pleasant road bordered by woodland which
brought them to the Essex Regiment Chapel. Here Major S. Andrew-
waited to welcome the party and he asked members to be seated while
he gave them an account of the Chapel.
The barracks were built about 1805, and from 1842 were used by the
East India Company for training troops which it was authorised to employ
on service in India. It was in 1856 that the Chapel was built by the
Company. The barracks, together with the Chapel, were taken over by the