358 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
were heard, a Cuckoo repeatedly called in the distance, and a Garden-
Warbler which seemed to follow the party for some distance gave plenty
of opportunity for members to compare his song with that of the Blackcap
which was heard many times during the walk. Passing along the northern
boundary of the Hawkwood House enclosure, many birds were heard sing-
ing, and Wren, Great Tit and Blue Tit were added to the list before
Yardley Hill was reached.
A halt of an hour was made for lunch on the northern slopes of the hill.
Some members formed little groups to picnic among the bushes, and some
walked down the hill to Sewardstone Road. The main accompaniment to
lunch came from Whitethroats singing in the bushes, and Garden-Warbler
and Willow-Warbler were also heard and watched during the lunch halt.
A shower of rain was watched drifting across the reservoirs, but passed
away south-east, leaving the party quite dry.
After lunch the walk continued along Gilwell Lane and past Carroll's
Farm and thence in leisurely fashion through Blind Lane. All the way
there was plenty of opportunity of watching birds and listening to the
songs of many species, and during this part of the walk Swallow, Spotted
Flycatcher, Kestrel and Jay were added to the list. By the site of Cash-
field House, where now only a few bricks of the old building remain, the
first and only Nightingale of the day was heard, and lower down Blind
Lane the song of the Lesser Whitethroat was recorded. This song, which
was not well known to some of the members, was studied for some time
as the bird passed from tree to tree along the lane.
On reaching the road, a turn to the right was made and the steep road
to Leppitt's Hill was climbed. Near the summit a few ominous spots of
rain fell, but the end of the walk was very near and there was time to
reach the welcome shelter of The Owl Tea Rooms before the rain began in
earnest. During the meal there was continuous heavy rain, and as members
had enjoyed ample opportunity of discussing the birds during the walk
itself, it was decided to forgo the usual formal meeting except for the
election of one member:
Mr. George P. Asser, of 32, Richford Avenue, Shenfield, was elected
to membership of the Club.
After tea, several members with cars very kindly offered their services,
and arrangements were made so that all present were able to ride in comfort
back to Chingford on their way home.
Visit to Gilwell Park (985th Meeting)
SUNDAY, 5 JUNE, 1955
Outside Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge at 2.45 p.m. on a truly June
day a dozen members met for a walk through the Forest to Gilwell Park,
the headquarters of the Boy Scout movement.
The sun shone from a clear blue sky with such warmth that it was quite
pleasant to turn to the more shady parts of the forest after the open
stretches of Chingford Plain. Entering the forest, two Jays were seen
flying through the trees, quite silently, without any of their well-known
harsh alarm cries. It was noticed that many parts of the forest were still
very boggy and wet in spite of the fine weather of the previous week. A
patch of Butcher's Broom was seen growing in a more open part of the
glades, and masses of tiny Hornbeam seedlings were springing up among
the undergrowth, intermixed with young plants of Honeysuckle.