218 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
their several interests. It was noted with pleasure that the well-known
bog in this wood was still in good condition, several nice clumps of
Caltha palustris being in bloom and other bog plants beginning to
make their summer growth. During this period the picnic lunch was
taken and the party gathered again at two o'clock by the railway
bridge over the Coopersale road.
The whole party then crossed the Ongar road to Wintry Wood and
walked along the old "stump road". Mr. Marshall explained that this
was the track of the London road which was abandoned some 200
years ago in favour of the more direct road through Epping. The
gravel metalling of the road is still in evidence both on the path and
in the ditches which line the route on both sides. On reaching the
northern end of the wood a turn to the right was made to Woodside
hamlet and the southerly ride was followed back to the pond and
across Epping Plain to the meeting place at Epping. Here most of the
members were able to get a lift to the Bell Inn which was reached
at 4.30 p.m. just as tea was ready.
After tea the following were elected to membership of the Club:—
Mrs. E. K. Bennett, of 78. St. Anthony's Avenue, Woodford Green.
Mr. G. N. Capel-Cure, T.D., D.L.. J.P., of Blake Hall, Ongar.
Miss C. Comer, of Wall Crest, 1 Sydney Road, Woodford Green.
Mr. C. B. Pratt and Mr. V. G. Robson spoke of the birds which
had been encountered during the day. The weather conditions were not
very conducive to bird song, nevertheless a good number of species
had been noted including, amongst the summer migrants. Cuckoo,
Garden-Warbler, Blackcap, Willow-Warbler, Chiffchaff, one Swallow,
Redstart and Tree-Pipit. Three Magpies had been seen in the vicinity
of Gernon Bushes and a Sparrow-Hawk in Wintry Wood, at the
northern end of which had been noted a rookery of fifty nests.
Miss Johnson spoke of the flowers and expressed particular pleasure
in finding a good number of primroses, bluebells, wood anemone and
wood sorrel, all of which had grown scarce in most woods so near
London.
Mr. Bernard Ward and Mr. Finlayson spoke of the Mycetozoa found
during the day.
Mr. Marshall gave a short description of the history of the "stump
road" which we had traversed in Wintry Wood. He also mentioned
that there was being held at the Passmore Edwards Museum an exhibi-
tion of living native reptiles and amphibians.
VISIT TO HATFIELD FOREST (1019th MEETING)
Saturday, May 30th, 1958
Despite a strike involving all of London's buses and coaches, a
party of forty assembled at Bishop's Stortford and a convoy of
cars set off for the Bush End entrance of Hatfield Forest. Here
the leaders, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Bartrop, introduced to the party Major