334
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
who from 1948 to 1961 was curator of the Epping Forest Museum
at Chingford.
The membership of the Club has remained steady. We wel-
come the affiliation of three more Essex societies—The Horn-
church Historical Society, Clarance House Residential Youth
Club and Thurrock Local History Society.
As evidence that the Club is catering for the interest of all
members, no less than 35 informal meetings were held, at some of
which, however, we could have welcomed the attendance of more
members. In addition most of the usual monthly meetings were
well attended.
The Denehole Committee reported that at the end of 1963 as
a result of construction of the Dartford Tunnel further deneholes
had been uncovered at Purfleet and Aveley. The Committee
is still actively trying to obtain protection for the deneholes at
Grays which have been scheduled as Ancient Monuments.
Two of the ancient Forest Bounds Stones have been removed
to the museum at Valance House, at Dagenham. Unfortunately
this was necessary because of road widening plans. The stones
removed were the Havering Stone and the Marks Stone.
In this changing age there are many other extensive altera-
tions planned for the Essex countryside1, some of which as
naturalists we must regret. The new London Airport at Stansted,
the new motorway from London to Bishop's Stortford and the
new scheme for the Lee Valley. It is hoped that the foresight
of the Civic Trust in calling a meeting of Essex natural history
and sporting societies to prepare reports on the Lee Valley for
consideration as permanent countryside will lead to the pre-
servation of this area.
The destruction of extensive areas of the county calls more
than ever for the systematic recording of its wild life and
vegetation. Our Recorders are making a special effort to visit
these areas and indeed all parts of Essex as it is on their evidence
that justification can often be found for the preservation of regions
of special natural interest. There are a number of disciplines for
which there is no Recorder. Volunteers to undertake the study
and recording of these would be welcome.
Late in 1964 a project for the study of deer in South-west
Essex was inaugurated by the Club in conjunction with the
Passmore Edwards Museum. For this purpose a grant of £100
has been made by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, and we
are grateful to them for this help. Reports of this work will be
published in The Essex Naturalist.
It is unfortunate that an issue of The Essex Naturalist has not
been made for so long but two parts will be issued early in 1965,
which will bring our journal up to date.
Members of the Club will be only too well aware of the general
increase in every day prices. Those increases also have a marked
effect on the Club's domestic policy, and after giving careful
consideration to the matter, the Council have found it necessary