ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOTANY GROUP, 1968 251
We lost three members of the committee during the year.
David Scott retired from the Committee at the A.G.M., after many
years of valuable service as Secretary; however, he still continues
to act as the Mammal Recorder. His successor as Secretary, Bill
Page, unfortunately only lasted a few months before he was sent
off to Africa, after locusts and quelea birds. Alan Heathcote
resigned because of his studies at Oxford after holding the reins
during the past few years. Our grateful thanks go to these mem-
bers for their hard work during their time in office.
In spite of all these changes at the top the Group presented
a varied and interesting programme of visits, talks and other
meetings during the year, and it was encouraging to see more
younger members at some of the meetings. It is to be hoped that
this trend will continue in the future, as the present young mem-
bers are the future backbone of the Group. However, it would
be wrong to rest on our laurels and we must all strive to bring
new blood into the Group, as only this new stimulus will prevent
the Group from stagnating and ensure that it plays an active part
in mammalogy in Essex in the years to come.
B. D. Eastcott, Secretary.
Annual Report of the Botany Group,
1968
In 1968 the Botany Group held nine informal meetings at
which the average attendance was eleven members—the highest
average attendance for some years.
The annual "indoor" meeting in 1968 was held in February at
the Chelsea Physic Gardens and was led by Dr Ken Alvin. These
"indoor" meetings to launch the season are now becoming an
institution with the Group and have proved to be popular with
members.
Field Meetings were held at Great Henny, Dedham, Thorndon
Park, Grays, Dovercourt, Coggeshall and Canewdon. The meet-
ings were thus well spread throughout the county.
The most memorable meetings from the botanical viewpoint
were those held at Grays (leader, Dr Arthur Adams), and Dover-
court (leader, Mr S. T. Jermyn). The Grays excursion purposely
did not cover the well known Essex Naturalist Trust concession
in the centre of Grays but concentrated on other disused pits.
It was therefore all the more pleasing to find plentiful Winter-
green (Pyrola rotundifolia) and the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
growing elsewhere in the district. On the same day Mare's Tail
(Hippuris vulgaris) was found as well as abundant and vigorous
Marsh Orchid (Dactylorchis praetermissa) and its hybrid with
Dactylorchis fuchsii.