114 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
D. Corke and R. Cowlin outlined their recent adventures in South
America.
The Botany Group held meetings at Colne Point, West Wood and
Blakes Wood, Mucking Reed Beds and Hatfield Forest. The Fungus Foray
at Epping Forest was held earlier in the year than usual and provided a
number of unusual specimens. The meeting, once again, finished
at the Epping Forest Conservation Centre, where excellent facilities
were made available by the Warden, Mr Moxey of the Field Studies
Council.
The geologists had a successful year. The Spring week-end, held in the
Bristol District, was led by Mr Andrew Fraser of the Field Studies Council
and Mr R. Allen. Dr P. Wallis of the Royal School of Mines, London,
gave a well-illustrated account of the Geology of Wine, the meeting being
followed by the testing of a selection of wines. At the Annual General
Meeting Mr P. Allen gave an account of his researches into East Anglian
geology and Mr R. Allen demonstrated the use of polyurethane foams
in fossil extraction.
The ornithologists held meetings at Mill Green, Danbury Common,
Tiptree Heath, Galleywood Common, Wrabness and Goldhanger. All
these meetings were well attended. The President's meeting was held at
Mill Green and Highwood, near Fryerning, and was followed by an indoor
session and tea in the Parish Hall.
A visit to the grounds of Writtle Agricultural College to look at trees
was very well attended. In the spring, we camped overnight at the Suntrap
Field Centre in order to be up in time for the dawn chorus. Led by Mr K.
Hoy we heard and saw a good selection of birds. The meeting also set
traps for small mammals and included a slide show, a discussion and a
morning spent looking at insects in Epping Forest.
During November the club organised a residential meeting held jointly
with Debden House Residential Centre and the Nature Conservancy, to
examine the implications of major road construction on the natural
environment of Essex. The Chairman for the meeting was Mr Colin
Ranson of the Nature Conservancy. Other speakers contributed on the
effects of roads on plants, deer, badgers, birds, the human environment,
and other relevant subjects. Mr K. Hoy led a ramble in Epping Forest to
see areas currently threatened by development. General rambles were held
in the Harlow area, Writtle and along the Forest Way.
Exhibitions
Displays were mounted at several venues around the county. At the
Dagenham Town Show a display of Club activities was popular with
children, and was commended by the Mayor of Dagenham. At the
Ingatestone Show we constructed a full-size badger sett, and this, with
another erected outdoors at the Writtle Show and Fete, produced a number
of valuable badger and other records. A wall display was mounted at the
Chelmsford and Essex Museum for a month, and featured dawn chorus
recordings. Valence Library in Dagenham also provided space for display.
Another display was mounted in the Exhibition Room of South Havering
Library.