COUNCIL REPORTS FOR 1974 AND 1975 159
the Weald Brook and Cranham Marsh and in the Rainham and Wenning-
ton areas.
The Fungus Foray in Epping Forest was held early in August and proved
very successful, despite the heavy rain in the afternoon. Meeting back at
the Epping Forest Conservation Centre for the display of results and tea,
members new to the study of fungi were given the opportunity to identify
specimens for themselves using the relevant books under expert guidance.
45 species were recorded. However, the best finds were made at the
Recorders Meeting in October held in St Thomas' Quarters where many
unusual species were found.
Geology Group meetings were well attended, their Annual General
Meeting being held at Brentwood with the Davidson Award being pre-
sented to Mr M. T. Parker. A talk on Lapidary was given in January and
over the Spring Bank Holiday a group visited the Isle of Wight. One day
meetings being held at Walton on Naze, at Folkestone and Hastings.
The President's Meeting was again held at Mill Green and High Wood
with tea provided afterwards at Fryerning Parish Hall. Other meetings of
note included the well attended winter ramble in January from Hainault
to Abridge and back, a coach trip to the Wildfowl Trust Reserve at
Slimbridge, a gloriously sunny ramble in the Colne Valley at Sible Heding-
ham, the June meeting in Epping Forest, and the September meeting at
South Weald where the Death Cap fungus was so abundant in places as
not to be forgotten by any member attending.
A new venture for the Club was an Astronomy meeting held at Chigwell
Row. A rather windy Boxing Day ramble was held along the Chelmer
Canal from Chelmsford to Little Baddow and indoor talks were given on
the Mammals of Flatford Mill and the Bricks of Eastern England to the
end of the Middle Ages. The Birds and General Natural History meetings
led by Mr T. M. Parker were well attended as usual and a wide range of
birds were heard and seen.
Exhibitions. Every year our displays get more enterprising and success-
ful. The Havering Festival Show lasted four days and featured a Badger
Sett and a Hedgehog survey during which some 500 Hedgehog and other
Wildlife reports were received. In July the Dagenham Town Show had the
rain to contend with, but this was perhaps appropriate as our Stand was
centred around a pond containing newts and a toad supplied by Anthony
Barrow. Another Hedgehog survey was equally successful. Enterprising
plans for the Writtle Show were somewhat curtailed by wet weather, the
Show being held indoors. At Ingatestone we had our most successful
Show. Our pond was recreated in the middle of the tent surrounded by
stuffed animals and caused great interest amongst parents and children
alike. Our special thanks for help with these shows goes to Kevin Byrne
for the Pond, to Andrew Barrow and Mrs Smith for stocking it and for
extensive assistance to the Dark family, the Daniels family, the Caldwells
and all the others who helped in the fun. Also the Chelmsford Museum
who entrusted their specimens to our care.
Publications
Volume 33 Part 1 of the Essex Naturalist was issued under the Editorship