REPORTS OF MEETINGS.
July 4th. General Meeting No.1174.
Bradwell-on-Sea. (President's Meeting).
About 25 members and friends arrived for this meeting
which started by having a look at St.Peter's Church. This
Church was built between the years 550 and 560, in the gate-
way of what is considered to be the Roman Port of Othona.
Although the church was in secular use for some time, it
has now been restored as a chapel of ease. For the rest of
the morning until lunch, the party explored the shingle banks
immediately adjacent to the nature reserve. Some members
had to return, but a party of nearly twenty, of all ages,
then walked along the sea wall past the atomic power
station to Bradwell Quay. A remarkable number of birds and
plants were seen, but in the absence of experts it has not
been possible to prepare a detailed and authentic list. It
is an area where there is a very rapid succession of
habitats, from the salt marshes to farmland and is well
worth subsequent visits.
Peter Glassborow
July 24th. to 25th Mammal Group Weekend.
A small working party met over the weekend at
Fingeringhoe Wick Reserve. Two tasks were undertaken.
First, an alteration to the bunk house, including removing
a large number of bird's nests. The main job was helping
to construct a dam on part of the salt marsh to form a
shallow lake to encourage more species of birds. Vast
quantities of sand-bags and mud were added to the dam to
raise it by a couple of inches. A great deal of work is still
necessary to complete the dam. Some members of the party
watched a local babger sett in the evening, only to discover
that badgers do not like the rain.
Paul Carter.
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