Part of the morning was spent retrieving some 90
Longworth mammal traps and inspecting the 9 Woodmice
(Apedomus sylvaticus) and three bankvoles (Clethrionomys
glareolus) which had been caught. All the animals survived
their ordeal and were released. The very active badger sett
was also visited. The badgers are relatively newcommers
to the grounds and they are certainly busy filling in part
of the ravine of the old rock garden with steady progress.
There were still a number of the Early English Crocus
in bloom, although well past their best. This is one of
the very few places in the country where this species
survives as a native plant, which it is considered to be by
some past Essex botanists; at least it is known to have
survived here for over three centuries! The Daffodils, of
which there are thousands of blooms and many species, were
going over and there was a fine display of Bluebells, in
many shades of colour, blue, white, pink and shades of these
colours, showing hybridisation with introduced species.
Members saw the deep mauve, starlike flowers of the
Perriwikle, Vinca major ssp. hirsuta, in plenty and large
patches of the introduced Toothwort, Lathraea clandestina,
with bright purple flowers, which was compared with the
native species, L. squamaria.
In the space available it would be impossible to mention
anything like the number of plants, trees and shrubs that
were seen, but some of the highlights found were: Solomon's
Seal, Polygonatum multiflorum; Allium triquetrum and A.
paradoxum, plus an abundance of the native Ramsons, A.
ursinum. A very unusual find, in flower, was a Bamboo,
Sasa palmata. As an example of how some introductions can
become uncontrollable pests, the Giant Hogweed, Heracleum
mantegazzianum, had spread over large areas to the detriment
of the smaller plants. A fine specimen of the Maidenhair
Tree, Ginkgo biloba, still survives.
Bob Cowlin
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