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me off and as a youngster I was interested in birds as
well. I used to collect birds eggs until I learnt
better but even though as a boy, one tended to be called
a cissy because of one's interest in plants, it did nat
put me off. I know that one of the first books I ever
had was a botony book - a collection of photographs of
wild flowers given to me by our daily help, this being
in the days when our family could afford a daily help.
I think possibly that she fostered that interest. We
used to go out over the fields to pick flowers and she
was quite knowledgeable, but my interest has always been
biased towards botany.
Cowlin: When did you joon the Essex Field Club?
Masefield: The earliest that I can remember was in
1952, I was introduced by a friend who was a member and
I had always been interested in natural? history societies.
Cowlin: The emergence of the Essex Naturalists' Trust
must have been important to you during this time. With
about 20 members to our 1, are we in danger of being
submerged do you think? 
Masefield! No, I do not think it will be a case of sub-
mergance. The Naturalists' Trust is occupied in a
different way, on the same things. I mean that the
Field Club and Trust both exist for the conservation and
the study of wildlife. But there is a difference in the
emphasis. The Field Club exists to study it and to
conserve, as I think the Naturalists' Trust exists to
conserve and then to study. And so there is room for