14.
little translucent dots become visible. Finally one
species of spruce Picea species was noted with its
pendulous cones. However it was too tall to obtain
foliage for identification.
The weather was fine and I hope the outing was
enjoyed by all those present. I would appreciate any
future records of other trees found growing in the
park from anyone who is interested enough to look for
them.
Tony Boniface
---oOo---
BADGERAVARIA
Many people have asked me about badgers and T.B..
Well, the MAFF has shown that they act as a reservoir
for it in some places, and in these localities they are
now gassing the setts affected to control the spread
of the disease. The actual areas are small in extent
and at present the disease appears
very localised. There are no
cases of TB in cattle or badgers
in Essex or any of the Home
Counties, I am glad to say, and
the nearest spot which is
affected is in Dorset. The MAFF
have also shown that the badgers
can have the disease fatally themselves, so the Ministry's
action is in the badger's best interests as well as for
the cattle, I think.
On a lighter note, badgers do turn up in odd
places. A highlight of 1975, for me, was finding an
active sett on the toxic chemicals dumping ground at
Pitsea Marsh, near Basildon. (You will remember this
is where a tanker driver was asphyxiated while unloading
his lorry load of toxic waste, in the summer.) The sett
is in an area tipped with household refuse about 20
years ago and the badgers are digging up broken bottles,