14.
MILL GREEN COMMON
Mill Green near Fryerning, Ingatestone,
has always been a popular Field Club venue
and many of as are familiar with its woods
and heathland. Strange to think that just
after the last war you could see from the 
Cricketers pub to the Viper pub and that
bracken and heather with gorse and broom were
the dominant species.
The common extends to about 80 acres
including areas of woodland as well as the
grassland and bracken in the vicinity of the
Cricketers. To many it is a surprise to
learn that the Common is privately owne .1 and
that the public have no rights of access
whatever. Indeed even local residents have
lost their rights of common (e.g. cutting of
turf and firewood, grazing of livestock and
pannage for pigs) since none were declared
when the Common was registered as such
several years back.
A group of members have been taking a
closer look at the Common. Older editions
of Ordnance Survey plans (e.g. that of 1876)
show that the common was open land with a
vegetation of furze, grass for rough grazing
and scattered brushwood. Older residents
tell of the days when goats and horses grazed
the common and when heather was so abundant
that it was harvested and carted to the
London hospitals.
Close examination of the woodland
reveals that it is secondary, having grown
up in comparatively recent times. Much of
it is scrub Oak with areas of Birch. There
is one decidedly unhealthy Wild Service tree
and the Heather is now so reduced that it