15.
takes some searching to find it. Aspen is
now invasive and in some places seedlings are
fast coming to dominate the woodland floor.
Scattered Gorse and Broom give evidence of
its heathland origins.
It is interesting to observe that the
Gorse on the present open bracken heath occurs
in lines and that these penetrate into the
woodland and so must pre-date it. The last
vestiges of former grassland with occasional
Heathers occur by these bushes and examination
of 19th Century maps show that they are all
that is left of once well established paths.
What has caused this extensive change
in the character of the common? Mill Green
was once part of the former Royal Forest of
Writtle and in an area of woodland formerly
managed intensively for wood and timber
production, the Common provided grazing,
firewood and other priviledges for the poor
as of right. Recently this traditional use
of the Common has declined and as we have
already mentioned all such rights have now
lapsed. With the cessation of management,
there has been nothing to stop the invasion
of Birch and Oak until now there is little
of the ancient heathland left.
With the changing vegetation, the birds
have changed too. Where today we have a
range of woodland Warblers, we once had
Nightjar and Woodcock and also the Red-
Backed Shrike, as breeding birds. Members
are of course familiar with the Nightingale
but sadly this has not been heard for two
years.
It is obvious the changes in land-use