23
having seen and heard Common and Lesser Whitethroat and Tree
Sparrow. The day ended at about 2.30 p.m. after which it was
noted that 33 different species had been seen or heard. A total
for what, weatherwise, was a rather unpleasant, cold and
unseasonable day.
M.T. Parker.
Shadwell Wood. 10th May, 1981.
The weather forecast for the Botany Group meeting, on the
10th May to Shadwell Wood near Saffron Walden was for cloud and
rain, but although the morning was cloudy, the sun came out in
the afternoon and there was no rain until the evening.
The wood is an Essex Naturalists Trust reserve of 16 acres
on chalky boulder clay, consisting of old coppice with a rich
ground flora. In the morning we walked round the wood, looking
mainly at flowering plants. The oxslips (Primula elatior) which
are a feature of the wood were over although we found a few in
flower in one area. It was nice to see a number of hybrids be-
tween the oxslip and cowslip (Primula veris). The bluebells
(Endymion non-scriptus) which only grow in a few places in the
wood looked magnificent. The early purple orchids (Orchis
mascula) were out, but the Twayblade (Listera ovata) and the
Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) which grew so
profusely on many paths only had their leaves showing. Near the
entrance was a fine show of the introduced Greater Leopard's bane
(Doronicum pardalianches). The Myxomycete, Enteridium
(Reticularia) lycoperdon, which looked like a lump of putty was
found growing on a tree trunk. The brilliant yellow Yellow Brain
Fungus (Tremella mesenterica) was seen by some people growing on
a small dead trunk of a coppice stool.
Other plants seen included:-
Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), Common Violet (Viola
riviniana), Hairy Violet (Viola hirta), Spurge Laurel (Daphne
laureola), Ramsons (Allium ursinum), Sanicle (Sanicula europaea),
Common Sedge (Carex nigra), Wood sedge(Carex sylvatica)
Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula) and Wood Millet (Millium effusum).
In the afternoon most of us went round the garden of La
Pavilion, a privately owned house, south-west of Saffron Walden.
It was open under the National Gardens Scheme in aid of various
charities. The garden consisted mainly of a large pond with
lawns and herbaceous and shrub borders. There were ornamental