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This is a celebration being organised by representatives
of many local societies, with the blessing of the
Conservators of Epping Forest. It is being arranged
by the people for the people, and we do hope that as
many as possible will come along and make this a day
to remember for the next 100 years. For further details
please contact the organising Secretary: Mrs. Peggy
Bitten, 9 Frederica Road, Chingford. E.4.
Georgina Green.
THE TOURIST
We saw our first fieldfares of the winter during a visit
to the North Norfolk coast in October. They had flown in,
along with larger flocks of redwings and were feeding on
the orange berries of the sea buckthorns which grow among
the sand dunes. They were slim, wild birds, and although
obviously ravenous, flew nervously away at our approach.
They would probably stay in the area for some weeks,
exploiting the wasted food supplies, before moving further
inland as the weather grew colder with the coming winter.
Before returning from our holiday we collected a basketful
of undersized apples from an old, neglected tree in the
garden, as a treat for the birds at home during bad weather.
On our return we noticed that our old cock blackbird was
still bossing the others, guarding jealously any house-
hold scraps Which were thrown out. His two sons were no
match for him yet.
With the first snowfall before Christmas I remembered
the apples and put out a couple of handfuls. Our old
bird must have eaten nearly all of them. Two more cock
birds arrived and joined the two young ones watching
enviously on the fence. He tolerated the presence of a
couple of hen birds, as long as they did not venture too
near.