6
REPORT ON THE "FOUR SEASONS PROJECT" HELD AT
SOUTH WEALD COUNTRY PARK, BRENTWOOD.
Summary
In this project four different adjacent
habitats were examined in South Weald Country
Park during the four seasons of 1987 (Fig. 1).
Unlike many other Field Club meetings, no
attempt was made to study a single species,
group or factor. The aims of these meetings
were to obtain a background picture of a range
of habitats as whole units, and to gain an
appreciation of each community with its
interrelated pieces, fitting together like a
giant jigsaw. The results could then act as a
broadsheet for any detailed work carried out at
a later date.
The relationships between the individual
members of each habitat at first appeared
rather rigid; classic habitat types with
obvious dominant flora and a range of
associated flora and fauna. However,
subsequent visits showed an essential fluidity
existed with each element related to the
prevailing habitat conditions, but adapted to
changes that occurred through the year. Owing
to the timing of the four meetings the most
obvious developments were those related to
seasonal variations with the whole appearance
of each habitat changing. However, sudden
dramatic changes, including grass cutting in
the meadow and the dramatic October storms,
illustrated the delicate balance that exists in
these complex communities.