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On making our way back towards the Roding
several Wild Service trees were found on the
north-west corner of the wood, and a patch of
Sneezewort turned up in the marshy meadow.
The next field east of the wood was arable
fallow, and we turned up both species of
Kickxia (Fluellen), together with the rosette
forming liverwort Riccia sorocarpa, and the
ubiquitous mosses Bryum rubens, Pottia
truncata, and Dicranella staphylina.
On the bank of the stream the large thalloid
liverwort Conocephalum conicum was located
(very local in Essex), as was Guelder Rose
(Viburnum opulus) , and some very large
Spindleberry bushes (Euonymus). Two fields
further on we turned south and investigated
another small wood. This had an alder patch
on its eastern margin with magnificent
shuttlecocks of both Male and Broad—Buckler
ferns, and in the south—west corner of the
wood, which was otherwise mainly run—down
hornbeam coppice, several Wild Service trees
were located.
On reaching the road the party split into two,
the drivers risking their necks to get back to
Langford bridge and collect the cars, the fast
traffic being rather a hazard along such a
narrow road.
KEN ADAMS