ESSEX FIELD CLUB
Report of Council - 1978
Council. The Council of the Club met six times during the year. Discussions included the
arrangements for the Centenary in 1980.
At the Annual General Meeting in March, held at the Writtle Agricultural College,
P. Allen and F. Smith retired from Council, in accordance with the rules of the Club, and
P. Leswell and D. Brown joined Council.
Membership. At the end of 1978 membership stood at 362, an increase of nine during the
year.
Meetings. Forty meetings were held during the year, of which nine were General Meetings.
The meetings were as follows:-
Mammals 7 General Interest 3
Photographic 1 Entomology 1
Pond Life 1 Fungas Foray 1
Botany 6 Museum visit 1
Ornithology 10 Children's Day 1
Geology 7 Symposium 1
Many of these meetings were memorable occasions. In February a visit to the Dinosaur
Gallery and fossil preparation laboratory of the British Museum (Natural History) was at-
tended by 80 people, who had a very informative tour. Roger Tabor of telvision's "Animal
Magic" gave a talk on wild cats. Don Hunford won the annual photographic competition. 51
people attended the first bird meeting of the year to East Mersea. A badger sett survey in
April provided valuable information on this declining species. 60 members visited Thorndon
Park with many interesting birds seen. The Centenary of Epping Forest as a public open
space was celebrated in May by a two day symposium held jointly with the Nature Con-
servancy Council and the Epping Forest Conservation Centre. Speakers covered all aspects
of the history, natural history and conservation of the Forest. Pouring rain at the start of a
moth trapping meeting in July prevented many from attending an otherwise informative
meeting. Pond dipping meetings like the one in Epping Forest in August are now a popular
regular of the programme. A meeting giving instruction in the study of lichens was held at
Fingringhoe Wick, a superb area for their study, several new Essex records being made. A
visit to the Passmore Edwards Museum in November gave an insight into how large the
Museum now is and the very wide scope of its activities. In December a children's meeting
in Oaklands Park, Chelmsford studied leaves and made bark rubbings in the morning and
used them to make Christmas cards in the afternoon.
Exhibitions. Interest from the general public at wildlife exhibitions was extremely good. In
June several members of the Club helped organise the "Nature Day" of the Writtle Guild of
Arts with an exhibition in the Village Christian Centre and children's rambles in Hylands
Park. A 30 ft display including a pond at the Dagenham Town Show proved very popular,
especially with the children. The stand at the Ingatestone and Fryerning Horticultural
Societies Show was very popular also. An invitation to put on a wildlife exhibit at the
Hornchurch Traction Engine Rally in September provided the opportunity to show our
activities in South-West Essex. Tables with autumn fruits, rocks, minerals and fossils and
other exhibits created a great deal of interest.
Publications. Two issues in the Essex Naturalist Series under the editorship of Dr D. Corke
were made: the first of three volumes on Epping Forest to celebrate the Centenary and a
smaller volume publishing the award winning project on the conservation of Tiptree Heath.
Two informal Bulletins were also distributed to members with the programme cards, edited
by R. Cowlin and R. Allen. Deer of Essex (Essex Naturalist No. 1) was submitted for con-
sideration by the Essex County Council Amenity Societies Award Scheme.
In conclusion Council would like to thank the numerous members who helped with the
general running of the Club and especially those who led meetings or contributed to the
publications. Not least, those who assisted with refreshments at meetings, typed envelopes
and printers copy and packed the Bulletin.