There are causes for laughter, and sometimes dismay, from the well-intentioned
efforts of the general visitors to the Park. Five Broad Bean plants Vicia faba sprang
up in a group in Cockhide field, a garden Erigeron Erigeron speciosus and a deep red
Sweet-William Dianthus barbatus by the Conservation lake, a Laburnum tree
Laburnum anagyroides by Figure of Eight lake, a ring of Snowdrops Galanthus
nivalis round a tree in the main drive, a pink Garden Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
nearby, purple Spring Crocuses Crocus vernus by Swan Lake, a bush of Hooker's
Hebe Hebe brachysiphon by the Car park pond, and many more. These do no harm,
and even add a bit of interest, but others are a bit less welcome such as a Cupressus
(leylandii'?) on the grass by the Car park pond, which was speedily removed. New
Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsii and Parrot's-feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
arrived from people emptying unwanted aquaria into the Car park pond, as well as
Fringed Water-lily Nymphoides peltata. The result of these introductions has been that
Water-cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum, Water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica
and Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris are suffering from the over-crowding.
At the time of writing in early July there are people working under Tony's supervision
trying to remove these aliens. We recently found a small patch of Floating Pennywort
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides in Swan Lake, but the rangers were going to put wellies
on and get it out this week, so by the time this article is in print it should have
disappeared.
We feel we have made a good start, but it gets harder as we go on; the first bits are
relatively quick and easy. We were given copies of some lists done some 20 years
ago by groups from the Thurrock Natural History Society (we think, or maybe by
others? the lists are anonymous) and these covered green plants and fungi. These gave
us useful initial check-lists, but we have already got quite a few extra species added as
well as a few still to find or to show have disappeared. The late Arthur Adams, who
loved the Park and photographed most of the wild flowers there, gave me his lists
from the mid 1990's and the benefit of his wisdom to start me off, for which I am
grateful. Dr Ken Adams has been a tremendous help and has visited to confirm, or
otherwise, some difficult plant identifications, as well as providing me with the
provisional TQ58 list for Atlas 2000, which has been even more useful than the old
lists. The Rangers at the Park have been very supportive in all kinds of ways and
show lots of interest in our efforts, as well as incorporating our findings into their
work such as not planting trees on top of Lathyrus aphaca, but putting them
elsewhere instead, and planning to thin out the willows that are overpowering the
Marsh Orchids. We thank all these folk.
Is there anyone else out there doing another Essex Country Park? Or anyone with a
similar experience elsewhere? I would be pleased to get in touch with you to share
ideas or methods etc. I find that this task contributes very well to an active retirement!
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 33, September 2000
17