years since ECC were persuaded to replace the missing stones. Shirley Watson brought
a plateful of Nostoc commune, sometimes called Witch's Butter, all wet, shiny and olive
green/brown, which many admired. Tony Boniface had information about a fungus new
for Essex which he had found, called Xerocomus bubilinus and that grows under
Hornbeam. £30.02 was collected in the donation box.
David Hedges, Senior Site Manager for RSPB South Essex Marshes, spoke very
interestingly about the work of the RSPB in the South Essex Marshes. Present work and
future plans involving public access and education were covered at some length, and
key objectives and potential management conflicts were illustrated by numerous
photographs and maps showing surface topology, hydrology, vegetation etc. He showed
how these were all important, and sometimes needed complicated engineering to improve
the sites for birds as well as scarce fauna and flora. Changes such as rises in sea levels,
accretion of salt marsh against sea walls in the Thames Estuary, and other related
phenomena were also discussed, and afterwards questions taken.
Charles Watson memorial classroom
With the money (£1200) given to Hatfield Forest in memory of Charles Watson, an
outdoor classroom at Hatfield Forest has been built in woodland in memory of Charles.
It seats about 60 children and will be in constant use. I am very grateful to Jacqui Hill,
Shirley Watson's daughter, for providing photographs (Cover and Plate 1) showing Shirley
opening the classroom at the Opening Day in November last year and its woodland
setting. It will help provide a fitting legacy to Charles, whose expertise and work is
sorely missed.
An unexpected donation
On Wednesday, 11th of February, David Bloomfield, a member of many year's standing,
was invited as a representative of the Club to attend a small ceremony at Fairkytes Arts
Centre in Hornchurch, where he was presented with a cheque for £140 as a donation to
the Club. This happy event came about through another Club member, Chris Beal, who
is also a member of the Fairkytes Accordion Band. The Band gives various concerts
through the year, for which they charge a modest sum for tickets. Each year, the proceeds
are divided up among several charities, nominated by the members of the Band. Chris
chose us, and David was entertained by the Accordion Band and met the representatives
of other charities, as well as receiving the cheque, in an interesting evening. So we give
a big 'thank you' to Chris and to David.
Correction
The photos of Soft Puffball and Parasitic Bolete in the last newsletter (Plate 10 and
inset) from the Blakes Wood fungus foray were taken by Claudi Soler, not Barbara
Chapman. Many apologies for this error.
2
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 59, May 2009