4
The A4 format is not the most handy for references, and cross referencing with other
works would be made much easier for some if a few synonyms were included. It is
surprising when such attention is given to G. borelii that scarcely a mention is made of
Luperina nickerlii Freyer. Although the local race has not as yet been named, it may be
regarded by some as an endemic subspecies and the discovery of this taxon originated in
the area covered and retains its headquarters there.
Despite these minor shortcomings the book contains a veiy impressive amount of data for
such a small area, and this data is accurately recorded; it is very encouraging to find it
made available to the public in this way. It is also clearly presented and without obvious
misprints or other errors.
D. Agassiz
THE WILD SERVICE-TREE
Wild Service is one of our rarer native trees and is a strong indicator of ancient woodland.
Its presence is frequently cited in attempts to prevent the destruction of ancient woods,
e.g. in the well-known case of Oxleas Wood in the London Borough of Greenwich. It is
widely distributed in Essex and is almost common in some areas.
Over the past year I have been investigating its distribution in the Braintree District, with
the help of members of the Braintree Group of Essex Wildlife Trust. This has confirmed
its strong association with ancient woodland though it does rarely occur in hedges,
usually alongside green lanes. It is relatively common in some parts of the district but
appears to be absent over large areas even though there is plenty of ancient woodland.
Wild Service in the Braintree District seems to be associated with boundaries between
sands or gravels and clays, i.e. loess/chalky boulder clay, boulder clay/Kesgrave sands
and gravels, Kesgrave sands and gravels/London clay. Its distribution coincides with that
of Small-leaved Lime. However, it is also common in Epping Forest and the south-east
Essex woods where Small-leaved Lime is absent.
I would be interested in following this up with investigating its occurrence elsewhere in
the county, particularly in the extreme north west where it would seem to be rare (it is
very rare in Cambridgeshire). I would also like to know why it almost always occurs on
the same sites as Small-leaved Lime around Braintree, while Small-leaved Lime is absent
from areas in the south of the county where Wild Service is common. If any members
have information about Wild Service trees which would help me with this 1 would be
grateful to hear from them.
Jeremy Ison, 14 Hadley Close, Bocking, Braintree, CM7 5LR