BJRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



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Bird and Tree (Arbor) Day. 



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Bird and Tree Festivals liave been the 

 order of the day in many schools and 

 villages during the past three months, and 

 show a strong tendency to increase in 

 number and importance, while more study 

 is given to the distinctive character of the 

 proceedings. In time, no doubt, many 

 schools M'ill evolve their own special and 

 particular form of demonstration, and 

 neighbouring squires and residents will, it is 

 hoped, help, as many do now, to make the 

 festival a memorable occasion for all con- 

 cerned. It is impossible to do more than 

 refer to a few of the celebrations. 



Berkshire. — The first place must be 

 given to Bucldand School, winners of the 

 Inter-County Shield, who had a great day 

 on February 15th. The feature of the 

 occasion was a cinematograph lecture by 

 Mr. Richard Kearton ; but prior to this a 

 number of trees and shrubs \\ere planted 

 by members of the team and gardening 

 class. The evening meeting was presided 

 over by Mr. A. T. West, and the Shield and 

 prizes were presented by Lady FitzGerald. 

 In addition to the books and medals of the 

 Society, a special prize M'as given by Mr. 

 West for the best essay (won by Arthur 

 Hughes), and a consolation prize was given 

 by Sir WiUiam Anson. The County 

 Education Authority was represented by 

 Mr. O. Willson, Assistant Secretary for 

 Higher Education, who testified to the 

 Committee's appreciation of the work done 

 at Buckland by Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher (the 

 Head Master and jMistress of the School), 

 especially as the greater part of the Bird 

 and Tree \\ ork was carried on out of school. 

 The local Secretary's report alluded to the 

 great loss sustained in the death of the Vicar, 

 the Rev. W. Bulmer, who was keenly inter- 

 ested in this Avork. Game-keepers and others 

 in the neighbourhood were thanked for helping 

 the team, while hearty acknowledgment was 

 also made of the support given to the celebra- 

 tion by Sir Maurice FitzGerald (the Ivnight 



of Kerry) and Lad}^ FitzGerald, and others. 



Bedfordshire. — Potton Council School 

 held its Festival on February 11th. In 

 the afternoon some hundred children of the 

 upper forms went in procession to the top 

 of Horselow Street, where a sycamore tree 

 was planted amid cheers. A crowded 

 meeting A\as then held in the schoolroom, 

 which could not hold all who wished to be 

 present. Dr. Dixon presided, and presented 

 the Shield and prizes, heartily congratulating 

 the Master (Mr. Bartle), teachers, and team. 

 Mr. W. Bond Smith said he thought such a 

 competition was good for all, encouraging 

 as it did the excellent habit of observation. 

 After hearing the essa3^s read he was con- 

 vinced that the awards were given not only 

 for encouragement but for really excellent 

 work. He hoped to see the practice of 

 robbing nests, so prevalent years ago, 

 rapidly die out. Mr. Braybrooks, C.C, also 

 spoke, and a number of songs and recita- 

 tions were well given by the scholars, and 

 part-songs by the School Prize Choir. Mr. 

 J. W. Felts acted as Hon. Secretary-, and 

 the Shield is on view at his office. 



Wohurn School has special help and 

 stimulus in the proximity of Wobum Park, 

 to which members of the team have free 

 access, and in the interest and assistance so 

 kindly given by the Duchess of Bedford. 

 To celebrate the winning of the Second 

 Prize, the Duchess entertained all the boys 

 to a cinematograph exhibition of Bird Life, 

 at the Town Hall, on February 4th. The 

 photographs, taken by Mr. Kearton and 

 Mr. Pike, were shown by Mr. W. Machin, by 

 means of the apparatus recently acquired 

 by the Bedfordshire Band of Hope Union. 

 Mr. Rowland Hill presided, and the Shield 

 and books were presented by the Duchess of 

 Bedford, who spoke of her oaah great interest 

 in the work, and paid a high tribute to the 

 work of the schoolmaster, Mr. Studman. A 

 special prize of a field-glass was given by Her 

 Grace, and a silver watch by Major Haines. 



