NEWS OK OTllElt SOCIETIES 
W.i 
Full descriijtivu Iciillets about each of the Centres and about courses 
planned for the coining year are available and will be sent on request. 
The Centres are intended just as much for amateur naturalists as for 
parties from universities, training colleges and schools. 
The normal period of residence is one week or more, and the charge 
is £o 15s 6d per week. Enquiries about accommodation or other infor- 
mation relating sjjecifically to one of the Centres should be addressed to 
the Warden. Otherwise, and for general information, correspondence 
should be addressed to the Uirector, Council for the Promotion of Field 
Studies, 10 Exhibition lload. South Kensington, London, S.W.7. 
CHELTENHAM AND DISTHICT NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY 
This societjq one of the youngest in the country, has the advantage 
of having been formed about the time of the publication of^ Gloucester- 
shire’s first Flora, and so has a good basis for activity. The botanical 
section is at [iresent concerned firstly with trying to fill in the gaps in 
the distribution of fairly common species, and also with the critical 
groups and varieties. Research is also going on in the groups such as 
Aphancs and Veronica section Beccahwngu , whose records in f,he Flora 
are more or less useless in the light of recent developments. Field 
general meetings (to which members of the B.S.B.I. visiting the area 
are very welcome) are held eveiy Wednesday evening in the summer 
and once a month on Saturday afternoons. 
Sectional meetings are aLso interspersed with these. The Hon. 
Secretary, Mr. L. W. Hayward, Jasmine Cottage, High Street, Prest- 
bury, Cheltenham, will supply full details to anyone anticipating a visit 
to the area. 
SOUTH ESSEX NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 
The following Botanical Field Meetings have been arranged: — May 
14 — Paglesham. Maritime flora. June 2 — Rochford to Rayleigh. 
General. June 17 — Reigate area (in conjunction with the London 
Natural History Society). Jidy 15 — Grays area. Chalk flora. August 
6 — Shipwright’s Wood, Benfleet. General. August 19 — North Kent 
area (to be arranged). September 8 — Nature Reserve, Belfairs, Leigh- 
on-Sea, for fungi. Further information can be obtained from Mr. S. T. 
Jcrmyn, 98 Western Road, Leigh-on-Sea. Visitors will be welcomed. 
SOUTH LONDON BOTANICAL INSTITUTE 
The Institute maintains an impoitant herbarium (including the col- 
lections of Joseph Woods, Frederick Townsend, W. H. Beeby and A. O 
Hume), an excellent library, and garden. Rambles and visits are ar- 
ranged on Saturdays during the summer months to places within easy 
reach of London, and about ten lectures given on Friday evenings dur- 
ing the winter. Members of the B.S.B.I. are invited to visit the In- 
stitute and to attend the lectures and rambles. Application may be 
made to the Curator at 323 Norwood Road, London, S.E.24, for a copv 
of the current programme. 
