THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 281 
_ should be regarded as a nature reserve, and that the Metropolitan Water 
Board should be respectfully urged to order the discontinuance of the 
practice of shooting wild birds on its property.”’ 
“That the London County Council be earnestly appealed to to take 
such action as will ensure that the ancient Court House at Barking 
shall be maintained on its present site,”’ 
The President then moved that the cordial thanks of those present be 
accorded to the Rev. I. L. Seymour for his kind conductorship at Maldon, and 
to our host and hostess, Mr, and Mrs, R. Ik. Thomas, for their kindly hos- 
pitality at their home. The proposal was carried with acclamation. 
Mr. Seymour and Mr. Thomas in turn responded, and the Meeting ad- 
journed. 
Some time was spent, under the conduct of our host, in making a tour of 
the gardens. At half-past six leaves were taken, and the visitors walked back 
to Maldon, where the 7.22 o'clock train to town was caught and a most en- 
joyable excursion brought to a close. 
FIELD MEETING AT ROYDON AND PARNDON 
(507TH MEETING), 
SATURDAY, 23RD JUNE, 1923. 
A day of mild regrets! MKegrets on the part of those members who, 
daunted by the long continuance of cold, dull weather, did not send in their 
names to join this field-meeting, and, in lesser degree, regrets of those who, 
having joined, had to endure the fatigues of an eight-mile cross-country walk, 
partly by way of ploughed land, and in the broiling heat of an unanticipated 
hot, cloudless day, with little breeze and the thermometer at 75! Yet it 
is doubtful if a single person of the little band of 17 who made up the party 
would have missed the joy of seeing, and being in, the charming Essex coun- 
try, bathed in sunlight as it was, to avoid the minor discomforts of the 
sudden heat. 
The main object of the meeting was a botanical one, it being desired to 
collect and record plants in the more northerly portion of the ‘* Forest dis- 
trict ’’ with a view to the revised list of plants which a Committee of the 
Club is compiling. Our member, Mr. Geoffrey Dent, acted as topographical 
guide throughout the day. 
Setting out from Roydon station at shortly after 12 o’clock, the route 
was along the footpath skirting the river Stort on its Essex bank until near 
its junction with the Lea, Thalictrum flavum, Valerrana dioica, Mimulus 
duteus, Eupatorium cannabinum, Lychnis flos-cucult and Iris pseudacorus 
being noted by the way. ‘Thence the party struck inland to Nether Hall, 
the picturesque ruins of which 15th century fortified manor-house, with 
/ gatehouse and encircling moat, were thrown open to the party by courtesy 
of the owner, Mr. Walton; who also kindly showed the visitors one of his 
barns, a magnificent interior with a vista of curved oak roof-timbers like a 
church, 
From Nether Hall, a cross-country field walk was entered upon towards 
Great Parndon, collections of flowering plants being assiduously made en 
voute. On the higher ground, where Chalky Boulder Clay overlies the London 
