1
The Essex Naturalist first appeared in January 1887. This
issue thus stands as that for the eightieth year. This is a record
in which the Essex Field Club may justly feel pride. In eighty
years an immense volume of knowledge of our county has been
distilled and for ever recorded in its pages.
These years have seen many changes; not the least being that
the early parts of our journal appeared at monthly intervals, in
contrast with our present annual publication. Essentially,
however, the contents of The Essex Naturalist are little changed.
We are still in the process of taking stock of our county's flora,
fauna, past history and geology.
This should not be taken to imply that we have not progressed
with the times. In an era offering unrivalled opportunities for
learning and travel to advance our interest in nature, it demands
very special discipline and qualities to explore and study in depth
our Essex countryside. In following this tradition of the great
English naturalists, John Ray and Gilbert White, we derive
pleasure, but also contribute much to general knowledge.
To-day, the necessity for taking stock of our own county and
putting it on record is more urgent than ever. The threats posed
by motorways, major airports and inevitable urbanisation under-
line the need to record what is present before irreversible changes
make it for ever impossible. Before we celebrate the centenary of
The Essex Naturalist the face of our county will have suffered
major alteration; it is for us to provide future generations with
some image of its present condition.