an extremely modified lower petal which splits to give the 'arms' and 'legs' of the man. The sepals above this lip, as it is called, form the 'head'. Many young trees and shrubs, such as willow (Salix sp.), sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and dog rose (Rosa canina), have established themselves in this grassland area. These are extensively trailed over by traveller's joy (Clematis vitalba) - a sure sign of the underlying chalk. The central and south-eastern sections of the Quarry are well-developed woodland consisting mainly of sycamore, silver birch (Betula pendula) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior), although other trees present include oak (Quercus robur), beech (Fagus sylvatica), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and elm (Ulmus diversifolia). The floor here is largely over- grown with ivy (Hedera helix), and shrubs such as privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and dogwood (Thelycrania sanguinea) form inpenetrable areas. In some places the tree canopy is so dense that little light penetrates and the ground beneath is bare. Two interesting plants occur here - another member of the Orchidaceae family, the bird's-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) and stinking iris (Iris foetidissima). Towards the northern end the woodland thins out. At this stage the Quarry floor is about 50 metres below the level of the surrounding land. There is less ground vegetation here than in the southern end but the area contains a large number of young silver birch. An area below the northern cliff face is constantly under water where quarrying activities penetrated the water-table, and marsh vegetation has developed around the margins. Adder's tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum), marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris) and round-leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia) are notable plants occurring here. In 1952, 50 acres in the northern half of Grays Chalk Quarry Were designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by the Nature Conservancy Council, for three of the plants contained in the Quarry are at their only Essex stations, and several others are rare in the County. It is 65