It has been some time since anything was published in the Newsletter about the work of the Survey Team, but its members have not been idle. Since early Spring these dedicated volunteers, in the company of Warden Rachel Sharp, have spent every other Tuesday morning at work in the Wood. Sometimes they are carrying out quantitative surveys to record the approximate percentage cover that each plant species displays in quadrats measuring one square metre. (A 'quadrat' can be an area of land or a portable frame for delineating that area.) The quadrats are set out evenly along a line running in a particular direction, which is recorded. A post is inserted at each end of the line, and it is hoped that these can be relocated and-the estimates repeated at regular time intervals, to indicate how the wild flowers are developing.

At other times, when a particular area is examined and a record made of the species found there, the surveys are more qualitative in nature. We are still learning, and we need to make frequent references to textbooks. All our sightings have been recorded and are kept on file in the-Centre. Eventually all the information will be put into a computer~ for easy access. We hope to be carrying out more surveys on Norsey Wood's fauna, such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians and the many insects to be found there. Most of the ponds have been dipped and the pond dwellers listed.

So if on a Tuesday morning you see a small group of people in the Wood, carrying between them text books, a rope, a quadrat, a compass, a magnifying glass and paper and pencil, you will have some idea of what they are doing. If you feel like joining our group, you will be welcomed with open arms. Should you have any specialist knowledge, so much the better, but if you want to learn about plant identification and are still unable to tell the difference between a Willow Herb and a Foxglove, here is your chance. We would particularly welcome anyone with the skills to identify different types of mosses, liverworts and ferns: there is a rich diversity of these plants in Norsey Wood.

If you see anything that strikes you as unusual, please notify the Warden.