BNA Essex Branch

British Naturalists’ Association

Branch CHRISTMAS SEASON QUIZ

This is a Wildlife & Seasonal Quiz for BNA Essex Branch members, families & friends as a bit of fun for those odd moments of peace & quiet that may occur amid the festivities!

1. Who wrote “The Woods of South East Essex”?

2,         Which is the largest mammal recorded in Essex?

3. Which Essex native plant used to be the centre of the old Kissing Bough at Christmas celebrations?
4. The traditional Yule Log or Christmas Log to burn in the hearth on the day was of oak. Essex has both the Pendunculate & Sessile oaks, our 2 native oaks. Aside from Writtle Forest, which Essex woods has the largest population of Sessile oak, is it (i) Hockley Woods (ii) Hatfield Forest or (iii) Kingsweed Forest, Colchester?
5. The Boar’s Head was a feature of some grand Christmas meals. It is also one of the main emblems of the De Vere family, which historic De Vere Essex wood “bredd and mayntayned wyelde Swyne”?
6. Who devised the Hedge Hypothesis (or Rule) for dating the age of hedgerows, (it carries his name)?
7. Who banned the use of Holly decorations at Christmas?
8. A plant paired in a carol with the plant in Q7 also came under the ban. It now has a solitary bee connected with it in the months approaching Christmas. What is its name & why was it not connected in the past with this plant?
9. The UK has the native Grey Partridge & non-native Red-legged Partridge. Which is less likely to be seen in the county “in a pear tree” as in the “12 Days of Christmas” rhyme?
10. Which native Essex shellfish was used in stuffings for turkeys in the 19^th century in England, including Essex? (Due to increased viral & bacterial contamination of shellfish beds, general advice if using this shellfish for “stuffing” for turkey today, is don’t stuff with it, but cook separately. This is also the general advice today for any “stuffing” of turkey, due to better cooking of the turkey with less risk of gut bacteria surviving in the bird).

Answers will be put up on the BNA Essex website at the beginning of the New Year. If you want to let us know how you fared, contact by the BNA Essex email.