We are very lucky to have access to the Takeley School Records Book. An entry for 10th June 1921 tells us that:
 “A Wild Flower Competition has been held during the week, prizes being given by Mrs Oakley & the teachers for the greatest variety obtained. Winner of the 1st Prize was Vera Churchill with 74 specimens.”

(Unfortunately we are not told what the 74 different types of flower were).

This led TLHS member David Venable to wonder whether the same could be achieved in the present times or whether pesticides and the changing management of the land would have dramatically altered this number. So on 8th and 9th June 2011 David set forth with the rule that the plant must be in flower (or soon would be) to count and be listed in THE CONCISE BRITISH FLORA IN COLOUR by W Keble Martin.
As seen from the list below by selecting a variety of locations around Takeley and including Hatfield Forest he was able to match the score.  

Churchyard TL554 215 to 555 216

Garlic Mustard
White Deadnettle
Cow Parsley
Wood Avens
Germander Speedwell
Herb Robert
Buttercup [R. acris.]
Stinging Nettle
Elder
Alkanet
Bugle
Daisy
Forget me not
White Bryony
White Campion
Red Campion
Goosegrass
Ground Ivy

Green Lane 555 216 to556 218

Hogweed
Hawthorn [pink]
White Clover
Lesser Stitchwort
Dandelion
Dock
Woundwort [few days from opening]
Blue vetch [Astragalus
Yellow Pea [Lathyrus pratensis]

Field Margin 557 217 to 555 219

Geranium? Dissectum
Brassica sp
Sowthistle [Sonchus]
Goatsbeard [Tragopogon]
Rose [Rosa canina]

Shepherds Purse [Capsellis bursa-pastoris]
?Hemlock [Conium]
Oxeye Daisy
Black Medick
Tares
Dogwood
Pink Clover
Plantain
Black Bryony
Bramble [Dewberry]

Embankment: Parsonage Road/ A120 overbridge 559 220
Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre
Broomrape [Orobanche minor]
Bee Orchid
Grass vetchling Lathyrus nissolia
Common vetch Vicia sativa
Eggs & Bacon Lotus corniculatus
Hawkbit
Cranesbill
Mallow
Groundsel
Guelder Rose
Spindle [almost over]
Yellow Wort [Blackstonia]
Rest Harrow Ononis repens
Ragwort
Brown Knapweed
[all to flower in 1-2 weeks]

Path to Balance Ponds 553 213 to 548 217

Salad burnet
Melilot [Melilotus]
Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca
Yellow Rattle
Spotted/ Marsh orchid [D fuchsii agg.]

Cinquefoil [2-3 days]
Meadowsweet
Scentless mayweed
Teasel
Field thistle
[all to flower in 1-2 weeks]

Takeley Street TL547 212

Comfrey Symphytum tuberosum

Stane Street Halt TL547 211

Horehound
Ladys Smock

Forest Rides 544 210

Figwort Scrophularia nodosa

London Bridge 535 208

Watercress
Brooklime Veronica beccabunga
Greater Stitchwort
Woody Nightshade Solanum dulcamara
[Spotted Orchid]
Marsh Orchid
White bedstraw [buds]
Thistle Cirsium palustre

Sandpits 539 203

Catsear Hieraceum
Sorrel Rumex

Lake 541 200

Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus
Tormentil Potentilla erecta

Update 2014, in two days (31st May and 1st June 2014) David Venable photographed 77 wild flowers in bloom in and around Takeley. Part 1 and Part 2