140 H. GOSSELIN — OX THE EIVEE ASH. 



After passing Blakesware the Ash receives another tributary 

 bourne, called Nimney or Nimley, which may be traced through 

 "Wareside and Babs Green for some distance to the north of the 

 Buntingford Branch of the Great Eastern Eailway, about midway 

 between the stations of Hadham and Standon. This is perhaps 

 the most charming of any of our bournes. For a considerable 

 distance it runs at the bottom of a deep ravine, where wild flowers 

 abound and high trees overshadow the steep banks. In winter- 

 time and after a heavy rain a considerable quantity of water flows 

 down this bourne, but during the greater portion of the year it is 

 completely dry. Our river next flows through Mardox and the 

 lower portion of Easneye Park, where a large sheet of ornamental 

 water has been formed, and empties itself into the old bed of the 

 Lea nearly opposite the village of Amwell. As we approach this 

 latter river, our valley becomes much broader and the scenery pro- 

 portionately finer. One of the best views in the County is obtained 

 from the hill dividing the two rivers behind Widbury Farm. 



Before bringing this paper to a close, a few words on the fish 

 and Avater-fowl may not be out of place. Formerly there were 

 plenty of trout in the river between the two Hadhams, but now no 

 fish can be found there. Trout, however, are still sometimes 

 caiight in the water below Much Hadham Rectory. Above Hadham 

 Mill Farm, jack are occasionally caught weighing as much as 6lbs. 

 Between this farm and the railway-bridge near Widford are a few 

 trout, but generally not larger than 2ilbs. They seldom appear in 

 the deeper water below the bridge, where the current is checked 

 by the Widford Mill floodgates, but in this portion of the river 

 are a few rudd ; and dace, perch, and roach abound. On the lower 

 side of Widford Mill and under Easneye Park, where there is a 

 clear and rapid stream, trout again make their appearance. Our 

 chief water-fowl are dabchicks and moorhens ; they are especially 

 plentiful in the waters near Widford, and I am glad to say that 

 the kingfisher is by no means a rara avis in the valley. 



With regard to the flora of the district, the late Mr. R. A. 

 Pryor, in a paper read before this Society in 1875, tells us that the 

 true forget-me-not {Myosotis sylvatica) grows wild only in this valley. 



In concluding this paper, I feel bound to state that my best 

 thanks are due to Mr. R. B. Croft, one of the honorary secretaries 

 of this Society, and Mr. Charles Gayton of Much Hadham, for 

 their valuable assistance in supplying me with information con- 

 cerning this valley. At the same time I cannot but express my 

 regret that, owing to my lack of knowledge of the science for which 

 this Society is justly celebrated, I have been unable to place before 

 its members a more interesting account of the Valley of the Ash. 



