A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



NOTES ON THE BOTANICAL DISTRICTS 



The botanical districts, which are based upon the river basins, are: the Wear, the Tees, 



and the Derwent. 



THE WEAR DISTRICT 



The drainage tract of the Wear comprises fully one half of the total area of the county, 

 including the main central portion from east to west. The river rises in the highlands of 

 the west, its actual source being the small Scraith Burn issuing from the head of Burnhope 

 Seat, the highest point in the county. At its junction with another burn descending the 

 eastern slope of Deadstones the stream becomes known as the Burnhope Burn, which, 

 flowing rapidly over a very rocky bed and fed by many little tributaries from the mountain 

 sides, soon gathers force and volume. Above Wearhead (1,100 feet) this unites with 

 Kilhope and Welhope burns to form the Wear, which has now attained a very considerable 

 size. Westwards of this point extends the region of wildest moorland vegetation. The 

 flora characteristic of the summits has already been described. Rubus chamtemorus is plenti- 

 fully distributed on all the high peaks, but is seldom found lower than 1,500 feet. On the 

 banks by the streams high up in the hills the wild thyme (Thymus Serpyllum) spreads its 

 fragrance everywhere ; and Linum catharticum, Euphrasia officinalis, Polygala vulgaris, Sagina 

 apetala, S. nodosa, Hypericum pulchrum, and Galium saxatile are freely present on the drier 

 grassy places. Along the more marshy sides of the streams Sedum villosum, with its pretty 

 little purplish star-like flowers, Stellaria uliginosa, Saxifraga stellaris, Triglochin palustre, and 

 Montia fontana, are noteworthy ; while Veronica scutellata, Lychnis floscuculi, Cochlearia 

 officinalis, Ranunculus flammula, and Viola palustris are commonly distributed in the same 

 situations. The swamps abound in species of Juncus and Carex, with here and there the 

 purple flowers of the marsh orchis (0. latifolia] appearing among them. Patches of the 

 pale green rosettes of Pinguicula vulgaris are frequently to be seen, as well as Pedicularis 

 palustris and Drosera rotundifolia. By the brooksides, up to a height of about 1,300 feet, 

 the rich alluvial land left by the stream forms fine natural pastures in which many varieties 

 of grasses and nearly all the common flowers of the English meadows are represented in 

 profusion. An abundance of the beautiful purple and yellow pansy, Viola lutea, is a 

 special feature of these upland meadows, and it extends also to the sandy shores near 

 Frosterley, being carried down to the lower reaches of the stream. In the undrained 

 pastures the abundance of Trollius europeeus and Caltha palustris provides a wealth of golden 

 colour ; the frog orchis (Habenaria viridis) is scattered everywhere, and Polygonum viviparum 

 is not unfrequent ; Achillea ptarmica also occurs, and Anemone nemorosa sparingly. Primula 

 farinosa grows freely in the marshy places. At Burnhope there is a curious out-crop of black 

 coaly-looking shale where grow quantities of the sweet-scented Myrrhis odorata. Close by 

 the cliff is a natural wood of Betula, Corylus y Salix, and Pyrus aucuparia. In the under- 

 growth are found Pyrola minor, Trifolium medium, Lathyrus tuberosus, Crepis hieracioides, and 

 Hieracium gothicum and tridentatum. 



The numerous ' hopes,' which shelter many a rare species, are specially characteristic of 

 Weardale. These branch out in all directions from the main valley, extending into the upper 

 heights of the hills. To the west are Kilhope, Welhope, Burnhope, and Ireshope ; on the 

 south, Swinhope, Westernhope, and Bollihope ; while in a northerly direction the more 

 considerable are Stanhope, Rookhope, and Middlehope. Taxus baccata is truly wild in 

 several places in the district. Botrychium Lunaria, Lycopodium clavatum, L. alpinum and 

 L. Selago are plants to be noted in the higher localities. Asplenium viride grows very 

 abundantly by the burns in Harthope and Ireshope, A. Trichomanes ascending to the scars of 

 Bleak Law. Some very picturesque limestone cliffs known as Clint's Crags form an 

 interesting feature in the upper part of Ireshope. Here Epilobium angustifolium appears in 

 great profusion, the rocks being enriched with masses of its spikes of purple flowers ; the 

 marshes in the neighbourhood are a station for the specially rare yellow Saxifraga hirculus. 

 Selaginella Selaginoides is found in abundance, and patches of the fragrant orchid, Habenaria 

 conopsea. The honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) may also be seen growing freely at this 

 height. Many valuable old lead mines exist in the district, for which Arenaria verna and 

 Thlaspi alpestre have a special predilection ; a variety of the latter, T. occitanum, is found 

 north of the stream below Eastgate and by the Grasshill lead mines. 



At St. John's Chapel the country becomes less wild and begins to assume a more 



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