202 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
Oldham has a moorland gathering ground of 5480 acres 
in the Pennine Range, Yorkshire, of which 3027 acres are 
owned by the Corporation. There are three catchment 
areas as follows: River Medlock area, 660 acres in extent, 
between 778 and 1225 feet elevation; River Roach area, 
2520 acres in extent, between 690 and 1500 feet elevation; 
River Tame area, 2300 acres in extent, between 762 and 
1500 feet elevation. The Corporation own 199 acres on 
the Medlock area, 1196 acres on the Roach area, and 1632 
acres on the Tame area. 
Only 40 acres have been planted with trees, viz. 
16 acres each on the Roach and Tame areas, and 8 acres on 
the Medlock area. The water is not filtered. The Cor- 
poration have been enabled by their purchase of land to 
demolish all the habitations on the gathering ground. On 
the lands draining to the domestic supply reservoirs, only 
sheep grazing is allowed and no cultivation or manuring is 
permitted. 
Batley has a gathering ground of 1600 acres at Holm- 
firth, on the north-east slope of the Pennine range, between 
770 and 1720 feet elevation, all hill pasture with under- 
lying peat, except 20 acres of arable land annually under 
the plough, and 25 acres of very poor plantations. The 
Corporation recently purchased 600 acres of the area, 
all below 1500 feet altitude. There are 10 habitations 
(some empty) and 8 farm-steadings (some unused); but 
the water for domestic use, which is not filtered, is drawn 
from the reservoir above the level of the habitations and 
cultivated lands. Farms and buildings are carefully drained, 
and tillage is controlled as much as possible, most of the 
land being used for grazing. There are three storage reser- 
voirs, Yateholme, Riding Hood, and Ramsden, all together on 
the Ramsden Clough Stream at the head-waters of the 
river Holme, 2 to 3 miles south-west of Holmfirth, and 
4 mile south-east of Holme. The annual rainfall for 20 
years ranged between 40°1 and 73°3 inches, averaging 
59 inches, 
