BOTANY 



now continues its southward course near Okeover, Mayfield and Rocester, near where it is 

 joined by the Churnet. The Churnet rises on the moorlands near Stoke Gutter and has a 

 westerly course of about 4 miles to Tettesworth Reservoir, where it receives waters from 

 Leek Frith and takes a southerly course through Tettesworth Reservoir, then westerly past 

 Leek and near Rudyard, receiving waters from Wolf Low and Fair Edge, and here turns 

 southward past Longsdon and then flows south and south-west through Cheddleton, Kingsley, 

 Oakamore and Alton to its confluence with the Dove below Rocester. The beautiful Churnet 

 valley from Cheddleton to beyond Alton is formed by high rocks and rocky woods with 

 deep rocky ravines whose steep banks are clothed with trees, shrubs and rare wild flowers and 

 mosses. Emerging from the hills the Churnet flows through a wide expanse of flat lands and 

 enters the Dove below Rocester. Still flowing south past Uttoxeter the Dove receives two 

 small feeders, Tean brook and Stoneyford brook, draining the country around Cheadle, Leigh 

 and Uttoxeter ; the Dove now flows south-east past Marchington,Draycote and Tutbury, and 

 enters the Trent near Newton Solney. The total length of the Dove is 45 miles ; it has a 

 fall of 1,55 f eet from its source to its mouth, and drains nearly 400 square miles of country. 

 The following are some of its rarer plants : 



Helleborus foetidus Anthyllis vulneraria Polemonium ceruleum 



Fumaria Vaillantii Lathyrus Nissolia Veronica polita 



Arabia hirsuta Prunus Padus Salvia Verbenaca 



Cardamine impatiens Rubus gratus Daphne Mezereon 



Draba muralis - Leyanus Carex pallescens 



Helianthemum vulgare serpens Avena pratensis 



Viola hirta - saxatilis Melica nutans 



Silene nutans Rosa involuta Polypodtum calcareum 



Stellaria nemorum Saxifraga umbrosa Botrychium Lunaria 



Geranium pusillum Doronicum Pardialianches Lycopodium clavatum 

 columbinum 



3. THE TRENT 



The Trent rises in the north-west of the county between Biddulph and Mow Cop at 

 about 700 feet above sea level. The stream almost immediately passes into Knypersley Pools, 

 where several streams unite, with the surplus water proceeding from Biddulph Moor. The 

 Trent now flows on 3 miles to Norton, below which a considerable tributary comes in called 

 Fowlea, which rises near the Trent source, and flows through a parallel valley. The united 

 stream flows about 3 miles to Stoke-upon-Trent, passing the town of Hanley and a long line 

 of thickly-populated country, which it leaves to the west. Beyond Stoke it flows 2 miles 

 further to Hanford, where it receives the Lyme from the north, a brook about 5 miles long 

 flowing near Newcastle. A short distance from this it enters Trentham Park, where it forms 

 a lake of about 80 acres. After leaving Trentham it flows near Barlaston, being fed by 

 waters from the high lands about Hilderstone, and passing west of Stone it flows south-east 

 near Sandon, Salt and Weston-on-Trent, being joined by Amerton brook and Gayton brook 

 on its left bank and waters from Ingestre and Tixall on its right bank, and at Great Heywood 

 is joined on its right bank by its important tributary the Sow. From its confluence with the 

 Sow it still flows south-east through Rugeley, receiving on its right bank the Sherbrook, which 

 waters a rich botanical valley on Cannock Chase, and flowing through Armitage its course 

 becomes more easterly by Pipe Ridware, where it is joined by the river Blythe. The Blythe 

 rises north-east of Chartley Park and flows south-east towards Leigh and through Gradwich 

 and Grindley under Blithe Bridge, near Blithford Hall and through Blithford and Sandborough 

 to its confluence with the Trent near Kings Bromley, being fed by waters from Chartley, 

 Bagot Wood, Rake End and Kingston. The Trent now flows west near Wichnor Park, and 

 above Alrewas to its confluence with the Tame near Croxall. The Tame rises north of 

 Pelsall in the south of Cannock Chase, collecting waters from the Silurian Hills about Dudley 

 and also from the country east of Wolverhampton and from the western ridge of Hamstead 

 Hill and Walsall. These numerous feeders join the Tame near West Bromwich, and the 

 Tame flowing through Perry Barr enters Warwickshire at Witton. Flowing through Castle 

 Bromwich, Curdworth and Fazely it re-enters Staffordshire at Tamworth, receiving here an 

 important tributary, Black brook, which drains a large extent of country about Chesterfield, 

 Stonnall, Weeford and Hints, and passing through Drayton Park unites with the Tame near 

 Fazeley. The Tame then flows through Elford to its confluence with the Trent near Croxall. 



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