228 Hunting Countries of England. 



Annesley Forest Plantations ; the last being an extra- 

 ordinary fastness^ covering, in all, as much as two 

 hundred acres with gorse and young trees — and 

 requiring toil and perseverance in drawing. The meets 

 for these woodlands are Linby Cross, Linby Windmill, 

 Annesley Park, and Lodge Farm — Annesley. The 

 best chance of a run from the Annesley Woodlands is 

 for a fox to take across to Watnall (some three miles 

 of open), or to round that place and keep on to 

 Wollaton — either line being fairly good, and pre- 

 senting a course of light plough and nice fences. 

 Moving southwards, we find the area of the woods 

 narrowing about Nuthall and Strelley — both in extent 

 and capacity. 



♦Lord Middleton's woods at Wollaton are fine 

 coverts, and the prospects of sport promise well — 

 great efforts towards a supply of foxes having been 

 set on foot. Their proximity to Nottingham, how- 

 ever, renders it impossible to hold a meet in the 

 immediate neighbourhood — and it is customary to 

 work southwards from the Annesley Woods in an 

 afternoon. 



Wednesday taking the Sherwood Forest and Oxton 

 side, brings us into two distinct varieties of country 

 — the former being a thorough wold, generally hard 

 on the surface, and never deep, even in the wettest 

 weather — the latter all clay land, of which a certain 

 amount is allowed to carry grass. On the whole, the 

 Wednesday country is considered the most reliable 

 district for sport. It holds a good scent (varying 

 according to soil and degree of rain, in addition to 

 the ordinary wide mutabilities of "the phenomenon") ; 



