2 MR. KDWIN BURNUP S REPORT OF 



(including seven members of the Vale of Derwent Field Club) 

 met at Morpeth Station and walked by way of the Stanners to 

 Springhill. Here, through the kindness of Mr. Geo. Renwick, 

 they were permitted to inspect the gardens and also the ruins 

 of Newminster Abbey. Founded about 1139, this abbey was 

 frequently raided by the Scots, and in 1335 ^^^ monastery was 

 dissolved and the buildings almost entirely destroyed. After 

 having spent some time in examining the ruins and extensive 

 excavations which are at present being carried out, the party 

 proceeded to follow the beautifully wooded banks of the 

 Wansbeck, where many of the plants of spring and early 

 summer were in bloom ; amongst them being lesser celandine, 

 garlic, water avens, butterbur, white and red dead-nettle, 

 common arum, ground ivy, sweet cicely, adoxa moschatel, 

 coltsfoot, wood anemone, wood sorrel, wood sanicle, dog 

 mercury, primrose, cowslip, dog violet, lesser spearwort, herb 

 caris, barren strawberry, greater stitchwort, cuckoo flower, 

 golden saxifrage, horsetail, marsh marigold, gorse, blackthorn 

 and wild cherry. The following birds were seen or heard: 

 tawny owl, jackdaw, mallard, curlew, cuckoo, sandpiper, 

 dipper, house martin, swallow, missel thrush, song thrush 

 (with young and eggs), willow warbler, whitethroat, wren 

 (nesting), blue and great titmouse, tree sparrow and chaffinch. 

 Arriving at Mitford, the Vicar, Rev. R. C. MacLeod, most 

 kindly conducted the members over the church, its fine 

 Norman nave, early English chancel, old sedilia and aumbry 

 being greatly admired. By permission of Captain Mitford 

 the Jacobean Manor House and the ruins of the Castle were 

 visited. After a refreshing tea provided at the Plough Inn, 

 and a short stroll up the Pont, the members returned by road 

 to Morpeth in time for the 7.46 p.m. train to Newcastle, having 

 spent a pleasant and instructive afternoon. 



The Second Field Mep:ting was held on Wednesday, 

 June 4th, at Rothley. Having to make a rather early start on 

 a dull grey morning only nine members were present. On 

 arriving at Scots Gaj) and leaving the train the party pro- 

 ceeded by the beautifully wooded road to Rothley. Permission 



