150 REJPORt OF FIELD MEEtllSfGS 



First Field Meeting in Derwent Valley on the 

 22ND May 



On Tuesday afternoon of this date, the inaugural meeting 

 of the season was held in the Derwent Valley. A large party 

 left the Central Station at 2.35 p.m. and travelled by the 

 Consett train to Swalwell, where I joined. After assembling 

 in the station, the party proceeded by way of the Crow Trees 

 and Swalwell Bridge to Axwell Park, which was entered by 

 the Swalwell Gate on the production of a letter of permission 

 kindly given by the Rev. H. P. Napier-Clavering, rector of 

 Blaydon, on behalf of his father, the Rev. J. W. Napier- 

 Clavering. 



Coming immediately to the lake, several began at once in 

 search of aquatic life. Then journeying by the walk running 

 along the park wall-side, a good opportunity was afforded to 

 those fond of arboriculture, for we were walking under a fine 

 sturdy row of beeches, which throw immense branches out, 

 both inside and outside the park. Owing to the late spring 

 the foliage on many of them did not appear yet to be in full 

 leafage, but the leaves that were developed, had a soft and 

 silvery appearance due to the fringes of silky down on their 

 margins. After crossing the head of the lake by a small stone 

 bridge, the banky road was followed, leading up to the Hall, 

 which is quite a modern structure, standing on elevated 

 ground overlooking the river Derwent, and facing Swalwell 

 and Whickham on the south bank of this river. Several very 

 old trees in the vicinity of the Hall received much attention. 

 The road leading west from the Hall was now followed, 

 accompanied by grassy slopes on our right, and a dense beech 

 wood on the left. Proceeding in this direction, we obtained a 

 very near view of the fallow deer, browsing amongst the dry 

 brackens a little up the slope to our right. And then the 

 sturdy growth of beeches on the left called for further attention. 

 Although the Beech likes a limestone or chalky habitat, it 

 grows here on the shales and sandstones of the Coal Measures 

 to great perfection. In its exclusive manner of growth, it has 



