FIELD MEETINGS FOR 1912 37 1 



more delightful place could be chosen for an outing than this 

 valley of the Swale, with its lovely scenery and its health-giving 

 air. A small party of members left Newcastle, arriving at 

 Richmond in the evening of Friday, and after leaving their 

 belongings at the comfortable quarters of Mr. Atkinson of the 

 " Black Lion" Hotel, strolled by the pathway below the Castle, 

 which is perched high on the rocks, with the Swale winding 

 round its base far below their feet. Along the edge of the 

 pathway the mallow was growing freely. In the crannies 

 above the ivy-leaved toadflax was festooned, and in the higher 

 cracks the wallflower was in its true haunt, its yellow flowers 

 in contrast with the brilliant blue of the viper's bugloss. Lower 

 down amidst the dense foliage which covers the abrupt bank 

 of rock, the clary or wild sage threw up its whorled spikes. 

 Returning by the quaint old streets and wide open market 

 square, the party went by way of Sandford House along the 

 leafy lane to Easby ; very fine were the woodland trees here- 

 abouts, with magnificent boles and wide spread of branches. 

 Twilight was drawing in as the party viewed the venerable 

 monastic pile so beautifully situated by the rippling stream, 

 and as they wound their way home by its banks numbers of 

 bats were passing above their heads, wheeling in rapid flight 

 hawking for food. On Saturday the party was augmented 

 by the Field President and another member, and a start was 

 made up the dale on a morning of perfect summer sunshine. 

 Leaving the highway a cart track took us into the Low 

 Whitcliffe Woods, where the red campion, purple geranium, 

 and yellow pimpernel were growing profusely, and in the boggy 

 bottoms the lingering blooms of the marsh marigold and the 

 spotted and palmate orchis were found. Now a meadow 

 bounded by the circling river was our path. In the cliffs above 

 us used to be various caves, which as a boy I used with my 

 brother and a companion to explore, at I believe the imminent 

 risk of our lives. They are, I understand, the remains of old 

 mine workings. The whin and the broom were here and there, 

 and up and down the stream the sandpiper was flying. In the 

 next coppice the rock rose was abundant, and before reaching 



