PERMISSION to visit their estates has been given by Sir Wm. Aykroyd, 
Bart., Sir J. Barran, Mr. Viner and the Ripon Corporation. 
MAPS AND BOOKS. — Maps Nos. 20 and 21 of either the i-in. Ordnance 
Survey (Coloured Edition) or of the Popular Edition are required for the 
district to be investigated. Kendall & Wroot’s ‘ Geology of Yorkshire,’ 
Lee’s ‘ Flora of West Yorkshire ’ should be consulted. Circulars Nos. 
122 and 186 contain much information relating to the districts to be visited. 
ROUTES. — Saturday, Leave Headquarters at 10 a.m. for the Upper 
Valley of the Skell to Grant ley, Eavstone Lake and Lumley Moor Reservoir. 
Sunday. To Sawley, Pickingill and Brimham Rocks, leaving Head- 
quarters at 10 a.m. 
Monday, 10 a.m. To Aldfield for Spa Gill Woods, Fountains and 
Studley Park, returning via Mackershaw Woods to Ripon. 
These excursions require a journey by bus at the outset and the arrange- 
ments for this service can only be made after assembling for the week-end. 
BOTANY. — The district is interesting botanically and in 1905 Mr. 
B. M. Smith wrote : — The Skell valley is a delightful botanist’s paradise. 
Formed by two streamlets, one running from Hungate, the other from the 
moors between Grantley and Pateley Bridge, the Skell enters the park at 
Grantley. Opposite the Hall is a huge hill which for long defied all 
efforts to clothe it with verdure, until a shot gun was charged with various 
seeds and the desired verdant bank secured. Leaving Grantley Hall, the 
Skell runs into Aldfield Wood and Spa Gill. A mild sulphur water from 
this part has lately been conveyed to Ripon, and visions of an inland 
watering place are occupying the minds of the civic authorities. Numerous 
ferns and flowers abound, both Chvyospleniums , Paris quadrifolia, several 
shield ferns, and in the boggy land near Spa House, many marsh plants. 
In Aldfield Wood have been found the Oak, Beech, Lemon scented, Broad 
Shield, Prickly Shield, and Hart’s tongue (crested variety) Ferns, while 
Epipactis lati folia and E. palustris are sometimes fairly abundant. Entering 
the grounds of Fountains Abbey the botanist should see several wall- 
loving ferns, Mimulus, water lily (yellow), daffodil, etc. A few plants 
of Atropa belladonna have been carefully preserved by Lord Ripon for 
many years in a secluded spot away from the public eye. A few years 
ago the water soldier and white water lily were planted in the ponds 
opposite the Temple pf Piety as the results of a Y.N.U. excursion, but 
I don’t know if they still grow there. It is a place where many rareties 
have been found at one time or another. In the Mackershaw Woods the 
lily -of -the -valley may be found, while in the pastures beyond, Moonwort, 
Adder’s tongue, and Bird’s nest, Neottia, have been found. On Whitcliffe 
the spindle tree grows, while on Redbank Gagea lutea revels. Nothing 
of much note occurs as the river winds its way through the city, ultimately 
emptying itself into the Ure at Fishergreen. 
The following have been recorded : — Thalictrum minus and T. flavum, 
Adonis , Trollus, Helleborus viridis, Aconitum napellus, Actaea spicata, 
Chelidonium majus, Corydalis claviculata, Reseda lutea and luteola, 
Ononis arvensis, Spirceea ulmaria and S. filipendula, Potentilla Comarum, 
Parnassia palustris, Drosera rotundifolia, Monotropa Hypopitys, Hottonia 
palustris, Pinguicula vulgaris, Anchusa sempervirens , Hyoscyamus niger, 
Ophrys apifera, and O. muscifera. 
The late Dr. Wm. G. Smith wrote : — The trees of Studley Park are worthy 
of attention. One may find here good examples of almost all the woodland 
trees grown in Britain, Old Chestnut, Oak, Ash, Spruce, Hemlock, Fir, 
Scots Pine, etc. The route is well suited for observations on botanical 
survey. 
(xviii) 
