Visit of Botanists

Last Sunday the usually quiet village was thrown into a state of commotion on account of the visit of Lancashire botanists, numbering nearly 600. It was known beforehand that Conisborough would be the place selected, but the number was greater than anticipated, and the enthusiastic manner in which the visitors went about their work and their general behaviour was much to be admired.

The society is known as the Ashton under Lyne Linnean Botanical Society, and consists of no less than 41 branches, holding meetings in different towns and villages in close proximity to the town of Ashton. For some time, the members have expressed a desire to invade some other well-known botanical district, and last Sunday was fixed as the date and Conisborough the scene of the excursion.

The visitors came by special train, and the day being finalised number of villagers witness their arrival, whilst in the afternoon a considerable number of local visitors likewise put in an appearance. The valley of the Don and surrounding crags inkless were the only parts examine, but in all about hundred and 40 plants were found, the most interesting to the visitors being the following:

Rock rose, ivyleaved speedwell, yellow flag mellick grass, common foxtail grass, two species of wild mignonette, mountain flax, great edge bed straw, burdock, spinal tree, common catch fly, wood sanicle in abundance, and the following six different species of orchis, twayblade, spotted fly, broad leafed, birds’ nests and sweet scented orchis.

botanists

After the ramble the different plants collected were arranged on a long table in the Croft adjoining the Station Inn, and a meeting held, presided over by Mr Joseph R Hughes, the president of the society. The plants were then in detail explain by Messrs Ledger, Hannan, Whitehouse, Parkinson and Turner, the latter gentleman coming from Sheffield. Mr Parkinson address on the medicinal properties of the plants been especially interesting.

A geological party also visited the neighbouring quarries in search of fossil and other interesting information on the guidance of Mr George Wilde, of Bardsley Colliery, near Manchester, but as these rocks are well known to contain but few fossils their efforts were not over successful.

The visitors left the station at about 8:30, greatly pleased with their outing.