Scientific Society’s Summer Excursions

The members of the Doncaster Scientific Society had their second summer excursion on Thursday – the district visited being Maltby, Roche Abbey and Sandbeck. A large number of members and friends assembled in Waterdale at half past two o’clock, and some went by bicycle and others by a Charabanc, supplied by Messrs. Steadman and Sons, Silver street.

The cyclist section proceed by Loversall, Wadworth and Tickhill where the Sandbeck and Maltby road divides. One section of the party took their way to Sandbeck where they were met by Mr. Stanley H. Jones, Lord Scarborough’s agent, and were by him and the head gardener, conducted through the gardens, etc. Afterwards they were, through Mr. Jone’s kindness, regaled with strawberries and cream, and afternoon tea was greatly appreciated especially by the ladies of the party

It was interesting to hear that the beautiful water bird, the Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) still breed on the lake at Sandbeck and was seen by some of the visitors. The rest of the cyclists went on to Maltby, where they expected to meet the charabanc division, but these latter had, through some misunderstanding, driven direct to Roche Abbey. A stroll through the valley from Maltby to Roche was then undertaken.

This little valley is of much interest geologically and botanically. Geologically, the valley, which runs from north-east to south-west, cuts through the lower magnesian limestone, which here dips gradually in a direction from south-west to north-east, or nearly at right angles to the course of the stream. Consequently, the valley which has been excavated, partly by the chemical action of water containing carbon dioxide or limestone, or partly be the ordinary forces of subaerial denudation has on its left side a step outline, with bold bluff of rock, corresponding to the “strike” of the strata, while on the right side are more gentle and rounded slopes, where the strata dips towards the valley.

Botanically, the district has long been noted. Jonathan Salt, who wrote a “Flora Sheffieldensis” some time prior to the year 1800, has numerous records of rare plants from Maltby and Roche Abbey. It is very interesting to botanists of the present day to examine such classic ground, and see how many of the old records are still to be found.

At the short time to their disposal on Thursday, no really exhaustive work could be done in this way, but many interesting and rare species were gathered, among which may be mentioned;

Mountain St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Montanum)
Viper’s Bugloss (Echium Vulgare)
Wild Liquorice (Astragalus Glycyphyllos)
Pyramid Orchis (Orchis Pyramidalis)
Bee Orchis (Ophrys Apifera)
And a wild Rose, apparently a form of the very rare Rosa Libracteata.

Another interesting point to the botanist was the extraordinary colouring of the flowers of the common Bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus Corniculatus). The flower of this species are usually pure yellow, but here they were found of all shades from full crimson, through various oranges to the ordinary colour.

Entomologists had but a poor record for the day, the only butterfly seen in any numbers being the Small Heath (Coenonympha Pamphilus).

Six o’clock found the excursionists at the Swan Hotel, Maltby, where excellent tea was enjoyed by all, except a few who had gone earlier in the day, and had made their own arrangements. The total number of members and friends present was forty, and this established a very encouraging record. A drive, or ride home in the cool of the evening, by way of Braithwell and Edlington, brought a most delightful day to a close.

[Doncaster Chronicle 22 July 1898]