BOTANY now continues its southward course near Okeover, Mayfield and Rocester, near where it is joined by the Churnet. The Churnet rises on the moorlands near Stoke Gutter and has a westerly course of about 4 miles to Tettesworth Reservoir, where it receives waters from Leek Frith and takes a southerly course through Tettesworth Reservoir, then westerly past Leek and near Rudyard, receiving waters from Wolf Low and Fair Edge, and here turns southward past Longsdon and then flows south and south-west through Cheddleton, Kingsley, Oakamore and Alton to its confluence with the Dove below Rocester. The beautiful Churnet valley from Cheddleton to beyond Alton is formed by high rocks and rocky woods with deep rocky ravines whose steep banks are clothed with trees, shrubs and rare wild flowers and mosses. Emerging from the hills the Churnet flows through a wide expanse of flat lands and enters the Dove below Rocester. Still flowing south past Uttoxeter the Dove receives two small feeders, Tean brook and Stoneyford brook, draining the country around Cheadle, Leigh and Uttoxeter ; the Dove now flows south-east past Marchington,Draycote and Tutbury, and enters the Trent near Newton Solney. The total length of the Dove is 45 miles ; it has a fall of 1,55 f eet from its source to its mouth, and drains nearly 400 square miles of country. The following are some of its rarer plants : Helleborus foetidus Anthyllis vulneraria Polemonium ceruleum Fumaria Vaillantii Lathyrus Nissolia Veronica polita Arabia hirsuta Prunus Padus Salvia Verbenaca Cardamine impatiens Rubus gratus Daphne Mezereon Draba muralis - Leyanus Carex pallescens Helianthemum vulgare serpens Avena pratensis Viola hirta - saxatilis Melica nutans Silene nutans Rosa involuta Polypodtum calcareum Stellaria nemorum Saxifraga umbrosa Botrychium Lunaria Geranium pusillum Doronicum Pardialianches Lycopodium clavatum columbinum 3. THE TRENT The Trent rises in the north-west of the county between Biddulph and Mow Cop at about 700 feet above sea level. The stream almost immediately passes into Knypersley Pools, where several streams unite, with the surplus water proceeding from Biddulph Moor. The Trent now flows on 3 miles to Norton, below which a considerable tributary comes in called Fowlea, which rises near the Trent source, and flows through a parallel valley. The united stream flows about 3 miles to Stoke-upon-Trent, passing the town of Hanley and a long line of thickly-populated country, which it leaves to the west. Beyond Stoke it flows 2 miles further to Hanford, where it receives the Lyme from the north, a brook about 5 miles long flowing near Newcastle. A short distance from this it enters Trentham Park, where it forms a lake of about 80 acres. After leaving Trentham it flows near Barlaston, being fed by waters from the high lands about Hilderstone, and passing west of Stone it flows south-east near Sandon, Salt and Weston-on-Trent, being joined by Amerton brook and Gayton brook on its left bank and waters from Ingestre and Tixall on its right bank, and at Great Heywood is joined on its right bank by its important tributary the Sow. From its confluence with the Sow it still flows south-east through Rugeley, receiving on its right bank the Sherbrook, which waters a rich botanical valley on Cannock Chase, and flowing through Armitage its course becomes more easterly by Pipe Ridware, where it is joined by the river Blythe. The Blythe rises north-east of Chartley Park and flows south-east towards Leigh and through Gradwich and Grindley under Blithe Bridge, near Blithford Hall and through Blithford and Sandborough to its confluence with the Trent near Kings Bromley, being fed by waters from Chartley, Bagot Wood, Rake End and Kingston. The Trent now flows west near Wichnor Park, and above Alrewas to its confluence with the Tame near Croxall. The Tame rises north of Pelsall in the south of Cannock Chase, collecting waters from the Silurian Hills about Dudley and also from the country east of Wolverhampton and from the western ridge of Hamstead Hill and Walsall. These numerous feeders join the Tame near West Bromwich, and the Tame flowing through Perry Barr enters Warwickshire at Witton. Flowing through Castle Bromwich, Curdworth and Fazely it re-enters Staffordshire at Tamworth, receiving here an important tributary, Black brook, which drains a large extent of country about Chesterfield, Stonnall, Weeford and Hints, and passing through Drayton Park unites with the Tame near Fazeley. The Tame then flows through Elford to its confluence with the Trent near Croxall. 47
