Local Natural History

Supplied the Roman Amphitheatre

No longer wild in the country

Until feudal lords used all the acorns to feed domestic pigs

Horns found below surface – one at Tutbury Station when it was first built

Short horns found at Tutbury Station

From which our last enclosed Forest of Needwood (or Neatwood) derived its name.

William, Earl of Derby conveyed some of them to his park at Chartley.

The breed was carefully preserved and was still kept by Earl Ferrers up to1863

Horns found in Needwood Forest

Wandered in the forest until the ‘enclosure’

Becoming more rare

Still around - until butchered by the local hunt!!!

This one was in my garden.

Now nowhere to be found

Still plentiful in late 19th century

‘Fetid odour’

Roman: Pollutus catus: Polecat

Saxon: Foul marten: Foumart

Norman: Fétide chat: Fitchet

In the Dove and Trent

‘Moldiwarp’ = mold + wearpan

soil + to turn up (Saxon)

Still digging up gardens

On River Dove, 2 miles above junction with Trent

Up to 42 fish caught in one year

In Dec 1853, many salmon were observed in the river near Tutbury Bridge