Derbyshire Caving Association
Information Circular 2006/2, February / March 2006
NEXT DCA MEETING
DCA Open Council Meeting, 10am. 22 April 2006 at Monyash Village Hall
A major topic at this meeting will be the proposed new “Caves of the Peak District”, on which work is already well in hand, together with a proposal for a new format for the DCA Handbook.
The Hall will be open from about 9.30am with tea, coffee and biscuits available. The Old Smithy Cafe, next to the Pub, does an excellent breakfast from about 9am.
Remember that Council Meetings are open to ALL members.
Meetings arranged for the coming year, all at 10am on Saturdays at Monyash Village Hall, are:
Council Meetings -1 July 2006 and 4 November 2006,
AGM 2007 -24 February 2007.
MANIFOLD VALLEY CAVES - ACCESS UPDATE
Firstly, many thanks to Martin Milner who has been working on restoring entrances and improving access to the Manifold Valley caves. A number of cave entrances are actually in the bed of the river and these have been affected by stones and rubbish washed in by flooding or by curious members of the public poking around and dropping rocks in to “see how far they go”. Martin has been liaising with the National Trust on installing grilles or manhole covers, as appropriate, to prevent this problem.
Darfar Ridge Cave now has a locked lid to protect delicate formations, which have recently been cleaned and taped. For access, please contact the South Peak Office of the National Trust for permission: either phone 01335-350503 during working hours or email ilampark @ nationaltrust.org.uk to arrange to collect a key.
If farmland needs to be crossed to access caves in the main sink area, such as Darfar Pot, ask permission at Dale Farm; though access can be gained along the dry river bed in summer.
Some caves already, or will shortly, require a “Derbyshire key”: a large adjustable spanner to undo the bolts holding a grille in place. Don’t forget to replace any bolts after your visit and please ensure that they are done up tightly so that they cannot be undone by fingers alone. Sites in this category include Darfar Crag Swallet, Mill Cave and Pot, Hoo Valley Mine, Redhurst Swallet.
Bolts will shortly be installed on the lid of Waterways Swallet, which in future will require a ”Derbyshire key” to obtain access -usual system, please replace and tighten the bolts after your visit. This is being done at the request of the landowner to ensure that there is no danger to the public. Advance permission is not required to visit the cave -simply park in the designated area (not on the roadside) and follow the directions given in the DCA Handbook on page 2:12.
UK CAVE CONSERVATION EMERGENCY FUND
The constitution of the UKCCEF is currently being looked at with a view to updating it. The aim is to make the Fund more accountable and to encourage cavers to make use of it and also to donate money to it to help others. There is a new website giving details of how the fund works and what it has been used for in the past: www.ukccef.org.uk. (Note that this supersedes any former website.) Remember that a loan of £1000 from this fund in 2001 solved a “cash flow” for DCA and enabled us to carry out the work on Jug Holes. The loan was repaid, together with a donation of £50, as soon as DCA received its grant from EN.
HIDDEN EARTH 2006 COMES TO THE PEAK DISTRICT
Hidden Earth 2006 will be held on 22nd. -24th. September at Leek High School, Staffs.
For further information go to www.hidden-earth.org.uk
BCA PAID POST
Following the resignation of Lynne Bailey, BCA is looking for a new Membership Administrator. The post is that of a home-based, part-time employee of the Association, with BCA providing equipment and materials and paying expenses plus a salary calculated on the basis of hours worked. Duties include responding to BCRA and BCA members’ queries via e-mail, post and telephone, issuing membership cards and maintaining membership databases. Pay is competitive for the type of work concerned.
For details and to express an interest in the position, please contact Nick Williams at the BCA office: Old Methodist Chapel, Great Hucklow, Buxton. SK17 8RG. It would be helpful if anyone interested could contact Nick as soon as possible; preferably by 10th. April but not later than 14th. April.
NEWS FROM BCA
BCA Website: www.british-caving.org.uk
The BCA website continues to grow and now has an extensive section on Equipment including details on bolting with P-hangers, care of equipment and ropes, rope testing, etc. Well worth checking out by both individual cavers and club tackle officers. There are now a number of on-line forums you can join, including one on regional councils. All forums are moderated and you will need to register before you can make a posting. Don’t forget that BCA is also offering web-hosting for caving clubs and individual cavers at special rates. For details of this service, contact the BCA webmaster: webmaster @ british-caving.org.uk.
BCA Grant Aid
Despite the planned withdrawal of all UK Sports Council grant aid to BCA later this year, for the present grants towards caver training courses are still available. Nigel Atkins’ very successful DCA/BCA Cavers Workshop, which took place on 11/12 March this year, has been grant aided by £300 from BCA and the grant is already in DCA’s bank account. DCA has also now received £500 from BCA as the first instalment of its administration grant for 2006, replacing the Club and Associate Member subscriptions which used to be paid direct to DCA. This is all part of the “one stop shop” whereby Clubs and Associate Members pay a subscription only once, to BCA, and BCA in turn funds the expenses of the regions on behalf of all cavers.
BCA Membership Card problems
There are still problems with the issuing of Individual and Club BCA Membership cards, which also provide proof of insurance. BCA is aware of the problem and is making strenuous efforts to solve it but, if you have any immediate problems over proof of insurance, please contact the DCA Secretary.
FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD
www.theDCA.org.uk - dca @ thedca.org.uk
30th March 2006