Derbyshire Caving Association

Information Circular 2006/4, August - November 2006

NEXT DCA MEETING

DCA Annual General Meeting, 10am. 24th February 2006 at Monyash Village Hall

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.

CONSERVATION & ACCESS

If you have any queries or problems about Conservation or Access in the region, please contact the Conservation Officer, Dave Webb, 0115-840-1109 or the Access Officer, Iain Barker, 0114-253-0112, 07710-689704

SUICIDE CAVE: Winnats Pass. !Movement in first boulder slope!
There have been recent reports of movement in the large cracked slab directly above the crawl beneath the boulder slope just beyond the entrance chamber. This lower route is well used by novices and others since it avoids the pitch at the top of the slope. In the interests of safety this route will be temporarily blocked pending a long-term solution to the problem. Notice above issued by Dave Webb (DCA Conservation Officer) Nov 24th 2006

ALDERLEY EDGE: Updated access arrangements
(All sites listed are in the Alderley Edge SSSI.) The regional office of English Nature with responsibility for Alderley Edge is now at Wigan: English Nature, Pier House, Wallgate, Wigan, Lancashire, WN3 4AL. Engine Vein and land between West and Wood Mines are scheduled ancient monuments (SAMs). Liaison with the National Trust, English Heritage and English Nature is normally done by Derbyshire Caving Club - see below.

BRINLOW MINE, COBALT MINE, ENGINE VEIN, HOUGH LEVEL & WOOD MINE:
On National Trust land, with public parking and unrestricted surface access. All entrances gated & kept locked, with underground access controlled exclusively by Derbyshire Caving Club. Details from the DCC website at www.derbyscc.org.uk or from Nigel Dibben, 2 Kiln Cottage, Audlem Road, Hatherton, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 7QT (Tel. 01270 842767) e-mail: AlderleyMines at derbyscc.org.uk. SAE appreciated if writing.

WEST MINE:
Access controlled by DCC by arrangement with landowner through entrance on National Trust land. Guest membership of DCC or BCA green card required.

P.8. CAR PARK: Now complete and in use
The new car park for P.8. etc. has now been completed and is in use - replacing the original one, which seemed set to disappear altogether with the construction of the Pennine Bridleway across the site. Three shafts were found under the area and, after inspection by cavers, one very shallow one was filled in and the two deeper ones were capped with manhole covers. Thanks are due in particular to Terry Jackson, Iain Barker and Bob Dearman, who have kept up the pressure and worked with the relevant authorities to achieve a satisfactory solution.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITH DCA

For information on all DCA Training Courses and events, contact DCA Training Officer, Nigel Atkins, 01283-210666, 07831-449909. Coming up shortly:

DCA/BCA Cavers Workshop 2007 - Saturday & Sunday March 10th & 11th 2007 AT THE UPPER LIMTS CLIMBING CENTRE, LONGNOR, Nr BUXTON. £10.00 per head per day.
This workshop gives opportunity for cavers to gain further knowledge whilst having fun at low cost. It is also ideal for caving clubs to supplement their training requirements.

BCA CAVE LEADER SCHEME

INSTALLATION OF ECO-ANCHORS

If you have any queries about Eco-anchors installed in the region, please contact the Equipment Officer, Dave Cowley, 0114-255-1285, 07956-560055.

GIANTS HOLE - Another new-style hanger
Another of the new-style cable and ring Y-hangers is ready to be installed in the Wet Inlets in Giants Hole.

NEWS FROM BCA

BCA SUBSCRIPTION LEVELS REMAIN THE SAME FOR 2007
All BCA subscription levels for both Club and Individuals remain the same for 2007 as they were for 2006. The rates are already posted on the BCA website at www.british-caving.org.uk. If you have any queries, please contact BCA’s new Membership Administrator, Glenn Jones, on membership at british-caving.org.uk.

BCA YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
Club who are interested in taking part in the BCA Try Caving initiative may like to look at the comments posted on the Try Caving Forum, accessed via the website www.trycaving.co.uk. A draft of guidelines for clubs taking part has been posted on the Forum by Bob Mehew, in consultation with Chris Jewell. You are welcome to make your own contribution to this discussion so that we can evolve sensible guidelines for all clubs taking part. DCA will be co-ordinating a “Try Caving Day” later this summer, though not on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend 26/27 May as too many of those who have expressed an interest will be away. We need to agree on a suitable alternative date - suggestions to DCA Secretary, Jenny Potts, please.

Copies of the two new BCA free leaflets have already been posted to all DCA members. “Try Caving” is being placed in outdoor shops, show caves, and some outdoor centres so that people who may be interested have a chance to find out how they can get started. “So, You Want To Go Caving” is intended for people who may have already been on an introductory caving course or for complete beginners who approach a caving club to say they are interested in joining. It gives information on various aspects of caving, including cave conservation, and there is a photocopiable insert which gives contact details and sources of information and can be updated. Anyone wanting copies of either leaflet, please contact DCA Secretary, Jenny Potts.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

18th BCRA CAVE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM: Saturday 10th March 2007, University of Huddersfield, Further information, including directions to the venue, will appear on the BCRA website http://bcra.org.uk as the Symposium approaches.

BCA AGM 2007: 24 March 2007, 10.30am at Alvechurch Baptist Church Hall. Details of nominations required for BCA Officer posts are on www.british-caving.org.uk and will be in BCA N/L 7.

HIDDEN EARTH 2007: 21-23 September 2007, Hanley Castle High School, Upton on Severn, Worcs. Details will be on www.hidden-earth.org.uk

BALTIC SPELEOLOGICAL CONGRESS 2007: 13-15 August 2007, Visby, Gotland, Sweden. www.speleo.se/bsc

15TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF SPELEOLOGY: 19-26 July 2009, Kerrville, Texas, USA. www.ics2009.us

NEWS OF MEMBERS

UPDATES TO MEMBERS’ ADDRESSES / EMAILS
Gary Noble has taken over from Rory Gregory as the caving representative for Derbyshire County Council Youth Service. The address and phone no. remain the same but email is now gary.noble at derbyshire.gov.uk.

FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD

www.theDCA.org.uk - dca at thedca.org.uk

25th November 2006