Derbyshire Caving Association
Information Circular 2007/4, July - October 2007
NEXT DCA MEETING
DCA Open Council Meeting, 10am. Saturday, 20th October 2007 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.
Meetings for the rest of this year - all at 10am on Saturdays at Monyash Village Hall:
Remember that Council and Annual General Meetings are open to ALL members.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS WITH MEMBERS
If you have an email address, DCA has been using it to supply you with information more quickly and cheaply than by post. This complete current set of papers: Agenda, Information Circular and Publications Order form, are being sent out by post so that we can check whether we have the correct email address for you or your organisation. If we have an email address for you, there will be a slip enclosed giving what we believe is your current email address - if we're wrong, please email dca@theDCA.org.uk to give us the correction. (We'll send the Agenda & Information Circular by email as well.) If you have an email address we're not aware of and you would be happy for us to use it, please let us know. Don't forget that all Minutes, Reports, etc. are now posted on the DCA website at www.theDCA.org.uk. As always, we will continue to post out the newsletter "The Derbyshire Caver" and the new DCA Handbook when it's ready.
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, conservation-off@theDCA.org.uk; or the Access Officer, Iain Barker, 0114-253-0112, 07710-689704, access-off@theDCA.org.uk.
Please note that, due to increasing quantities of "spam", the email address of access@theDCA.org.uk for general queries has been discontinued.
Water Icicle - Bad Air
Report
We have had
two reports this summer of bad air in NW passage in Water Icicle - equally,
someone else has reported that all is clear. So be aware of the possibility and
take care.
Carleswark Gin Entrance
Collapse - Now Restored
We received a report that in Carleswalk Gin Entrance, the
rock on the lip of the second step down (the one everyone sits on and slides
down) has dropped out, exposing the ginged wall and back fill, which will start
to crumble and breakdown. The YHA group which reported it have now fixed the
problem by simply re-arranging the boulders into shallow steps - thanks!
Devonshire Mine
A group of "cavers"
(adults and kids, apparently from Nottingham) were spotted using the old show
cave entrance to Devonshire on 26th July. Please, DON'T do this, stick to the
authorised access through the gate by the footpath or it could jeopardise
access for everyone.
Youds Level
David Webb visited Youd's Level in late August with Dave
Ottewell of the Environment Agency and reports as follows: We took water
samples at various points which will be analysed in due course and which will
form the basis of any action that may be subsequently taken. Whilst we cannot
be 100% certain at this stage as to the origins and nature of the pollution,
there can be little doubt that it could pose a potential risk to health and as
such we are of the opinion that it would be advisable for all to stay away
until it is sorted. PDMHS have already taken the sensible precaution of
refusing to issue the key to visiting parties and it is suggested that this
action is continued, at least for the time being.
David will keep PDMHS posted of any developments as they occur, and of course it is imperative that any plan to remedy the situation is carried out with some urgency and is formulated to have a minimum amount of impact upon this important SSSI site and access to it.
Goodluck
Mine Re-opens
As you
may be aware the Goodluck Mine Preservation Club have taken over ownership from
Ron Amner. They are trying to maintain, indeed, improve access, whilst
preserving the mine and its artefacts. (See www.goodluckmine.org.) If you are
interested, check out the website or contact David Barrie, Tel 07808-326469,
Em. davylamp@hotmail.com.
SSSI Monitoring
Many thanks to Martin Milner Website for his SSSI monitoring
website (set up on behalf of DCA) at
http://www.peakcavemonitoring.org.uk.
DCA NEWSLETTER NO. 127
The next issue of the newsletter, "The Derbyshire Caver", is in hand. Please note that the Editor, Paul Lydon, has changed his address to Kirby House, Main Street, Winster, MATLOCK, Derbys. DE4 2DH. Telephone numbers remain the same: Tel: 01629 650482, Email: newsletter@theDCA.org.uk.
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, equipment@theDCA.org.uk.
Eco-anchors have now been installed in Nickergrove, along with a cable & ring Y-hang. Other sites suggested for Eco-anchors are: Giants (Filthy Five) and Winnats Head.
DCA TRAINING EVENTS, 2007-2008
The following Caver Training Events have been organized during the coming year - full details from Nigel. We will be giving out more details to everyone on the DCA/BCA Cavers Workshop nearer the date, for now, make sure you have it in your diaries.
For full details contact: Nigel Atkins, DCA Training Officer, training@theDCA.org.uk, Tel. 01283-210666, Mob. 07831-449919
BCRA SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM, SPRING 2008
The 19th British Cave Research Association Cave Science Symposium will be held on Saturday 8th March 2008 at the University of Loughborough. If you are interested, check out the BCRA website for more details: www.bcra.org.uk.
FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD
12th October 2007