Derbyshire Caving Association
Information Circular 2008/1, November 2007 - February 2008
NEXT DCA MEETING
The hall will be open from
about 9.30am with tea, coffee & biscuits available. The Old Smithy
Café next to the Pub does an excellent breakfast from about
9am.
Dates for
Council Meetings for the rest of 2008 and the AGM 2009 will be agreed at this
AGM.
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, 0114-264-7561, 07710-689704, access-off@theDCA.org.uk.
Jug Holes Graffiti
In December Dave Webb had another report of disfiguring bright yellow spray
paint at Jugholes - it looked like "IDGG" in 2ft high letters, plus a massive
arrow pointing down to the lower entrance! Other arrows had already
been removed in October. Any information on who these vandals might
be would be welcome.
Access
to Long Rake Mine, Bradwell
Phone (or write) to Mr. STEVEN Hadfield,
Oakhouse Farm, Smalldale, Buxton, SK17 8AE (tel. 01298-22139) at least 48 hours
in advance. (Note that there are 2 Mr. Hadfields on that number and it is
STEVEN you need to contact.) Please give details of intended trip, name
of club and numbers involved. Avoid lambing season (10th. April to 20th.
May inclusive).
Roadside parking either on Batham Gate Road, and approach via Potter Barn, or, alternatively , from east end of road at Pindale and use public footpath. Avoid obstructing gateways, leave gates as found and entrance lid secure. Mine is schedules as a RIGS.
Recapping
Rowter Hole
DCA are currently in the process of Recapping Rowter Hole in
the Castleton SSSI. The old cap is being removed, and a new cap will be
constructed at the top of the shaft. The mine will have to be closed
until this work is complete, we anticipate that this work will take one month
so we would appreciate it if cavers can stay away until it's complete - the
work is almost done now.
Suicide
Cave - Danger
A mines inspection took place in Suicide Cave on 17th.
October to check on the suitability of the cave for novice trips. Those
involved had a good look at the boulder choke near the entrance and noticed
that the boulders seemed to have dropped about 6 inches and there are new
cracks and loose debris around the area. The access hole through the
bottom of the choke is also smaller.
OPINION WAS THAT THE WHOLE AREA WAS DANGEROUS, VERY UNSTABLE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE USED.
Measures to stabilise the area are being considered but this may not happen for some time so please stay away until this has been done.
Goodbye to the Knotlow
Pollution Problem?
It appears the pollution leading to bad air in
Knotlow may have finally ceased - at least for the moment as the Log Book shows
no records of any problems for the past year. However, the Log Book is
being left in place at the foot of the shaft and we hope cavers will continue
to make a note of the situation each time they visit, just in case the problem
returns. The warning notices are also being left in place. Further
details can be found in an article in the latest "Derbyshire Caver" no.
127.
Bat Conservation Group
Website
The Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group now has a website which is
in the process of being set up. Worth a look if you’re interested
in bats. http://www.derbyshirebats.org.uk/index.html
DCA / BCA
Cavers Workshop May 29th & 30th 2007
For full details
contact: Nigel Atkins, DCA Training Officer,
training@theDCA.org.uk,
Tel. 01283-210666, Mob. 07831-449919
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.
Knotlow, Meccano
Passage
Two new stainless steel maillons have been placed in Meccano
Passage, thanks to Crewe C.P.C.
CAVING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY - HOME AND ABROAD
BCRA Science Symposium,
Saturday, 8th. March 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.
Mendip Caving 2008, 6th to
8th June 2008.
A
weekend of fun and excitement co-ordinated by CSCC. All welcome.
Accommodation at the Mendip huts (book direct) or camp at Eastwater Farm or Mendip Heights. More info from our website http://mendipcaving.org.uk when it becomes available.
NAMHO Conference 2008,
11th. - 13th. July 2008
Arrangements for the NAMHO Conference
for 2008 are progressing well but note that the date and venue have changed.
The main event will be over the weekend 11th to 13th July 2008.
The main conference programme will now take place at the Scottish Mining Museum - Lady Victoria Colliery site, Newton Grange, Midlothian, EH22 4QN, approximately 8 miles South of Edinburgh City Centre. Title: Mines, People and Industries of Scotland. Delegate Fee will be £27
Details will be posted on the NAMHO website - http://www.namho.org/
FRANCE: Vercors 2008, 23rd.
to 30th. August.
A
whole variety of events from films to Beer Festival. Around 20 caves pre-rigged
for booked access. Further details from the website:
http://vercors2008.ffspeleo.fr
BCA has now purchased 40 (full) registrations and 10 (accompanied spouse/partner) registrations at the reduced rate so that UK cavers can register in pounds sterling via BCA. The registration fees are £28.00 full and £18.00 for an accompanied spouse/partner.
If you wish to register via BCA, please send an email to membership@british-caving.org.uk with Vercors 2008 in the subject line containing the following information for each person registering:
Forename, Surname, contact email address, class of registration required, total amount you will be paying.
You will also need to send payment to BCA's Great Hucklow address, or if you request to pay via credit card, I can send you the details of how to do that. Registrations will be recorded on a first come basis once payment has been confirmed and I will then send an email confirming your registration.
Glenn, BCA Membership Administrator
NEWS FROM BCA
A New Editor for the BCA
Newsletter
After a
long and disappointing wait for the Newsletter to appear, BCA has now appointed
a new Editor, who aims to have the next issue out in April, as soon as possible
after the BCA AGM.
BCA AGM, Saturday, 5th.
April
The Agenda for
the BCA AGM should be with Club, Associate and Direct Individual members in the
next few days.
FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD
7th February 2008