This project is a DCA orientated scheme under the banner of the Underground Caving Forum (UCF) that has been implemented by English Nature that several local clubs have been involved in undertaking the work. TSG have been one of the main clubs who have undertaken this work, being involved during the Cave Monitoring work then further involved when we have undertaken conservation projects based upon the results. A brief report on the background of the work follows:
English Nature implemented a nationwide strategy to monitor caves across the caving areas of the UK for items relating to Cave Passage Morphology, Cave Sediment Sequences, Mineralogy and just the general state of the cave. DCA working with English Nature, created a core team to monitor these caves which over the last two years, this has been undertaken and great progress as been made. Results of these surveys saw many projects come to the forefront, these mainly involved the tidy up of caves, cave entrances and shake holes that contain many generations of rubbish, taping of caves/mines to protect formations, stop any further damage occurring and shaft capping.
Removing the wreakage
Snelsnow Swallet
Recent projects
Two projects were undertaken last year; one was the general clearance of the old items of rubbish from the entrances of Christmas Swallet (P9) and Cove Hole; with the main focus concentrating on Snelsnow Swallet.
Snelsnow Swallet was an active dig in the early eighties but when they left, they never removed their accumulation of digging tools, shaft hauling structure that fell into a bad state of disrepair. Several members of TSG accompanied by a couple of cavers from Masson cleared this structure, making the site save for livestock and getting the area back to its original state.
Rubbish in Gautries Hole
Future Projects
Future projects involve the clearance of rubbish/trash that has collected in the shake holes of Gautries Hole, Car Pot and Sheepwash Swallet over the years. The rubbish that is in the shake hole is timber, metal, plastic, tyres and other various pieces of junk. This isn't all cavers' rubbish, but scrap dumped over the years by different people into a convenient hole. The point is if we don't tidy it up then no one else will and it could stay there forever. This work is planned for late October 2004.
Peak/Speedwell System Conservation Work
This is a long term project that we started in 2000, it's to remove all the unnatural items that exist in the system, within reason that is. Mining artefacts in JH will remain as these are of historical significance. We will consult relevant parties before we undertake conservation work that involves clearing certain areas of the cave.
Many members of the club have been involved in this work, but I must also mention the following caving clubs who helped with or undertook work off their own back. The groups are Masson, Crewe and Rubber Duck. My apologies to any club I failed to mention.
The following projects have been undertaken to date:
- Five Arches Bridge Clearing work.
- Five Arches Lighting System removal.
- Maypole Inlet Ladder Removal.
- Ink Sump Bang Wire Removal.
- The Trenches tidy up work (on-going).
- Moss Chamber Clearance of rubbish.
- Moss Chamber Flowstone Slope washing (this was undertaken by Masson Caving Group).
- Far Sump Extensions tidy up of old divers camp in Balcombe's Way.
- Removal of old/unused ropes from avens in Far Sump Extensions (access to higher reaches is still maintained).
- General tidy up of rubbish in the system.
The list below shows future projects that we have in mind:
- Maypole Inlet - removal of old digging tools.
- James Hall - removal of railway line at bottom of Leviathan.
- Speedwell Mine - General tidy up of rubbish, old digging utensils etc.
- James Hall - Re-taping of mining artefacts.
- The Trenches tidy-up work.
- White River Series - removal of old camp, items still insitu.
- White River Series - Re-taping of this beautiful section of the cave.
- And many more!
Anybody who is interested in helping out with this work, please contact Wayne Sheldon on 0794 1211209 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it who is the unofficial conservation officer for the club and is the Castleton SSSI co-ordinator for the DCA.
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