Open Council Meeting: 26th. June 2010, 10am at Monyash Village Hall. Further DCA meetings, on Saturdays at 10am, Monyash Village Hall: Open Council Meeting, 30th. October 2010 DCA AGM 2011, 26th. February 2011
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. (All meetings start at 10am. at Monyash Village Hall.)
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 Asst. Conservation Officer: Christine Wilson, 01433-621149, 07713-416455, both on conservation-off@theDCA.org.uk. Alternatively, contact the Access Officer: Iain Barker, 0114-264-7561, 07710-689704, access@theDCA.org.uk.
NEW DISCOVERIES IN WATER ICICLE
The following message from the Orpheus C. C. Digging Team who made the discoveries has been posted on UKcaving.com:
Many cavers will have seen the recent article in Descent of the breakthrough in Water Icicle and will be eagerto have a look at the extension. Could we please remind people that at present access to the extension is for digging and conservation only. The ladder in North West choke has currently been removed for safetyreasons and to allow time for permanent conservation taping. A small amount of time spent now will hopefully save the delicate features for many years to come. Full access will be announced as soon as conservation work and a safe means of entry are completed. Obviously this does not affect access to the rest of the known system. Thanks for your patience.
Many thanks to Ralph Johnson and his colleagues who have repaired the stiles giving access to Oxlow and P8.
Congratulations to the pupils from Abbeydale Grange School in Sheffield, who volunteered for a recent clean up in and around Carlswark and the small caves of Stoney Middleton. This clean up was organised after a group from the school went caving at Stoney Middleton earlier in the year with Thornbridge Hall and were annoyed at the litter / glass etc. in and around the caves -and asked if they could come back and do something about it! See the news item on the Thornbridge website www.thornbridgeoutdoors.co.uk for more information.
ARROWS IN CARLSWARK
Spray-painted arrows have reappeared in Carlswark but, despite enquiries, it is still not known who is responsible. Darkside members will be removing them. It was agreed to publicise this and to ask cavers' help in tracking down the culprits. Notices will be placed inside entrances (Eyam Dale Shaft, & Gin) to draw attention to the fact that this is an illegal activity in an SSSI and Natural England has the power to prosecute.
CNCC PERMIT SECRETARY CHANGE FOR CASTERTON FELL
Casterton Fell Meets Secretary is now Alan Speight, 8b Pye Park, Springfield, Bentham, Lancaster. LA2 7BA. For further information, check the CNCC website, www.CNCC.org.uk.
EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY If you have any queries or problems about Equipment or Safety in the region, please contact the DCA Equipment Officer: Jules Barrett, 07730-981857, equipment@theDCA.org.uk or DCA Projects Officer: Martyn Grayson, 07976-953089, projects@theDCA.org.uk.
LOOSE ROCK IN SUICIDE CAVE, WINNATS PASS
There have been a couple of recent independent reports about the stability of blocks at the top of the biggest pitch in Suicide Cave in the Winnats Pass: the pitch which needs a 30m rope. There are a number of blocks on the right-hand wall just before the final Y Hang with fresh-ish cracks, so keep your eyes open in this area.
DCA will be putting on a stand/display at Sheffield Cliffhanger 2010 on 3/4 July and volunteers to man stands and displays would be welcome; for whole or part of either Saturday or Sunday or for helping to put up stands and displays on the Friday evening. In the first instance, please contact DCA Secretary Jenny Potts, on 01335-370629, secretary@thedca.org.uk.
BCRA CAVE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MEETINGS BCRA has organized a number of cave science and technology field meetings in Derbyshire and the north of England this year. For details, see the BCRA website, www.bcra.org.uk or check the contact details given below:
BCRA Cave Technology Symposium 2010, Saturday 17 April 2010, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Yorkshire.
Karst Science Field Meeting, Buxton, Derbyshire. Wednesday 2 June 2010. This will be led by Professor John Gunn, and the Meeting Secretary will be Gina Moseley, g.moseley@bcra.org.uk http://british-caving.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=389
Cave Science Field Meeting, Scoska Cave, Yorkshire. Wed 8 September 2010. This will be led by David Hodgson, and the Meeting Secretary will be Graham Proudlove, g.proudlove@bcra.org.uk No details yet, but these will be posted, later on, to
http://british-caving.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=390
Note that BCRA members get entry to BCRA science and technology meetings at reduced rates.
HIDDEN EARTH 2010 Hidden Earth 2010 -the UK's national caving conference -will take place at Leek High School, Leek, Staffordshire on 24-26 September 2010. Further information will be published on the web site during the next few months. See http://hidden-earth.org.uk/ You may also like to check the Hidden Earth Forum from time to time, at http://british-caving.org.uk/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=14
caving.uk has been taken off line and http://www.wildplaces.co.uk/ is now up for business covering Descent.
DCA OFFICERS FOR 2010-2011
The following DCA Officers have been elected to serve for 2010 to 2011:
| Chairman | Bob Dearman | 01298-85594 | 07855-920087 | chairman@theDCA.org.uk |
| Secretary/Treasurer | Jenny Potts | 01335-370629 | secretary@theDCA.org.uk | |
| Conservation & Access Team | ||||
| Conservation Officer | David Webb | 0115-840-1109 | conservation-off@theDCA.org.uk | |
| Access Officer | Iain Barker | 0114-264-7561 | 07710-689704 | access-off@theDCA.org.uk |
| Legal & Insurance Officer | Peter Mellors | 01623-882515 | legal.insurance@theDCA.org.uk | |
| Projects Officer | Martyn Grayson | 07976-953089 | projects@theDCA.org.uk | |
| Asst. Conservation Officer | Christine Wilson | 01433-621149 | 07713-416455 | conservation-off@theDCA.org.uk |
| Training Officer | Nigel Atkins | 01283-210666 | 07831-449919 | training@theDCA.org.uk |
| Equipment Officer | Jules Barrett | 07730-981857 | equipment@theDCA.org.uk | |
| N/L Editor / Publications Officer | Paul Lydon | 01629-650482 | newsletter@theDCA.org.uk | |
| Cave Registry Secretary | John Beck | 01433-631732 | john.beck6@btinternet.com | |
| Asst. Sec. / Planning Liaison | Chris Broome | 01629-824512 | 07900-330209 | asst-sec@theDCA.org.uk |
| Vice Chairman | Terry Jackson | 01663-750647 | 07966-219997 | vice-chair@theDCA.org.uk |
www.theDCA.org.uk dca@theDCA.org.uk