DerbysErfine Caver No. 113

D !i\ at-rc*l \

The newsletter of the DERBYSHIRE CAVING ASSOCIATION TITE DERBYSHIRE CAVER SPRING 2OO2 No.113

EDITOR: Alan Keen, 130, Whitehitl Road, Ellistown Coalville, Leicester, LE67 lEp TEL: 01530-264199, lil4obile:07967979081, E-MAIL: [email protected]

COPY DATE FOR TI{E NEXT ISSI]E IS 25ih MAY 2OO2

Material for inclusion can be sent hand-writteq phoned irL sent on disk (Word format ifpossible & Jpeg pictures) or e-mailed. Subscription to this publication is €7 for four issues, see back page for details. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those ofthe Editor or ofthe DCA. The DCA website is at www.theDCA.org.uk

Cover Picture: Admidng stemples in Odin Mine, Castleton. Photo by Anthony Botham

CONTENTS PAGE PAGE I Jug Holes shaft restoration project 7 Clean ups/Eco-Hangers & Ropes 3 Mandale Mine 9 DCRO callout rcports and information

Peak Cavem round-up 10 Going Quackers! 4 DCA policy on CroW 2000 11 Late News: Peak Season extended 6 Jug Holes/Hillocks/F&M news Dowsing in the Hamps & Manifold

DAVB EDWARDS & ASSOCIATBS OUTDOOR ADVENTT]RE ACTTYTTY PROYIDER & CONSI]LTANT

1 Sycamore Barn, OffMain Road, Taddington, Buxton, DERBYSIIIRE, SK17 9TR TeVFax. 01298 85375 Mobile 07808 181E0r E-rnail. [email protected] Website. w*ry.dave.edwardsandassociates.net

CAVING TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING TO THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARI) FOR INDMDUALS, cROUpS AND CLUBS.

sRT, RIGGING & SELF RESCUE

LADDER AND LIFELII\E

CLASSIC CAVING COIIRSES (in the UK & France)

TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT FOR TIIE CIC AND LCMLA SCIIEMES

Just give me a call to discuss your training requirements. November 24th and 25th 2OO1

ot far from the end of the adit in Jugholes is a 'l3m shaft to surface. Shafts dropping onto horizontal passage such as this are rare and offer ideal opportunities for training, but the heavy concrete sleepers covering the shaft top made access difficult and the ginging was becoming more and more dangerously loose and unstable. Consequently it has seen little use in recent years.

During the recent restoration of the Adit (Derbyshire Caver 112) a small team was despatched to make good the ginging, but a close inspection revealed a perilous state of affairs with significant deterioration and much "hanging death". lt was obviously going to need a lot of work, so the sleepers were carefully shuflled back into place and plans made to return later in the month with appropriate materials and equipment.

Fortunately John Wilmot, who had greatly assisted with fixing the gate on the adit, agreed to lend his expertise for a second time and a small team assembled for work to commence on a damp and overcast day at the end of the month.

Accompanied by stalwarts Jon Scaife and Ray Marsh I arrived to flnd that John Wilmot had risen early and with the help of Tim Powell had already driven over with a Landrover full of cement and what those in the know called "3/4 to dust'. John had also produced an incredibly well-engineered steel lid assembly and although they had driven as close as they could the huge pile of material still had to be transportei a couple of hundred yards uphill to the site.

We gingerly approached the task like contestants in 'The Worlds Shongest Man' secretly hoping that younger and fitter volunteers would gallop over the hill and push us aside. No such luck, and not since the pyramids was so much moved by so few and at such cost in human suffering. The lid required the most effort as it had to go right to the top of the hill. I came up with a harness arrangement made from ropes and was fooled into demonstrating it's potential as a labour-saving device. "Show us how it works Dave... ' says Jon as he followed my instructions to lace my ageing shoulders to the heavy steel shafts. , He looks like a donkey .. ! " "Yea, he does..." somehow all the stuff finished up in the right place.

Real work commenced. First the concrete sleepers were lifted and re-sited to create a gap just large enough- to take the lid and frame assembly, which was itself positioned to enable a rope to hang from ringion the frame and clear the shaft sides. Next lengths of thick timbers were hammered into place against the solid shaft walls to take cross planks which were nailed on securely. This formed a safe working platform from which John was able to create shuttering, behind which concrete was poured to form a lintel. When the lintel had set (the next day) other stones were jacked back into place and new ones built up on the lintel until all the gaps were closed and the ginging looked pretty much as it would have done the day it was built 200 years or more ago.

The second day brought foul weather but the work was completed despite a soaking, and all that remains to be done is a coat or two of paint to finish off.

Special thanks must go to John Wilmot who has made an excellentjob, not only of repairing the ginging but making and fitting a lid that will enable us to access the shaft for training for many years to come.

Also to Jon Scaife and Ray Marsh who laboured valiantly mixing and lugging loads of concrete up the steep hill. And of course to others including Tim Powell, Jim Roberts,

Andy Williams and Ann Bottrill who turneU ufito tena a hand where needed or even just to keep us company on a cold and wet November weekend.

NOTES: 1. You will need a large adjustable spanner for the lid. 2. The shaft is close to a public footpath - please replace the wire fence and close the lid after you. 3. Lower the heavy lid gently back when you open it - don't let it fall under it's own weight. 4. Back up to the nearby tree and belay from the twin rings that are bolted to the frame. The shaft is approximately 13m (4Oft) deep. 5. The work was completed on behalf of the DCA with the help of a grant from English Nature Hlahdale [rline Someone greased has recently the bolt threads on the grllle at Mandate Mine, Lathkill Dale. I know this was meant well but of course it means that the bolts can now be undone by hand. The reason for fitting the grille and bolts was to make access difficult for casual passers-by, whilst cavers should be aware that they need to bring a spanner. l'll take the grease off with some petrol, so please remember your spanner if you want to visit this site. When Pete Mellors and I fitted the grille the frame was twisted slightly, which means that one has to push the left-hand side of the grille with your foot to line upthe bolt. lt's not a difficult manoeuvre for a caver but more often than not I find that this side isn't being bolted up.

Ben Le Bas, Enqlish Nature. PEAK CAVERN ROT]ND.UP: By Wayne Sheldon

The weather has been the downfall in the last couple of weeks with heavy spells of rain sweeping the country; with water levels being constantly high. This resulted in Five Arches being ponded on i regular basis, with the weather_ outside making any trips risky, the hips that did takJpilace were quick triPs to Far SumP and back. This is in sharp contrast to the previous iouple of months when water levels have been very 1ow due to a cold spell that begun in early December, lasted into the first couple ofweeks of January; subsequently allowing the trips to be has long as you wanted. on the 22nd of February, the biggest flood of the current season occurred when the Spiedwell water overflowed via Treasury, through upper Gallery, Five Arches and out of the showcave. This may have possibly opened up the route to Speedwell for divers through Treasury.

Ralph Johnson and a team fiom Crewe aided by myselfcleared the last remains of the ladder and scaffolding from the site of the Maypole Inlet, this was the ladder that was dismantled during November, and we took them out of the cave. The scaffolding has been reused at another site while the ladders will be reused in Peak. Two sections ofthe laddeiwere left together and dragged firther upstr_ eam- towards Far Sump, to be used to access another dig on the north wall of the strJimway in Boulder Hall.

A dig has been started in the north wall ofthe Peak Streamway, this is located in the oxbow that begins opposite the ledge within Picnic Dig and bends around to a voice connection to a passage offBoulder just Hall, a bit upstream from thepoint the- Crystal Inlet Rope begins (when it is riggedl Several trips were undertaken from the Picnic Dig side but after these initial trips access was a ma;oi factor, wittr the connecting crawl being flat out and an awkward traverse acrois to the passage being required. It was therefore decided that we would dig through the voice connection to make access easier, with a ladder from Boulder Hal1, and using the recycled ladder from Maypole Inlet.

The main dig goes offthis oxbow, heading in the north-west direction, towards the space between Far Sump, the Trenches and towards Far Sump Extensions. The aim ofthe dig is hopefirlly to locate the route of the water that flows from the outlet in Far Sump, the Moose Trap water and the water fiom Stemple Highway, as it all resurges at Main Stream Inlet. The diggers report that progress is going well and are encouraged by a draught. A DCA POLICY ON CroW 2000

I have already written aboul the main aspects of the Countryside & Rights of Way (CroW) Act and its likely implications for cavers in our region (ref. The Derbyshire caver, No. I 10, pp 9-11). I recommended then that DCA "let sleeping dogs lie, whilst keeping its own eyes very much open to developments". With the publication of the frst or "draft" maps of land designated for open access in the Peak National Park, I believe my recommendation to have been vindicated. The Draft Maps

By far the largest proportion of land designated consists ofthe heather moorland ofthe Dark Peak, as you would expect. At the same time, some ofthe limestone uplands and most of the dales are also included - a greater proportion ofthe White Peak, in fact, than I anticipated. Under the Ac! land under 600 metres that is not already registered as Common Land is designated according to type ofvegetation. Rough stony pasture land where there is no cultivation and no evidence of improvement has been included, and this afficis parts of a number of caving areas in the National Park. Cultivation and land improvement explain the fragminted and apparently anomalous pattem of the mapping. This fragmentation is particularly evident around Rowter and Oxlow Farms, and the mapping criteria used explain why, for example, land at Peakshill Farm is designated but not land at nearby Perryfoot. Woodland and quarries are excluded, and this in tum explains much of the fragmentation evident in the mapping of the limestone dales. Rights Underground DCA's foremost consideration has to be the fact that, under CroW 2000, open access does not apply to below ground, or confer a right to dig on the surface. Digs and enhy to all caves, potholes and minis will remain dependent on the goodwill of owners and occupiers, regardless ofthe status ofthe land's surface. This denial ofa right to roam below ground arises out of DEFRA's own legal interpretation of the words "open-air recreation" contained in the Act. DEFRA's interpretation is open to legal challenge, ofcourse. In the meantime, ramblers and climbers appear to have much more to gain or lose from the mapping process than do cavers. Rights of Owners & Occupiers Owners and occupiers can object if land is designated for open access within 20 metres of their front door, or if they think improved land has been mistakenly designated. Some farmers, it seems, have had to be rystrained from ploughing up land in a desperate bid to prevent it fiom being designated. This provides an indication of the hostility of many farmers to the Act. Other farmers appear confused by it all, and this is one area where DCA can provide guidance ifasked. Already DCA has extended this kind of help in the Castleton area. After publication in June 2002 ofthe so-called "provisional" maps, owners and occupiers can apply for local exclusion or restriction ofaccess on grounds ofpublic safety, land management, nature and heritage conservation, or national security. Farmers will also be able to close parts ofdesignated land for short periods, to cope with lambing, for example. Liability lssues Land open to public access will not increase an owner's liability for cavers' saflety. On the contrary, liability will be reduced to the duty currently owed to trespassers. Where old mines are concemed, however, public safety will have to be taken into account. Under existing legislation, abandoned mines accessible ftom a "place ofpublic resort" must be made safe. For many years now there has been a policy in our region ofco-operation between the local authority, owners, and cave& mine exploration groups (notably PDMHS & DCA) to seal, cap or gate mine entrances which are close to highways or foopaths. The implementation of CroW is likely to focus attention on securing adits and shafts previously not regarded as an obvious danger to the public. Dale Mine Adit in the Manifold valley is a good example of a site on land now designated for open access which the owner, the National Park Authority, will almost certainly want to seal up and which DCA could offer to gate in retum for offrcial access. Bincliff Mine entrances lower down the valley are on land not so far designated. If this land is designated as a result of amendments to the draft map, then here, too, barriers could have to be erected. The gate on Mouldridge Mine near Pike Hall may in future be kept locked, as the dale here is designated land. On the other hand, the matter ofwhether Rookery Plantation at Ashford keeps its designated status or not (private woodland is not strictly eligible) has no real significance for DCA as the Marble Mine entrances are already secure. My point in all this is that DCA needs to be vigilant and prepared to co-operate in schemes designed to protect the public at large whilst safeguarding caver access. Conservation Issues The needs of nature and heritage conservation may lead to restrictions on open access at some SSSIs, SAMs, and in parts of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserves. CroW gives new powers to the statutory conservation bodies of English Nature and English Heritage. They can divert footpaths away from sensitive areas. In cases where co'operation with owners in management schemes breaks down, they will be able to apply for compulsory purchase orders. Damage to scheduled conservation sites is likely to be taken much more seriously than in the past. Clearly, DCA has to continue its policy of close liaison with EN and EH, in order to minimise potential future problems over conservation and access.

Ot cirte theLtl alional Park t'A Erralum: The Derbyshire Caver, No, 113, p.5. The penultinale section of the article DCA Policy on CRoIV 2A00" should read: Outside the National Park As far as DCA's sphere of influence is concemed, the mapping and consultation done so far reiate to those caving areas located at Alderley Edge and inside the boundaries of the National Park. In effect they cover the greater paft of our caving region. Draft maps of the remainder of the Peak District, notabiy covering the Matlocl(Wirksworth and Weaver Hills areas are not expected to be published till May 2003. And they will be foilowed soon afterwards by maps of the Permian limestone belt extending from Pleasley Vale to Maltby and northwards. The fact that, for the purposes of implementing CRoW 2@0, our region is thus divided into t}ree should have no bearing on DCA policy. The effectiveness of the policy and signs of any need to review it in the light of developments will have already become clear by the date of publication of the so- called "conclusive" maps of the National Park in January 2003. Summary ot uuA POltCy r Since access underground is dependent on the goodwill of owners and occupiers, there is nothing to be gained by getting involved in arguments over mapping which put that goodwill at risk. o Where DCA can assist owners & occupiers with advice or practical measures, especially in matters conceming liability & public safety, then it should respond to aod even anticipate situations where its help would be welcome, in the interest of promoting or maintaining goodwill. . DCA should maintain its close contact with English Nature & English Heritage, to help ensure tlat the underground environment in our region is better protected and managed. o DCA should continue to investigate ways in which its influence may be used to maximise benefits and minimise threats arising from the implementation of CroW 2000 in our region. One such way may be through representation on the Local Access Forum. . DCA should be prepared to review its policy in the light of developments, bearing in mind tlat two more sets of maps ("provisional" and "conclusive") are due to be published ofthe National Parlq aad that mapping ofthe rest of the Peak District has not yet started"

Peter Mellors February, 2002 CONSERVATION/ACCESS FOOT & MOUTH RESTRIGTIONS ARE OVER Tony Gibbs resigned as DCA Conservation & Access Officer in December. John Taylor and Dave As far as we know, all restrictions relating to Foot Mycroft are covering this post between them and and Mouth in the region are now withdrawn and have co-opted Iain Barker to help. Ifyou have any all access should be back to normal. A few sites queries or problems relating to access or may still have disinfectant footbaths at access conservation in the region, contact details are: points - please use these ifthey are there. Ifyou John: Tel. 01663-734918, Mob. 0786-6705149, E- come across any problems, please contact one of mail. [email protected] the Conservation & Access team. Dave: Tel.,/Fax. 01298-72331, E-mail. [email protected] JUG HOLES ADIT RESTORATION Iain: Tel. 0ll4-2530112, Mob. 0771-0689704, E- mail. [email protected] Many thanks to the team of cavers from DCA clubs: PDMHS, Masson, TSG and Crewe plus members of PICA (the Peak Instructed Caving Affiliation) who have restored the Jug Holes Adit - a really excellent job organised and co-ordinated on site for DCA by Dave Webb. This was a major task, involving the use of digger to excavate a trench through the slump and put in place 6 metres of720mm diameter pipe to consolidate the entrance; special thanks to Terry Worthington for this part ofthejob.

Thanks also to John Barnatt who organised and led a team on a major clean-up ofthe entire system. It is now accessed by a superb new bat-friendly gate, constructed by Nigel Cooper, which requies a large adjustable spanner to undo the bolt. The whole was finished offby a team, led by Dave Baines assisted by fuck Hudson, who stone walled and pointed up round the entrance and along the sides of the trench to tidy everything.

The team also consolidated the unstable ginging of the shaft (see earlier report) which drops into the adit and fitted a steel lid secured by a bolt, which requires a large adjustable spanner for access; special thanks to John Wilmot for his work here. The job was frnanced with the help of a grant from English Nature and a loan from NCA's UK Cave Conservation Emergency Fund.

Both the new adit gate and shaft top entances are close to the public footpath so please remember to bolt them shut behind you when you go down and after you come out - don't forget to bring your large adjustable spanner. Also, please make sure you park in the large lay-by about 200m towards Matlock from the Jug Holes footpath, NOT in the passing place almost opposite the Jug Holes footpath. Thanks for your help.

HILLOCKS DUMPING

Someone has dumped rubbish people holding a parly. Please which occurred a few years in the Hillocks Main Chamber keep an eye open here, report ago and upset the village on several occasions recently. any further dumping to DCA residents so, if it continues, we This has included some and make sure the area both may need to think of a way of digging gear but also plastic inside and outside the enfance deterring pipes, bags, etc. and what is kept clean. We don't want a these people. seem to be remnants from repeat of the disturbances ?B CLEAN.UP DUMBLE HOLE SWALLET This cave, which gained the TSG Rubber Duck C. C. have recently done a P8 clean up. They have said that, while the cave itself was fairly diggers a grant from the DCA Cave clean, the amount collected from the layby was Discovery Fund in 1997 , is accessible incredible. It may not all be cavers' rubbish but we to cavers now. It is on land owned by suspect the old clothing and carbide is!l Please DON'T Ashover Show and there is a locked dump stuff around there - or even put stuff in the litter gate on the cave for reasons of safety bin in the layby ifyou can avoid it. Instead, please and conservation. take your rubbish away with you and dump it in your own dustbin at home. Many thanks. Phone Rick Westwood, 01246-200532, PETZL STOPS FOR f15 ? to obtain key and details of access ilTangements. DCA have recently received an e-mail from Mick Brady of Denbigh Army & Outdoor Surplus offering apparently unused ex-govemment surplus FIXEDROPES-AREMINDER PeEl Stops for 115.

rryou want to rouow this up, there is a phone no., ?,:* l"TrTnffiTff#T:ffi"j"*?i3|ffi:: 01745-814978 and a website:- Any such ropes in place, even ifthey are attached to www.outdoorsumlus.co.uk. DCA-installed Eco-anchors, have not been placed by DCA and are not subject to inspection by DCA.

TITAN

The Titan surface dig has received some attention over the last couple of months and is progressing well. The current depth is 32m with an estimated 9m to go. On Saturday the 2nd February, Robbie Shone and a team went in to Titan to photograph the top section of the shaft. Paul Deakin's photogapgh ofthe bottom section of the shaft is now well known, having been published in many magazines and as a poster but only those that have been there have ever seen the top section ofthe shaft which is even bigger. Two-way radios, loaned by Hitch n Hike, were used to co-ordinate the photography as verbal communication in the shaft is impossible due to it's size. GIANT'S IIOLE

One of the P-bolts at the top ofGarlands Pot was loose, described as "the center on ofthe right-hand three ( O O O X O ). DCA had a look at it and it failed some / all of tests 3,4 and 5. All the other bolts on Garland's were inspected and found to be OK.

Given that this is such a popular anchor and ftequently seen used [suicidally] as a sole anchor point, a note had been attached to the bolt waming against relying on it. However, the loose anchor has now been replaced by DCA and was ready for use as on noon on Thursday 7th. March. OXLOW CAVERN

There are now four loose eco-anchors reported in Oxlow, including the ones on the 3rd Pitch Y-hang.

All the loose bolts are from those put in very early on - before the installation technique was fine tuned. Whilst it's very unlikely in their current state they would fail in normal use, it's probably a good idea for people to be extra aware rigging. It was intended to replace these at the same time as the ones in Giant's but tJrere wasn't enough power left in the &ill batteriesl It is DCA'a intention to replace t}rem soon.

The Eco-anchors and fittings for the pullthro' on the climb leading up from the West Antechamber to Pilgrim s Way in Oxlow have now been installed. Our thanks to the members of the DCA bolt installation team who did the job.

This replaces the dodgy old fxed ladder, which will now be removed ftom the cave altogether and should be gone by Easter.

SUICIDE CAVE & OLD TOR MINE

DCA now have permission from the relevant autlorities to put more bolts in Suicide and in Old Tor Mine so these can be used as training / novice venues. It is hoped that this will reduce the load on Giants etc. The installation is intended to take place sometime fairly soon.

ODIN MINE

When the bolts in Odin Mine were checked recently a number of fxed handlines were found attached to the P-hangers. These were not installed by DCA and DCA takes no responsibility for them.

Remembeq that any rope handlines or fxed ropes for SRT in Odin (see general note page 7), even ifthey are attached to DCA-installed Eco-anchors, have not been placed by DCA and are not subject to inspection byDCA. P7

Digging has started again in P7. The increased amount of water flowing into the cave over the winter hasn't had any detramental effect on any previous work. The current plan is to follow the draught.....

P8

P8 - please park at the pull-in opposite Perryfoot Farm and obtain permission to visit the cave from the farmer - he's getting somewhat annoyed with cavers parking up on the hill near to Eldon Quarry and walking in down the field. CAVES EOUIPED WITH ECO-ANCHORS

Cunently DCA has installed permanent Eco-anchors in 2l sites:

Carleswark Cavem Devonshire Mine Eldon Hole Giants Hole Hillocks Mine James Hall Over Engine Mine Knotlow Mine Lathkill Head Upper Enkance Layby Pot Long Rake Mine @radwell Moor) Maskhill Mine Merlins Mine Nettle Pot Odin Mine Oxlow Cavern P 8 Peak/Speedwell @lock Hall) Robins Shaft Mine Rowter Hole Suicide Cave Whalf Mine

Details of the siting of the Eco-anchors may be found in the Rigging Guides or Rigging cards published by Crewe C.P.C.

DCA has aiso installed a "pull thro" system using Eco-anchors on the climb up to the Far Flats in Nettle Pot. (This al1ows cavers to rig their own SRT rope for the climb and then retrieve it afterwards.)

Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation: Callout Reports

GIANT'S HOLE DCRO called to aid caver, 2d February 2002.

On Saturday the 2nd DCRO were called to assist a caver who was exhausted and unable to ascend Garlands Pot. Several DCRO members helped him to the surface. The original call was made at around 9.30pm and everything was wrapped up by midnight.

LADYBOWER RESERVOIR CASTLETON Sunday 2nd December 2001

Not an underground rescue but one of those funny little jobs that comes to DCRO from time to time. The police and fire service had been called when a dog swimming along the shoreline of the reservoir had managed to get itself marooned in an airspace beneath some pipe supports.

Mac Battersby became involved initially wearing his special constable's hat but changed into his wetsuit and became cave rescue. He asked for further DCRO support and a partial alert of the diving team was initiated and a controller attended the scene.

The fire service launched what looked like an industrial airbed (designed for water, mud and ice rescue situations) as a base ofoperations and from that the situation could be properly weighed up from water level. The task ofreaching the dog tumed out to be more ofa duck than a dive and once that had been deterrnined Mac was quickly able to reach the dog and get it to safety without the need for further back up. DCRO Training Dates & Venues. Dates foryourdiary, to avoid cerrainvenues when DCRO are practicing (all start 10a.m.):-

Sunday March 246 - Giants Hole Sunday 9th June - Knotlow Sunday 22od Sepember - Peak Cavem Sunday 20s October - Bagshaw Cavern

NICKERGROVB MINE - SAFETY BUNG bad air?, March 2002. Those who are regular visitors to the Bung (Speedwell Streamwa, will be pleased to know that a replacement ladder has been A party has ofcavers reported bad / manufactured and should be in place by the time you read this. polluted air in the area around Rift This one will no doubt remove some ofthe uncertainty (and fun) Chamber. A bad smell was noticed and as it has a full set of sound rungs attached to the ladder sides at both ends! I suspect you're still going to get fairly wet thoughl two members of the party felt ill.

Thanks to Hitch n' Hike for information on their website at: www. hnh. dircon" co. uk/c aving

ROBINS SIIAFT MINE - a SUSS dig March 2A02. Report from Tim Webber & Brendan ,S/ocz - .9USS There's been a partial result iom the dig in Robin's Shaft Mine. After digging for 2-3m, 10m of new passage dropping down at about -10 degrees was found. The passage has a clean phreatic rock roof with an infilled mud floor ofunknown deptlr- The passage ends in small chamber with a 1 inch gap at floor Ievel which will continue the dig. The sr:rvey shows the passage heading down and away from everytlring else known in the system. It is rather squalid, unless you're one ofthe people we're going to rdpe into helping us, in which case its a good way to make your oversuit Iook used. If anyone really wants to go down into the new bit please wait for a few weeks. There is some undisturbed mud which warran* a photo. DCC survey with SUSS additions at htto://www.timwebber.owo.blueyonder.co.uk/robinq plan complete_new.ipe

Not the fust rime you've heard that but this time its truel Ir an attempt to raise money to replace their "old van" DCRO are holding a Duck Race on 4fi August in Castleton. In ord€r to take part in this event all you have to do is pay f,l.0O and you will be allocated a duck - first one past the post gets fI0O,OO, f50 for second and f25 for third place If it's your duck, you,ve won!

If you cant find a DCRO member selling ducks you caa. send your money to Ralph Johnson . 92 Long Valtey Road,. Bidfulph, Stoke on Trfit, ST8 6QZ, and he will do the rest. Wiy not get your club to have a whip-rotmd and sponsor a corporate duckl Intrigued ? Why not pay up and find out!

PS Permissio* has been sort from the RSP(P)B and there is absolutely no truth in the,rumour that "ilientsf' who initiate a shout between now and August will be sold a duck prior to being evaouated from their predicamentl

10 As part of a "conservation. audit" for English Nature aft attenpt to establish if any deterioration ofthe two members of the Coffrn Dodgers CG (minimmr unique forn:ratibn ha taken plbce. The trip took around age of applicants 60years !) accompanied by much ten hours in total and in a race for the pub the Coffrn younger members ftom Crevre, Masson and TSG Mgers won (despitetheir Zimmer frames being completed a video ofwhat is,probably the best sabotaged) - howeverthey did leave the youngsters to decorated passage in Derbyshire. The results are to be de-rig! compared with photographs laken some years ago in Report.by Ralph Joh.nson

The 200 1/2002 Peak Cavem semon officially came to a end on the 246 Miuch 2002 but the show cave ouners expressed an interest in extending t}te season, as long.as the keyholders can run the Aips. Several of the keyholders said that they are willing to rua trips on a Sunday but by prior arraagement only, from now through to the end of June, then the season will end for the sunmer holidays, The season will begin again in October when access will again have to be arranged through John Beck at the usual addrass.

The same access anangements apply, cavers musl meet at the TSGcaung hostel, pay the usuat fees and.be in the oave by 9,45am, following the usual rules that aprply. If you want a trip, contact one ofthe following key-holders with at least a weeks notice to see what their plans are and maybe they can. let you into thc cave.

The followirg keyholders-have agreed to n:n tips

o Wayne Sheldoa - 0794 l2'I 1209, r Nisk Wllllains - 01298 873800. (daytime only) r RalplrJohnson - 017.82 5.15:153

Please note thalthere is noweekly rota andtrips,can only be undertaken witlrprior arrangement wi& a keyholder- Tumingup,s{ the TSchost€l o a Sunday wonlt guarantee youa cavinglrip; as:a keyiolderwon't turn:up:wittout prior arrangemenl Report ftom, Wayne Sheldon@eak eavern Keytolder)

Dowsing in the Ifamps and Manifo[d Area ByJoh+Witcock,

The,article,l'A spot ofhistorical hSrdrolbgy * Part.IIf' by Jenny Pbtts.in The Eerlishire. Caver 1 12..has, atJenny'S. prompting; persuaded me to explain the'dowsing.results that I, have obtained'in,the Hamps and'Manifold,Area. These results are presented without prejudice.

It is not the place here,to present a detailed,rationalb ofdowsing; this,has lieen presented' elsewhere, albng with many results for all,the caving regions of Britain. Suffice it to say. thafthe results.have prompted further explorations.that haveravealed.new caverpassage in all'cases, whichwas the objeet ofthestudies in,the,firstplace

The rocks of'the Hamps.and Manifold area belongto the off.shelfprovince of,theDinantian formation; with regional formation.names Hopedale Limestones; Ecton Limestones and Milldale Limestones (formerly called Mixon Limestones, Apes Tbr & Warslow Limestones, Waterhbuse timestone and Manifolcl Limestone-with-shales). The Hamps and Manifold rise in the Namurian (Millstone Grit) country, the Manifold on Axe Edge, and the Hamps to the north of Mixon, and their upper valleys are wide and shale-floored. Only the middle and lower courses of the rivers are in gorges in the limestong bblow Hulme End for the Manifold. Both the rivers are intermittent, with several kilometres normally dry, occupied by flowing.water only in flood conditions. The limestone stratigraphy is complex and not fully understood. The Hopedale limestones are well exposed between Beeston Tor and Ilam Hall. In the Hamps valley around Waterhouses several disused quarries show part ofthe Hopedale sequenee. Reefbelts make 1l many prominent crags, e.g. Nanny Tor, Thor's Cave crag and Beeston Tor. In spite ofthe lengthy underground courses ofthe rivers and the spectacular risings at Hamps Spring, Ilam Upper, Ilam Middle and Ilam Well, few stream caves ofsignificance have been found (the few exceptions including I-adyside Pot 096550 and T-Pot 097554). T-Pot has 200m ofphreatic passage, while Ladyside Pot has a phreaticibedding plane passage in the direction ofRedhurst Swallet 9m below the riverbed, and 200m long, ending in sumps in both directions. No high-level abandoned stream caves have been found in.the area.

At Apes Tor and in Ecton Mines the limestones and shales are tightly folded and mostly impervious, and the Manifold flows over thin shaly limestones, until at Wetton Mill it sinks in its own bed close to a reef limestone development. WettonMill Sink (097560) is unstable, while digging at the nearby fuverside Sink revealed a nanorv joint leading into a bedding tube terminating in an impassable sump after 25m. in dry weather all the river goes underground at Wetton Mill; but in slightly wetter conditions these sinks cannot take all the flow, and sudace flow continues until Redhurst Swallet(097557) about 1 Km below Wetton Mill. In still wetter conditions the river may continue to sinks at the o1d Thor's Cave Railway Station ofthe Leek & Manifold Valley Light Raihvay (098552), below Thor's Cave itself, at Weag's Btidge (100542), below Beeston Tor (10654i), below Cheshire Wood (1 13534), or finally belorv Bincliffe Mines (115536). Only in extreme flood conditions does the river flow above ground the whole way from Wetton to Ilam.

The major tributary to the Manifold is the Hamps, which normally sinks in its bed at Waterhouses (092499), to reappear at Hamps Spring (i27508) near Ilam Hall. The Hamps like the Manifold runs progressively further along its bed in wetter weather but rarely runs its full course. An important tributary to the Hamps is the stream which sinks 400m downstream of Back o' the Brook (086517). Waterways Swallet (126492) has been dye-tested to Hinkley Wood Rising (128505) at Ilam. Further risings at Ilam include Ilam Upper (131506), Ilam Main (131506), ilam Well (132506), a spring below Bunster Hill (137508), Ilam Gauging Station (140507), and St Bertram's Well on the slopes of Bunst€r Hill (1375t4).

The dowsing was undertaken over several years to sort out this maze of sinks and risings, and the result can be seen on the diagram. The underground flow closely follows the dry river beds in many places, but in other places there is wide divergence. An attempt has been made to incorporate the presumed links into the fine detail ofthe diagram. The following links are predicted: a) Sink at Rakes Plantation (120559) to the stream head at 106570. b) Sinks at Grindon (085543) and Deepdale Shacks (084536 and 083534) to the confluence with the Manifold System at 096549 near Ladyside Pot. c) [Manifold System] Redhurst Swallet (097557) to T-Pot (096550) then 096549 (confluence with Grindon Sink and Deepdale Shacks) and below the dry river bed to 110544. There follows a long section below the dry river bed, or at times widely diverging, to Manifold Spring at 127508 and also to Ilam Main (131506), Ilam Well (132506), below Bunster Hill (137508) and Ilam Gauging Station (140507). d) Wetton Mill Sink (097560) and the nearby Riverside Sink direct to 110544 (confluence with the Manifold System from Redhurst Swallet). e) [Hamps Systeml Hoften's Cross Swallet (071479) via Hemmingslow Swallet (073488) and Waterhouses Swallet (092499) to Sparrowlee (094516), then to Hole Shades Swallet (095517) and direct to Hamps Spring (127508) and Ilam Upper (131506). f) Back o' the Brook (086517) and Waterfall (085514) to confluence with the Hamps System at Spanowlee (094516). g) Wetstones Swallet (099471) via Waterways Swallet (126492) to Hinkley Wood Rising (128505). h) Small feeders from 138516 and 138514 to St Bertram's Well (137514) and firrther down the hill to 136512.

I hope that these hlpotheses are found interesting - they are entitled to stand until disproved. I am willing to enter into discussion on tlem with anyone interested.

Map part I follows, with part two in the next issu e (114). Any views on the aboye received by The Derbyshire Cayer will be passed on to John.

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t o o + f o DERBYSHIHE CAVING ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 2OO2.2OO3

Chairman: Bob Dearman The Green Cottage, Main Street, Chelmorton, Buxton SK17 95L. Tel.0l298_8SS94 Secretary/Treasurer: Jenny pous 3 Greenway, Hulland Ward, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 3FE. Tel. 01335-370629, E-mait. [email protected] Conservation & Access Ollicer: John Tayior, 189 Macclesfierd Road, whalrey Bridge, HIGH pEAK Derbyshire SK23 7DR. Ter. 0I663-iJ49rE, E-mait. lohnny@thecaver,rsnel,co,uk Access Officer: lain Barker .Iel.0114_25J"0l12. 56 Thornbridge Crescent, Birley. Sheffield S12 3AE. E-mail. [email protected] Conservation Officer: Dave &lycroft .12 Fernydale Ave, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derli.vshirc SK1r1 9LW. Tel. 01298-723,31, E-mait. dmycroft @beyordthenet.co.uk Conservation & Training Liaison Officer: Dave Webb 3 De Vere Gardens, Woodthorpe, Nottingham NGS 4pH. Tet. 0115-840-1109, E-mait. david.webbt [email protected] Legal & lnsurance Oflicer: pete Mellors "Fairview", Station Road, Edingley, Newark, Notts. NG22 8BX. Tel. 01623-8E2515, E.mail. [email protected] Training Ofticer: Nigel Atkins lYharfedale House, Springfreld Close, IVlidrzy, S. Derbys. DE1I ODB. Tel. 0 t2S3_210666, E.mail, nigel@pennineonline,co.uk Equipment Officer: Mark VJright c/o Acress Trainirg services Ltd. unit 4, 4s Mo\ybray st., sheffierd s3 gE. Ter. 0tr4-27J-1333 (w), E-mail" mark@th+access€roup.com Ngrrrslelter Editor: Alan Keen 130 Whitehitt Road, E[istown, Coatvi[e, Leics. LE6T lEF. 'fel. 01530_264199. E-mail. ala @wkeen.rreeserve.co.uk Cave Registry Secretary: John Beck Glebe Cottage, The Hi ock, Eyam, Derbys. S30 lRB. Tet. 01433_631732. E-mait. iohnbeck@classictm,net

THE DCA . WHAT WE DO AND HOW TO JOIN US DOING IT The aim of DCA is to protect lhe caves and promote good caving practice }yithin the peak District and surrounding areas. Membership is open to all clubs and indiyiduals with an interest in cayes and caving or mine exploration. Membership enquiries to the Secretary. The Derbyshire Caver (the newsletter of the DCA) has been in uninterrupled publication for oyer thirty years and paramoumt is of vahre as a forum for cavers in Derbyshiie. Tie Erlitor welcomes contributions from a/I cavers, whether DCA members or not. News, articles, etc. should be sent to hiln at the at oye address' giye or him a ring. The Derbyshire caver is posted free to DCA members; non- members may subscribe by sending a cheque for s7 (payabte to D-cA) for four issues, to Jenny potts. Some back issues are also available for sale. cunent issues of the Derbyshire caver ar€ available trom the following outlets: Hilch 'n' Hike, Bamford; The Old Smithy Teashop, Monyash; Peak District Mining Museum, Matlock Bath; Peveril Outdoor & Travel, Caslleton; lnglesport, lngleton.

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