The BCRA is pleased to invite you to its Cave and Karst Science Field Meeting that will be held from 09.30 am on Thursday 9th June 2011.

The aim of the meeting is to discuss the geology, hydrology and archaeology of the Bradwell catchment and also the conservation plan and CO2 monitoring of Bagshawe Cavern.  Professor John Gunn, whose research interests include the hydrogeology of karst environments and the dynamics of radon and carbon dioxide, will lead the meeting. Litton Village Hall (http://www.littonvillage.co.uk) will be used as the base venue.

The programme will include introductory talks at Litton Village Hall on the general hydrogeology and archaeology of the area, research into paper pulp spreading and cave conservation and CO2 monitoring in Bagshawe Caverm. Following lunch, participants will take a short drive around the Bradwell area and visit cave entrances, swallets, risings and mineral workings. The meeting will conclude at Litton Village Hall about 4.30 pm.  Access to the Upper Series of Bagshawe Cavern has been arranged for up to 10 participants during the evening.  This trip will be suitable for people with little or no caving experience. If this is over-subscribed preference will be given to those who have not previously visited the cave.

Arrangements will be left fairly flexible, to take into account any special requests from participants and to minimise potential disruption by adverse weather conditions. This event should appeal to those interested in the evolution of the Derbyshire karst landscape. Full outdoor clothing should be brought. The Red Lion will provide a lunch of sandwiches and chips at ?6 per head for those that are interested.  Alternatively, please bring a packed lunch if you wish.

Unfortunately numbers are limited to a maximum of 30. Intending participants should register their interest by 31 May 2011 by email to the meeting secretary, Dr. Gina Moseley: g.moseley[at]bcra.org.uk or alternatively please use the private message function of this forum. Please indicate if you would like the Red Lion lunch (including any dietary requirements) and also if you wish to participate in the Bagshawe Cavern trip.  Final communications about the programme will be sent by email to those who have registered.

There will be a small charge of ?2 for BCRA members, ?3 for students or ?4 for non-members.  There is plentiful parking within the vicinity of Litton Village Hall but please be considerate of residents.  Various types of accommodation can be found within the vicinity, please see www.littonvillage.co.uk for B&Bs.  Basic camping is available at the farm in Wardlow Mires for ?2 pppn or at Bushey Heath Farm, Tideswell (http://busheyheathfarm.com/). Local caving club accommodation can be found at the Orpheus or TSG.


Note:  The BCRA is currently undertaking a stock clearance with many publications either free or significantly reduced (http://bcra.org.uk/pub/index.html). A selection of publications will be available at the meeting however please visit the website and let Gina know if there is anything in particular that you would like to request.  A copy of the current pricelist is also available from Gina.  Donations to the BCRA would be welcome for the publications.

Just out of interest, there appears to be some piles of paper pulp on the fields around Stanlow dale / Nether water farm.
It'll be interesting to see where that ends up.

Can me and Bounce come please? He is very interested in the Bradwell area, particularly the hydrology as he really likes swimming and the archaeology at High rake (but the more importantly the rabbits at high rake).
I would like lunch too please, but Bounce wants lunch but can't have any.

Just to say, thanks to all who came yesterday to the field meeting.  Many thanks to our speakers John Gunn, John Hunter, John Taylor, Christine Wilson and Andrew Chamberlain.  We had a good turn out of 38 people and had a very interesting day with the talks in the morning and an afternoon in the field.

For anyone interested, a few pictures can be found here

http://www.shonephotography.com/2011/06/british-cave-research-association-field-day-bradwell-catchment/

Could only make the first two lectures - but they were great and I wish I could have stayed for the rest of the day.

Well done and thanks to all those involved in organising this and to the speakers for their time and effort into puttting together very well delivered lectures.