Caving & National Parks

[thehungrytroglobite]

Hi all,

I'm working on a project called Parks in the Dark with Campaign for National Parks -I've mentioned it once before on a thread here. The end product is a zine on underground spaces in our national parks. The aim is to highlight the unique underground landscapes in our national parks, improve appreciation for them, and demonstrate why it is important to take these spaces into consideration for national park management etc. Most of it will be basic information that every caver knows so won't be interesting to you, but it is aimed at the general non-caver national park visitor.

I would like to include a section on why underground spaces are important parts of our national parks.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the relationship between caving and national parks, in addition to related themes such as access rights and conservation (which organisations like CNP campaign for). Do you think underground spaces are already recognised enough in national park management? Do you think national parks should or could do more to support awareness and conservation of these spaces? Do you think the caving community is recognised as an important user of national parks? Etc etc, any other thoughts welcome too

 

[Badlad]

As I'm sure you'll know, YDNP recognise the unique and special environment of caves and the karst landscape. Due to the lobbying of various members of CNCC caving has been well represented on the Cave and Crag Access Group as well as the main LAF. We've had cave photo displays at Bainbridge and all NP staff, from receptionist to CEO, seem to be understanding of and support caves and caving within the bounds of their legal frameworks. The 5 year NP management plan makes a good mention of the value of caves in the area to, and I hope the new plan will do similar. You should have a chat to JJ as he has been chair of the LAF for quite a few years.

I can't speak for other areas but I suspect the relationship between caves, cavers and the authorities is not so good in some other NPs.

I'm sure the CNP was one of the organisations I got on board to support the BCA CRoW access campaign. I can't remember all the names and conversations off the top of my head but they were very positive and helpful people. Good luck with the project and get in touch if you think I could help.

 

[mikem]

Mendip is only a national landscape (previously AONB), some of forest of Dean must be the same. Not sure if Devon caves are within the national park, but several mines are, probably same for Exmoor.

 

[Mark]

"it is aimed at the general non-caver national park visitor."

I am of the opinion that anything that brings attention to anything in the Peak District National Park is a disaster, the PDNPB actively promote this stuff on social media

"the best place to see the sunrise"
The chaos that has caused on the roads and farms surrounding Mam Tor is unbeleivable

"The hidden waterfall less than a mile from Eyam"
I've seen people wandering down into Waterfall Swallet with rubber rings and lilo's, FFS

If caves get the same publicity we will have idiots and their dogs wandering all over the place pissing off the landowners with resulting loss of already fragile access in some areas.

"Do you think the caving community is recognised as an important user of national parks"

I think cavers are generally recognised as a bunch of lunatics by most people, why should the park authorities think any different

 

[mikem]

Members of BCA are less than 0.01% of the total population, so tiny proportion of millions of visitors they receive every year