Covid-19 & caving activities - DCA Update
- Thread starter DCA
- Start date
DCA
Active member
UPDATE 13/7/2020
The following sites have reopened from their Covid-19 closures today:
Bagshawe Cavern
Devonshire Mine
Peakshill Farm (Giant's & Snelslow)
There are specific requirements from the Bagshawe owner relating to trips there.
BAGSHAWE STATEMENT:-
At the time of writing, parties must include a maximum of 6 (who are fit and well and not showing symptoms) and should maybe consider smaller groups.
Assume all surfaces to be potentially contaminated and either use gloves and refrain from touching eyes/nose/mouth, or if no gloves sanitise hands after any contact.
For cavers entering the system, you must adhere to current Covid-19 guidelines with regard to social distancing from other people at all times.
As for touching doors, parts of the cave, railings etc - use a common sense approach to stay safe.
Award holder groups may wish to check PICA for any other guidelines.
The remaining sites are known to DCA as being closed to cavers at this time:
Ashford Black Marble Mine (DCA control access and need to put in place a new key solution following the sale of the village shop).
Holmebank Chert Mine
Peak Cavern & Speedwell (Showcave sections)
Access to sites in the area can be checked on the DCA website: https://peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves. Check before your next visit as things do change.
Thanks for your patience with the closures. We all understand that some of us, including cave owners, are more nervous of the situation than others, but your help with following their wishes at this time will have kept cavers in a good light.
Safe caving, The DCA Team
The following sites have reopened from their Covid-19 closures today:
Bagshawe Cavern
Devonshire Mine
Peakshill Farm (Giant's & Snelslow)
There are specific requirements from the Bagshawe owner relating to trips there.
BAGSHAWE STATEMENT:-
At the time of writing, parties must include a maximum of 6 (who are fit and well and not showing symptoms) and should maybe consider smaller groups.
Assume all surfaces to be potentially contaminated and either use gloves and refrain from touching eyes/nose/mouth, or if no gloves sanitise hands after any contact.
For cavers entering the system, you must adhere to current Covid-19 guidelines with regard to social distancing from other people at all times.
As for touching doors, parts of the cave, railings etc - use a common sense approach to stay safe.
Award holder groups may wish to check PICA for any other guidelines.
The remaining sites are known to DCA as being closed to cavers at this time:
Ashford Black Marble Mine (DCA control access and need to put in place a new key solution following the sale of the village shop).
Holmebank Chert Mine
Peak Cavern & Speedwell (Showcave sections)
Access to sites in the area can be checked on the DCA website: https://peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves. Check before your next visit as things do change.
Thanks for your patience with the closures. We all understand that some of us, including cave owners, are more nervous of the situation than others, but your help with following their wishes at this time will have kept cavers in a good light.
Safe caving, The DCA Team
DCA
Active member
UPDATE 14/07/2020
Water Icicle Close Cavern (Warden Trips):
The main part of Water Icicle itself can be entered with no problem and no prior permission is required as long as people don't take vehicles up the track. However, warden led trips into the New Extensions are not possible at present. This because there is no air movement in this part of the system and hence there is an enhanced risk of virus transmission.
Water Icicle Close Cavern (Warden Trips):
The main part of Water Icicle itself can be entered with no problem and no prior permission is required as long as people don't take vehicles up the track. However, warden led trips into the New Extensions are not possible at present. This because there is no air movement in this part of the system and hence there is an enhanced risk of virus transmission.
A_Northerner
Active member
Holme Bank Chert mine is open with access organised as usual - I was down there on Tuesday and everything was as normal. We parked up above Joe's studio rather than in the car park out of courtesy as they were still working there but other than that very happy to allow access.
Pete K
Well-known member
Thanks for that. Good to know all is well there.A_Northerner said:
Currently the only closure DCA is aware of is Ashford Black Marble Mine (needs a new locking mechanism anyway)
There are modified access requirements for Bagshawe Cavern and Peak Cavern.
Apart from those, we seem to be back to normal with access now.
