Cuckoo Cleeves - New Fence

[Mr Cosmic]

A big "Thank You" is in order for the CSCC C&A officer (LesW)

After a Jeffrey Archer'esque rendezvous under the Wessex training tower and the exchange of a large brown envelop stuffed with crisp twenties, a contractor was duly contracted and a new fence was installed around Cuckoo Cleeves. 

Here's the photographic evidence:-

Please could all visitors use the style in the dry stone wall to access the site rather than climb the fence.  Note the two rows of barbed wire that are especially designed to penetrate Warmbac oversuits.  Now the new lid and fence are done the only jobs that remain are to patch-up the dry stone wall, install some steps from the style to the lid, remove the old fence and generally tidy up.  This work will be started in springtime next year and any volunteers are more than welcome.

For reference, the site currently looks like this:-

And for those who have yet to venture into the darkness below the lid, the inside looks most like this:-

The streamway leading from Flatroof Chamber

Once again many thanks to LesW for arranging the fencing work while up to his ears in Hidden Earth stuff.  I owe you a beer mate

 

[cap n chris]

Congratulations one and all. Having spent at least two years trying to get the fence organised (and failing!) it's good to see the finished job - all the grass can grow back since the cows are kept out and it'll revert to primary rain forest once again.

 

[Mr Cosmic]

I think the cows are a little p*ssed-off and have decided to bar access in protest

 

[Elaine]

Oh they are gorgeous babies!

We still have a few second hand CSCC wooden fence posts somewhere - originally intended for this job.

 

[Hughie]

They've probably got Blue Foot & Tongue Flu or something.

Seriously, though, that fence looks very smart - I'll have to get the man to do some of mine!!!

 

[darkplaces]

Them's the same evil cows that denied myself and known access that time! 

 

[Elaine]

Darkplaces, come to Cuckoo with me and Hughie, we will protect you from the cows.

 

[derekpotter]

Is there still a thick layer of keys at the bottom of the shaft or have they been swept up and recycled into a new lid?

 

[Hughie]

Them's the same evil cows that denied myself and known access that time!   

It's being denied exit that may be a problem!

Actually they're only checking you out to see if you're worth eating!!

Seriously they're only curious cowards. Unless they've got calves at foot, when they can get very protective. Bulls (they're the ones with bollocks) need to be treated with utmost caution, ie leave well alone. Having had a run-in or two with bulls in my time, I can speak from experience (we only have generally docile breeds on our farm). But that's another story and nothing to do with caving.

 

[andysnook]

As one of them city boys I can say I have the same unreasonable fear of cattle.  The same cows almost prevented my visiting cuckoo cleeves.

The lack of bollocks assured me that they would probably be quite docile.  Its the way they follow you, gives me the creeps...