History of cave litter / clean ups?

[thehungrytroglobite]

Hi,
I'm writing an article on the changing attitudes to mountain conservation and the history of litter + big clean ups (like those on Everest).
Thinking about discussing a caving example too - I think something similar has happened in the Berger? Does anyone have good sources for this I might not have looked at yet, or any other examples of deep exploration caves that have suffered from litter / detrimental human impact?

Thanks

 

[wellyjen]

The Berger cleanup is an annual thing, organised by the FFS. Web site for the 2025 edition:

BERGER 2025

 

[Babyhagrid]

Daren has had a big clean up in previous years removing the camp at epocalypse and at hard rock

 

[Logismos]

There have been a variety of Derbyshire cleanups over the years.
I helped out with a SUSS one in Nettle Pot in 2017, where we removed several full tackle sacks of assorted crap from the bottom of the entrance. Lots of old batteries, scrap metal, food containers, and scraps of old fabric.
SUSS also removed a huge amount of old digging paraphernalia from P8 a couple of years ago, especially from Bens Dig. I think we may have even gotten a skip provided by the DCA?

 

[A_Northerner]

Logismos is correct. I headed up a couple of sizeable cleanup projects with SUSS in 2016/17.

Exact details are in the following threads:

Nettle - 'Cleanup on Aisle "Nettle" - 6/12/16' https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?threads/cleanup-on-aisle-nettle-6-12-16.21306/

P8 - 'The Great P8 Cleanup - or "Trays for Days"' https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?threads/the-great-p8-cleanup-or-trays-for-days.22527/ (This was eventually photographed and written up for an article in Descent)

Back then, UKC was providing rewards for cleanup projects (though that wasn't the primary motivation). So there may be other threads from that era featuring similar cleanup projects.

 

[langcliffe]

When clubs were participating in Descent's "adopt-a-cave" many decades ago, there didn't tend to be the same requirement for massive clean-ups. I personally took a litter bag down Bar Pot once a year until fairly recently, cleaning out all the sweet wrappers, etc., and I know of other people doing the same in other caves.

I may be wrong, but I think I remember hearing of the Car Park Club putting a lot of effort into clearing out Geoff Workman's digging crap from Stump Cross Caverns. If that did happen, it would definitely qualify as a 'big clean-up'.

 

[Brains]

Wasn't Owl Hole extensively cleaned, allowing the discovery of some decorated passages? Think Gautries had a big effort as well

On most trips to the Peaks easier mines and caves I carry a bag to collect the inevitable cans, glow sticks and associated trash. Spray paint is a particular annoyance

 

[Scud]

Wasn't Owl Hole extensively cleaned, allowing the discovery of some decorated passages? Think Gautries had a big effort as well

On most trips to the Peaks easier mines and caves I carry a bag to collect the inevitable cans, glow sticks and associated trash. Spray paint is a particular annoyance

Gautires was back in 2004 and a follow up in 2009, a multi club effort arranged by the DCA. Snelsnow Swallet was tidied up back in 2004 as well., again sorted by the DCA. Dowse Hole had a big tidy up in 2006 by the Eldon Pothole Club. If you want any pictures, just ask?

 

[braveduck]

When clubs were participating in Descent's "adopt-a-cave" many decades ago, there didn't tend to be the same requirement for massive clean-ups. I personally took a litter bag down Bar Pot once a year until fairly recently, cleaning out all the sweet wrappers, etc., and I know of other people doing the same in other caves.

I may be wrong, but I think I remember hearing of the Car Park Club putting a lot of effort into clearing out Geoff Workman's digging crap from Stump Cross Caverns. If that did happen, it would definitely qualify as a 'big clean-up'.

All the spoil from Geoff Workman's digs is now being removed .It is expected to take a year .Just supplied 10 digging buckets for the job !

 

[BigDyl]

Daren has had a big clean up in previous years removing the camp at epocalypse and at hard rock

Daren Cilau – Clean Up Project | Chelsea Spelaeological Society

Information about the clean up at Hard Rock Cafe, Western Flyover and Epocalypse Chokes,

chelseaspelaeo.org

And most recently:

Big Daren Clean-up January 2025 | Chelsea Spelaeological Society

A mountain of rubbish bags lay in White Passage following the complete clear out of the long disused Western Flyover camp and a thorough clean-up at the Hard Rock Café camp – all that was needed now was to get them out of the cave.

chelseaspelaeo.org

 

[langcliffe]

Reading through some minutes of the Cave Preservation Society, I noticed that they had a clean up of Bar Pot in 1953, just four years after it was first entered.

 

[mikem]

Attitudes haven't really changed that much, most early explorers knew it was bad to abandon stuff, and usually intended to go back and reuse it, whilst the amounts were so small that it didn't have any real impact. What has changed is the numbers and massed humanity not being so concerned about the environment ("well, there's already stuff here, so what difference will mine make?")

 

[langcliffe]

Like graffitti, litter can have its interest, although obviously that is not an excuse. The old boiler suit that was at the back of a shale bed half-way up Bar Pot big pitch retrieved by Sam last year, had been a source of annoyance for well over 60 years, and was reputed to have belonged to Ken Pearce. When Mike Wooding and I were climbing in Avalanche Inlet in Gar East Passage in 2006, we found a semi-calcified page from the Guardian dated 26th May 1973 left by Bill Frost of Imperial College, one of the original explorers. Apparently, he often took a newspaper with him when he went caving!

 

[Maisie Syntax]

Here's an item of discarded tat we cleared out from the bottom of the entrance pitch of a cave we were pushing a few years ago. There was also a pile of quietly decomposing clothing there too. Fortunately for us, although unlike the magazine, the clothing didn't contain the original contents.

 

[mrodoc]

One club did a massive cleanup in a small cave but we told not to publicize in case it encouraged others to dump rubbish. Made no difference as it was local fly tippers doing it.

 

[Ian P]

The CPC did a clean up of Butter Tubs “caves” a couple of years ago. Certainly not a “deep” cave system, but looked at by lots of members of the public.
I think another visit is probably due to see how it has fared.

Thread 'CPC/CNCC Buttertubs litter-pick'

Jun 15, 2023

Litter Pick at Buttertubs Pots

On 2nd June, volunteers from the Craven Pothole Club, supported and funded by CNCC, organised and attended a litter-pick at the iconic Buttertubs Pots, one of the most scenic and popular beauty spots in North Yorkshire.

An interesting and productive day! In total 6 bin bags, 4 car tyres and a truck tyre removed and left for North Yorkshire County Council to collect the following morning (the Council had been very supporting of this). Let’s hope these pots stay litter-free!

Great work by the CPC team! You can see a full...

• CNCC
• Replies: 6
• Forum: CNCC

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