Lune Valley/Three Counties survey - Ends 30th April!

[CNCC]

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust have a new initiative surrounding the Lune Valley/Three Counties region:

https://www.ydmt.org/what-we-do/three-counties/

This scheme aims to gather funding to deliver a wide range of projects and initiatives to make the region even better for people to access and enjoy. Full details of the scheme are here:

https://www.ydmt.org/resources/imag...unties Lune Valley short summary April 22.pdf

The area provisionally covered spans the caving regions of Casterton Fell, Leck Fell, Kingsdale and western Ingleborough including Ribblehead and Chapel-le-Dale. The Three Counties Cave System is specifically called out in the above document, so they are aware of the participation in caving in the region.

The project has analogies to the former Stories in Stone initiative, covering the Ingleborough area, where we benefitted from considerable funding for several conservation projects. The CNCC was praised for our proactivity in undertaking projects and spending money!

We have made contact to introduce ourselves as the regional caving council.

They are keen to gather the widest range of views and ideas from people who live or visit the area. What more could be done to benefit the landscape, improve access and enjoyment. The online survey (link below) is an excellent way to do this.

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/702d1e1d9d23485bbb46baa3547e1dea

In particular, the survey allows you to pinpoint on a map as many key sites where you feel improvements could be made, including the entirety of the Three Counties cave system. This is a great opportunity for cavers to make their views heard and to ensure our sport remains on their radar (particularly when it comes to funding projects). Where can improvements be made to accessibility or conservation?

If you live in, or regularly visit this area, we encourage you to take five minutes to fill in the survey.

The survey is only open until the end of April, so just a few more days (sorry for the short notice folks, the availability of a survey has only just come to our attention).

CNCC

 

[Badlad]

Completed the survey. Suggested more information boards and the like are made available on the regions cave systems. Located at nearby hubs and aimed to inform the visitor and resident alike. Generally to improve the image of our sport.

Just filling the form in and mentioning caving will have an effect if enough folk do it to register in the result. Give it a quick go..

 

[GarDouth]

It's worth just spending a few minutes doing the survey. Highlighting caving will help ensure that they think about it as part of projects and funding which ultimately helps all cave access and conservation. You will notice that caving is not one of the listed options so make sure you mention it

 

[alanw]

I've just filled it in. Mentioned Caving; human excrement on the hillsides, particularly above Gaping Gill where the BPC holds our winch meet; car parking on the verges above the Hill Inn.

 

[Steve Clark]

Some from me, not directly caving related :

The CROW access restrictions for 'NO DOGS' across a huge area of access land above Leck Fell House over to upper Easegill. Dogs on leads and under control fine, but there's currently a blanket 5 year ban and no rights of way up there. (Grouse)

There is a fantastic off road cycle-way from Caton/Brookhouse all the way from central Lancaster. It would be great if this could be extended up the Lune Valley. There is the existing railway bed goes far as Wennington, but it's not access land or a right of way. If a link could be built from Wennington to Westhouse, there's the possibility of accessing the old Ingleton line bed too. Similar to the Monsal trail in the Peak.

Kayak / Canoeing on the Lune. This is a great stretch of river from KL to the weirs above Lancaster. No proper access or facilities. I know people do do it, but all research I've done is generally discouraging due to Landowner problems. This would be a great activity for many people and take the pressure off the hubs (Three Peaks / Waterfalls walk etc.)

 

[Steve Clark]

Completed the survey. Suggested more information boards and the like are made available on the regions cave systems. Located at nearby hubs and aimed to inform the visitor and resident alike. Generally to improve the image of our sport.

Just filling the form in and mentioning caving will have an effect if enough folk do it to register in the result. Give it a quick go..

I've seen an excellent example of information boards at one of the sites we cave dive in Florida. They have actually built an 'interpretive trail' that follows the line of the cave passages below and includes loads of history & wildlife info. Brilliant for non-cavers/divers.

Walk the Interpretive Cave Dive Trail

Have you ever wanted to see what it’s like to explore a spring cave system? Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park provides a way to experience the same thrilling adventure, but above the ground!

www.floridastateparks.org

Despite being the US, this isn't a commercial thing at all. State Park with a $4 per vehicle access fee and a lovely ranger. Very supportive of cave divers.

 

[CNCC]

Lots of great ideas above!

Anyone who has not yet filled in the survey, please do! We have emailed this to our mailing list, and promoted it via all forms of social media, so hopefully they will have loads of responses, lots of ideas, and a clear indication that caving is a thriving activity in the area and something that should be firmly considered as part of their initiative.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last day before the survey closes.

 

[Speleofish]

It's a disappointingly clunky survey. And it tends to spontaneously move highlights to different places when you try to add another one... Still, i mentioned caving a lot.

 

[Cavematt]

On the contrary, I found it quite modern and innovative, no such issues. Maybe my expectations are low following so many BCA surveys over the years 🤣

Maybe there are issues on mobile devices or some web browsers? Worked nicely on a desktop but I can imagine the map being clunky on a mobile.

I was pleased it provided an opportunity to give very specific details for individual locations, rather than the usual high-level waffle.

The more mentions of caving, the better 😁