Taping

[Johnny]

The DCA have developed a method of taping exclusion zones in caves/mines.
The tape is used to denote areas where undirected traffic could easily damage or destroy features and where the imperative to conserve overrides the intrusive nature of the artificial barrier.
An example of this method of tapeing can be seen in Sidetrack Cave, Derbyshire.
Stainless steel pegs of varying length are used to raise orange surveyors line from the floor.
Opinions/ideas on taping would be appreciated.

 

[dunc]

It has to be said that taping in whatever form is generally ugly and tends to detract from the overall beauty of what it is trying to protect.. Add to the fact that over time the tape gets knocked, moved, covered in mud, buried and generally trashed and it ends up looking even worse and not doing the intended job in some cases.

In some caves where caver-traffic may be high I think better methods of taping or more frequent replacement of tape are needed. I've not seen the taping methods in Sidetrack but it sounds better than the usual method of tape just layed across the floor with maybe a rock or two to hold it in place..

In an ideal world we wouldn't have any taping at all, but we don't live in an ideal world so as far as I'm concerned I'm more than happy to see taping in caves if it helps to protect the formations. I would much rather see tape stretched out along a passage with nice formations rather than have no tape and no formations!

 

[Johnny]

It has to be said that taping in whatever form is generally ugly and tends to detract from the overall beauty of what it is trying to protect.. Add to the fact that over time the tape gets knocked, moved, covered in mud, buried and generally trashed and it ends up looking even worse and not doing the intended job in some cases.

When tape is placed on the floor it can become incorporated in the calcite as well as mud, or sediments as our scientific friends call it. That was one of the reasons behind raising the tape or line on pegs. Raising the line also makes it more visible and less easy to miss.

If anyone out there requires line or pegs then the DCA may be able to help see the DCA website.

 

[Johnny]

Here is an example of the new taping method. The tape/line can be seen either side of the caver.
Full Moon Chamber, Bagshawe Cavern, Derbyshire
photo Sam T

 

[underground]

It has to be said that taping in whatever form is generally ugly and tends to detract from the overall beauty of what it is trying to protect.. Add to the fact that over time the tape gets knocked, moved, covered in mud, buried and generally trashed and it ends up looking even worse and not doing the intended job in some cases.


In some caves where caver-traffic may be high I think better methods of taping or more frequent replacement of tape are needed. I've not seen the taping methods in Sidetrack but it sounds better than the usual method of tape just layed across the floor with maybe a rock or two to hold it in place..

Well, certainly some examples I've seen have tended to be the red/white road tape laid directly onto the floor (e.g. JH workshop) which does look a mess and a bit temporary.. But the trouble is, some of these things are in need of something more obvious to protect them. In the darkness, perhaps when a less conservation-aware caver may be tired or in a hurry, it could be all too easy for a careless footstep, albeit intentional, to destroy an irreplaceable artefact or formation and perhaps not even notice.

The taping (more 'cording') in Sidetrack is really well thought out and installed thoughtfully by myself and Johnny. It is not a wholesale 'tape everything' approach, however it is also a little prominent, being orange. It actually looks quite neat, and as I pointed out to the DCA conservation panel at the time, will actually make a point to future visitors that, in certain areas, there is in fact something worth seeing / saving here. Not just a random pile of pebbles- so they may be spurred into wondering "why" and "what is it?"- and (hopefully) learn something and become more conservation aware.

In an ideal world we wouldn't have any taping at all, but we don't live in an ideal world so as far as I'm concerned I'm more than happy to see taping in caves if it helps to protect the formations. I would much rather see tape stretched out along a passage with nice formations rather than have no tape and no formations!

Agreed, however the fact that it is blatantly obvious that, unfortunately, there seem to be two options- either conserve or destroy, simplistically, then we have a responsibility to ourselves and future generations to take the best approach. Dave Webb made a very good point at the BCRA conference last year, that we as cavers are in a unique and beneficial position of ultimately being entirely responsible for the environment in which we carry out our activities. Therefore we have to take that responsibility seriously and to the greater good, and if that means a few tapes ehre and there, then I'm all for that.

Incidentally, I went back to Sidetrack at the end of last year to inspect the cords- all of them were intact, clean and from what I could tell, were doing their job pretty well.

 

[Ben]

I'm not quite sure whats new about the DCA technique, pegs have been used to raise tape or cord off the ground for years and various styles of taping have been employed as is most appropriate for each individual system or passage. I guess I'm missing something.
On the back of many tens of kilometers of taping experience in Ogof Draenen here's a few points I've learnt, most of which are already mentioned in the NCA conservation handbook.

1) Well installed taping works. Where tapes have been installed soon after discovery and maintained, a clear line can be seen between what's inside and outside.

2) Tapes can be removed or modified at a later date if they prove to be unessecary or ineffective. Damaged passage cannot be restored.

3) To be effective taping must be installed thoughtfully. Different tape types and styles of taping will be appropriate in different circumstances. Effective taping is a skilled job, if you find something new tape it straight away as fully as possible. Later on you can consider or seek advice as to whether less intrusive techniques might be appropriate. Remember all styles of taping require maintenence.

4) Maitenence of tapes in large cave systems if a very very time intensive job. Part of being a responsible caver is to: a) recognise that tapes, while you may consider them to be visualy unattractive, are the only way of effectively protecting cave. and b) mend tapes if you break them.

5) If you feel that a passage has been over taped, are you sure that you understand the value of whats being protected. Sediments are generaly the most vulnerable and often the most valuable of cave features. They are often the clues that unlock the mysteries of the cave's development and may point the way to the missing sections. But they may not be beatifull or obvious. Look along the small ledges on the sides of fossil passages, the sediments here will likely date from long befor the current floor was deposited.

6)When laying tape, rather than wondering whats worthy of conservation, try considering what you would take responcibility for consigning to destruction.



I have seen reflectors placed at intervals along the path line in large passages used a less intusive technique. Obviouly this places a greater responsibility on cavers to carefully follow the trail, but may be appropriate in passages with low traffic. Does anyone have any experience of how effective this is.

Well done to Underground and Johnny for their work in bagshawe and sidetrack, it is immensely satisfying to return in future years to cave thats remained reasonably prestine as a result of your efforts.

Ben

 

[SamT]

Cheers ben (I was involved in the taping myself).

Your right it does need maintenence. Some of the taping in the full moon series needs re-doing already. It is working though (coupled with the fact that we run a leader system beyoned the gated sections alla st cuthberts).
Was washing mud off some stall last night in baggers - it beggers belief sometimes.

I'm hankering after a trip down Side track to see how its holding up.

White river series needs re-doing too I reckon.

 

[Johnny]

I'm not quite sure whats new about the DCA technique, pegs have been used to raise tape or cord off the ground for years and various styles of taping have been employed as is most appropriate for each individual system or passage. I guess I'm missing something.


Well done to Underground and Johnny for their work in bagshawe and sidetrack, it is immensely satisfying to return in future years to cave thats remained reasonably prestine as a result of your efforts.

Cheers Ben, I agree with your views on taping.

The stainless pegs we have started to use in the Peak District have not, to my knowledge, been used in this area before, especially in conjunction with the surveyors line.
Do you use stainless pegs?
Have you any ideas on designs of pegs for sediments? this was particularly difficult in Sidetrack.
I think that the line is particularly usefull because of its strength.

 

[cap n chris]

Putting pegs in sediment: I imagine the problem is that the peg will be pulled to one side and/or fall over since the sediment is not sufficiently supportive/solid to hold up a narrow object.

Perhaps someone out there has a perfect solution but something which springs to mind instantly as possibly worthy of consideration are the very small plastic flowerpots (available at any garden centre/B&Q etc.); if you turn this upside down and stick it in the sediment it'll wedge in nicely; then tie the conservation tape to the top (using a bag twist/bit of wire or just poke the end of the C tape through the holes in the bottom of the flowerpot).

Because they are small and weigh almost nothing and they are cheap too this might be good for sandy/muddy/sediment tape holding.

What do you think?

 

[Ben]

Pegs used in south wales in sediment in DYO, OFD and Draenen have generaly been various plastic or alloy tent pegs or gardening stakes.

In many respects the strength of the tape/peg system is irrelavent as its unlikely that you'll be able to make it strong enough to resist some clumsy oaf stumbling over it. Thoughtful positioning and maintenance are more likely to work.

Cord does last well but tends to get stamped into the sediment with time even when raised. after this even if repositioned it is effectivly camouflaged.

Incidently, has anyone visited Marble Arch in Fermanagh and seen the notices along Legnabrocky Way. These take the form of laminated cards in a number of positions pointing out the obect of conservation at that point and in some places damage that has occured as a result of careless cavers.
I now that this has been a little cotroversial (I don't know whether some people felt patronised or accused) but it seems to me to be a good educational tool and serves to highlight the taping. If nothing else it gets people talking about conservation.
Signs have been used in Draenen where particular care is needed (luck of the draw) or where passages have been closed off entirely (Prisoners of war as these are unentered passages proved to be closed loops and Morrganwg Passage due to its vulnerability) and so far as I can tell have been beneficial.


Ben

 

[graham]

If anyone out there requires line or pegs then the DCA may be able to help see the DCA website.

These are available via your local Caving Council from the BCA's Conservation Officer.

 

[cap n chris]

can I have some, then, please, Graham, when we next meet?

 

[Rob]

Yer, and we'll need loads up at TITAN in a few weeks.

 

[graham]

can I have some, then, please, Graham, when we next meet?

yeah, yeah, sorry blame the wife

 

[Leclused]

Hi,

Here some news from belgium. In my caving club (SC Avalon) we've developped a method for protecting structures in caves.

You can read a write-up on our site in dutch or french, but the pictures will tell the story also, about the techniques we use to protect.

http://users.skynet.be/avalon/avalonuk/av06.htm

In a few words
- We use small pins wich are anchored in the rock
- the pins are connected with fine orange rope on a height of 30cm

Br

Dagobert

 

[Rob]

...Some of the taping in the full moon series needs re-doing already. It is working though ...

2 quick pics from this Saturday to show how well the taping is actually working in Full Moon 

 

[Goydenman]

Putting pegs in sediment: I imagine the problem is that the peg will be pulled to one side and/or fall over since the sediment is not sufficiently supportive/solid to hold up a narrow object.

I wonder if the silt screws (short length of plastic pipe) divers use would work?

 

[underground]

Putting pegs in sediment: I imagine the problem is that the peg will be pulled to one side and/or fall over since the sediment is not sufficiently supportive/solid to hold up a narrow object.

I wonder if the silt screws (short length of plastic pipe) divers use would work?

A total gut reaction, I'd say no. Reason being that I guess when submerged the silt is a bit fluid and will move out of the way and re-settle around the pipe, locking it in a bit. Whereas in a dry sediment bank, you'll have to bash it in or wiggle it about, thus making a bigger hole than needed to keep it tight.

As I say, total gut reaction and I'd be gladly proved wrong if I or anyone else cares to - or give it a try and see...

 

[glyders]

"Have you any ideas on designs of pegs for sediments? this was particularly difficult in Sidetrack."

I have some plastic tent pegs that screw into soft ground. They work really well in both snow and mud. They even work in wet sand. They are bright orange too!
I suspect that once enough was screwed in they wouldn't stand far enough off the surface for the line but perhaps something similar would work?

Has anyone tried reflective lines? The stuff I've got has retro-reflective stands in. It stands out really well if you shine your headtorch on it but isn't very obtrusive otherwise. It's really strong too as It's designed for guy lines. Perhaps a bit expensive unless you can get it in bulk.