Will there be a Derbyshire Explorer's Forum in 2026?

[tdobson]

I know everyone's thinking about Christmas, inlaw-inundation and how to sneak off with some ginger wine for some digging and not 2026 planning.

But there's been a DEF the last few years early in the year, and given the number of non-moveable things in my diary, I wondered if anyone was silently planning it and was willing to share preliminary "save the date" dates.

I'm half expecting someone to say "you organise one", and if I'd ever been to one, then I'd know what to expect and to do - so I'm not offering to take that crown on this occasion.

I had a pleasing time reading the writeup in Derbyshire Caver of the Bradwell Symposium that @T pot 2 organised about 10 years ago, and I really hope I can make the next one.

 

[mch]

Many thanks for the positive mention of the Bradwell Symposium write-up in The Derbyshire Caver"!

 

[tdobson]

Many thanks for the positive mention of the Bradwell Symposium write-up in The Derbyshire Caver"!

You're very welcome - are you the author/contributor? Bradwell catchment is probably my primary "deep interest" area, and it felt like a coup to discover the article as it helped give more context to an area I like a lot but fear I don't understand in quite as much detail as others.

 

[Rob]

Eldon/TA have decided not to organise a DEF in early 2026.

The last ones were great events well supported by many epic Peak diggers and ready well attended. However we personally thought that, whilst there are some really good projects underway in the Peak, there hasn't been enough activity nor results this last 12 months to sufficiently entertain a DEF quite yet. And we don't want it to just be a talking shop about potential projects. We are also mindful of not treading on Hidden Earth's toes too often.

Maybe we'll think about spring 27... Unless some other team wants to step up in the meantime?

 

[Mark Wright]

Rowter Hole Sump might go next Saturday?

 

[Brains]

AFAIK the SMMC is pretty much divers or summer only, unless someone can discover a new, dry, entrance? Unless it's a secret can anyone give me an idea if I can visit while still alive, or will it just be my ashes?!

 

[mch]

You're very welcome - are you the author/contributor?

I was indeed the author (and Editor of TDC at the time).

 

[pwhole]

For what it's worth, I can't even start editing the next Derbyshire Caver due to a lack of content, which is becoming more and more common - it's supposed to be four issues a year, and some people subscribe for that. So please send us articles!

Personally I've had a very poor year in terms of exploration of new sites, mainly down to work and other personal obstructions, and I suspect it's been similar for others, as I've heard very little news in that regard, other than Rowter, as Mark noted above. A few small bits, but not worth/safe presenting publicly yet. I guess these things come in waves.

 

[JonP]

We had a discussion at the weekend about how people either still keep projects a secret or just neglect to report anything.

Badgers do a great job with writing up all their reports here on UKC.

Eldon write all their reports and publish on their website.

When's everyone else going to show up to the party? Or is nothing happening?

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Everybody was busy watching videos of Redhouse on Youtube.

 

[A_Northerner]

We had a discussion at the weekend about how people either still keep projects a secret or just neglect to report anything.

Badgers do a great job with writing up all their reports here on UKC.

Eldon write all their reports and publish on their website.

When's everyone else going to show up to the party? Or is nothing happening?

I think it's the nature of the projects happening out there. Lots of efforts in the Peak are longstanding digs with nothing much to post weekly reports on. We could post weekly updates on the SUSS dig in Ben's Dig, P8 but every week would just be a number of sandbags filled, punctuated every couple of months with a handful of sessions of engineering to shore up the shaft. I imagine the same goes for Bull Pit and the numerous digs round Castleton that the TSG are doing every weekend.

The other regular SUSS effort digging at the end of Assault Course (new chamber discovered, resurveying project, rebolting Grand Day Out and ongoing dig) is being documented regularly on the SUSS website (https://www.shefcavers.org.uk/trip-reports/).

 

[Rob]

Some really good reports on the SUSS website, thanks for reminding me to check in there occationally.

Dig updates being shared wider than inside a club, even if just a "still digging away", are still very useful. They show people that momentum is still high. This is important because when it comes to cave digging, enthusiasm is infectious.

I learnt only last week (via a Welsh caver!) that Odin has supposedly been dug quite a bit recently. I still don't know where or by whom.....

[Admittedly some projects may need to be kept quite for a while, but just give it a made up name and start sharing the hope about.]

 

[tdobson]

When's everyone else going to show up to the party?

There's also @FRASER - UKME 's dig reports from Snelslow as another example of exploration and digging reports locally