Works at Rookery Mine (Ashford Black Marble Mine) - Sat, 25 April

[Karen Lydon]

DCA has been working with PICA, the organisation for instructors, to provide funding and repair some pack wall to future-proof access to the Loop.

Several members from PICA and DCA have worked hard to arrange qualified volunteer wallers, permissions and Steve (mine inspector) to be at ABMM on Saturday, 25 April 2026. PICA need 6 volunteers- 1 to work with each Waller - from 8:30am. If you volunteer you will be moving a large quantity of stone within the mine - mainly from the area of the pack wall but also by wheelbarrow) and will need steel toe capped boots and gloves (I can possibly source these if you let me know sizes)

If you are available please contact the DCA Access Officer, Karen Lydon, at access[at]thedca.org.uk who will put you in contact with Liz Parkes, Secretary for PICA.
This is a great opportunity to learn some dry stone walling techniques and meet other cavers/caving instructors.

The plan is to meet at 08:30 in the parking layby on Saturday, 25 April 2026.

 

[AR]

Bumping this - at least another two, and preferably four people are needed to help on Saturday if the job is going to be completed.

 

[tdobson]

I'll be in North Wales, but I've amplified the message a bit.

 

[Pete K]

I'd love to help but it is the 6-monthly DCRO PPE inspection that day.

 

[AR]

I'm happy to announce that we got the works completed today, and the Loop pillar is no longer at risk of collapse after being surrounded with an estimated twenty tons of stone! Big thank you to everyone who helped today, the wallers said they'd really enjoyed doing such a different job to their usual work.

 

[Brains]

Good effort everyone

 

[Karen Lydon]

Well done everyone, thanks for your help.