BRITISH CAVE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

The British Cave Research Association is a registered charity whose object is to promote the study of caves and associated phenomena. It attains this object by supporting research, collecting and publishing speleological information, maintaining a library, and organising educational and scientific conferences and meetings.

Although the BCRA does take research seriously, its other main function is, arguably, that of being a "representative" national body for individual cavers to join. The word "research" can, in fact, be taken to include exploration and expedition caving as well as "science". You can join the BCRA as an individual member, or your club can join as a Club Member. You do not have to be a member of the BCRA to take part in its activities or to purchase its publications.

The BCRA's Web Site is at www.bcra.org.uk

Further information:
The BCRA publishes a range of material, including:
  • Caves & Caving - Quarterly News Magazine (free to members)
  • Cave & Karst Science - tri-annual science journal (free to members)
  • Cave Studies series - a series of titles introducing topics such as Surveying, Photography and Geology.
  • The international caving body, the Union Internationale de Speleologie publishes an annual bibliography of world-wide caving literature - Speleological Abstracts - which is distributed in the English-speaking countries by the BCRA.

Other benefits of BCRA membership include

  • Public Liability insurance world-wide (except in North America).
  • Travel insurance specifically written for caving trips
  • Free use of the National Caving Library
  • Reduced rate of entry to the annual conference and other meetings
  • A 25% discount on the Association's publications

The BCRA organises an annual caving conference, Hidden Earth, which features trade and club stands, competitions, talks, discussion groups, field trips, entertainment... . It also organises regional meetings around the country and one-day science symposiums.

The BCRA recognises that its Objects can be achieved all the better with a broad range of topics. Its Special Interest Groups allow members to associate and communicate in a more detailed way than would be possible amongst the general membership of the BCRA. Groups include Cave Radio & Electronics, Cave Surveying, Explosives Users, Hydrology, and Speleohistory. A number of Groups are in the process of being set up, or exist informally outside the BCRA. These include Photography, Speleo-biology, Archaeology, and Librarians' Group.

Contacts:

  • For an up to date list of contacts, visit the BCRA web-site at www.bcra.org.uk
  • or e-mail enquiries@bcra.org.uk
  • or write to the permanent Mailing Address: BCRA, c/o The Old Methodist Chapel, Great Hucklow, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8RG.

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