Derbyshire Caving Association

The Regional Caving Council for the Peak District and Midlands

East Midlands Winners of the Barclaycard VIP Governing Body Award, 1997

The Derbyshire Caving Association was formed in 1960 to foster co-operation between cavers who enjoyed the pastime as a sport and those with a more serious side to their activities, such as geology, hydrology, mineralogy, mining history or archaeology. It represents a large number of caving organisations and individual members and it strives to promote good relations between cavers, landowners, farmers and the general public.

The Association negotiates agreements allowing access to caves and mines and helps protect the interests of farmers on whose land the caves and mines are situated. It works to ensure the conservation of caves and mines and, through the Derbyshire Cave Registry, to record them. In connection with this work it has sponsored and compiled a book, "The Caves of the Peak District", (formerly "Caves of Derbyshire"), with detailed descriptions of the caves of the Peak District and the tackle required for their safe exploration.

The Association represents cavers' interests at national and local level by liasing with government bodies such as English Nature, local authorities, the Peak District National Park Authority and the relevant English Sports Council Regions. It also represents Derbyshire cavers' interests on the National Caving Association and liases with regional caving councils from other areas and with caving scientific and specialist bodies. Clubs become members of the National Caving Association through their membership of DCA.

The Association works closely with conservation interests in the region, in particular with English Nature. It has produced a leaflet "Do You Dig Caves ? (... on SSSIs ...)" giving the locations of all SSSIs (Sites of Scheduled Scientific Interest) and National Nature Reserves in the region and advice on the conservation of cave sites in these area. It has produced a number of Cave Conservation Plans for cave and mine sites in the Peak District.

The Association produces a "Derbyshire Caving Handbook" giving up to date information on access arrangements, local clubs, accommodation for visiting cavers, etc.; members receive a free copy of this handbook.

The Association circulates regular information to its members on access changes, new equipment, coming events of interest to cavers, etc. It also produces a quarterly Newsletter, free to members, containing news and views of interest to cavers, surveys and articles on new discoveries, cave rescue reports, etc.

The Association regularly organises Cavers' Workshops with short courses on specialist caving techniques and practical "workshop" sessions on subjects such as SRT, SRT Rescue, First Aid for Cavers, Ladder & Line Techniques, Cave Photography, Cave Surveying, etc.

The Association has as an affiliated organisation, the Peak Instructed Caving Affiliation, enabling close liaison with educational/instructed caving in order to establish high standards of sensitivity to access and conservation issues in the selection and use of caves and mines for instructed caving.
Currently the Association has a group of cavers installing the new DMM ECO-hangers in Peak District caves and mines in line with the recommendations brought out by the National Caving Association. This work is being paid for by donations from members of DCA and from other cavers and outdoor pursuits centres who use the area.
The Association has set up a Cave Discovery Fund which makes small grants to assist members defray some of the expenses incurred in discovering and conserving new caves and cave passage.
The Association maintains a close watch on Planning Applications throughout its area and, through liaison with relevant authorities, seeks to ensure, as far as is possible, that such applications have no detrimental effects on caves, abandoned mines of historical or recreational significance and underground water supplies.
The Association offers a Civil Liability Insurance for its members at a very competitive rate.

Full membership of the Association is open to Caving Clubs and to Individual Cavers; currently it has 40 Member Clubs and 60 Individual Members.

Associate Membership is open to other groups with an interest in caving, such as Youth Groups, Outdoor Pursuits Centres, etc.; currently there are 20 Associate Member Groups.

Hon. Secretary/Treasurer:

Mrs. J. E. Potts, 3 Greenway, Hulland Ward, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. DE6 3FE. Tel. 01335-370629

Conservation & Access enquiries to:

Tony Gibbs, 329 Kimberworth Road, Rotherham, S. Yorks, S61 1HD. Tel: 01709 559858

The DCA also maintains it's own Web Site