Waterwheel Swallet gate vandalised

Waterwheel Swallet gate vandalised

Following recent vandalism to the gate on Waterwheel Swallet, Mendip, the CSCC Conservation and Access Officer, Graham Price has issued the following information. “Waterwheel has recently been broken into and the gate vandalised. The gate has been removed for repair/replacement and the entrance has been secured with a non-removable grill. Everyone will appreciate that it…

Hang Son Doong- the cave that built a village

Hang Son Doong- the cave that built a village

Veteran caving film maker Sid Perou has teamed up with photographer Ryan Deboodt to produce a compelling thirty nine minute film about the discovery of the world’s largest cave passage in Han Son Doong cave in Vietnam, the resulting development of tourism in the area and the beneficial affects not just for the local population but also for conservation.

Shot on location earlier this year the film follows the impact of the area of the Vietnam war, early discoveries by British and Vietnamese cavers and includes stunning footage of the cave.

Watching the film it’s hard to believe Sid’s contribution to the film, comprising over 50% of the footage, was shot using just a £400 handy-cam and a zero budget!

News: Ogof Draenen – Update

News: Ogof Draenen – Update

Following recent reports of the opening of a new entrance to Ogof Draenen and the statement from the Trustees of the Pwll Dhu Cave Management Committee, additional information has been received from Cadw who have confirmed that the hole that was excavated to open a new entrance to Ogof Draenen has been dug through, and…

News: Statement from the Trustees of Pwll Du Cave Management Group

News: Statement from the Trustees of Pwll Du Cave Management Group

We have been asked by the Trustees of Pwll Du Cave Management Group to publish the following statement, which is also being published today in Descent. PDMCG have also confirmed that the Twll Du entrance is within the site of an ancient monument as we suggested in our previous article.  The Trustees have informed us that Cadw are…

News: New Entrance to Ogof Draenen Opens Further Controversy

News: New Entrance to Ogof Draenen Opens Further Controversy

Ogof Draenen in South Wales has once again been plunged into an entrance-related controversy following a connection made to the surface from inside the cave. This leads to the main cave via a series of short pitches equipped with fixed ladders, and there is also a rope traverse and a free-hanging pitch to negotiate. Rumours…

News: Pen Park Hole Scheduled as Site of Special Scientific Interest

News: Pen Park Hole Scheduled as Site of Special Scientific Interest

Pen Park Hole, a spectacular hydrothermal cave beneath north Bristol, has now been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England. The cave has a long and interesting history. It was first been descended in July 1669 by Captain Samuel Sturmy, a local mariner, accompanied by a miner. It was eventually…

News: Breakthrough in Tween Twins Hole, Burrington Combe, Somerset

News: Breakthrough in Tween Twins Hole, Burrington Combe, Somerset

A major breakthrough has been made in Tween Twins Hole, Burrington Combe, Somerset. Darkness Below has received the following report from the diggers: After many years of work a team of Wessex Cave Club diggers have made an interesting discovery at Tween Twins Hole in Burrington Combe, Mendip. Tween Twins, known to members of the…

Update: Legal action over Drws Cefn entrance draws closer

Update: Legal action over Drws Cefn entrance draws closer

We brought you news last year about the threat of legal action from cavers Stuart France and Nigel Rogers and on the responses from both Natural Resources Wales and Drws Cefn landowner Pwlldu Conservation Limited. We understand in the latest development in this long running saga Stuart France has now issued a pre-action letter via his solicitors to Natural Resources Wales advising…

News: Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter now available

News: Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter now available

The latest edition of the Cambrian Caving Council Newsletter for January 2016 is now available. The Newsletter contains reports from all over Wales, including a report on the finds at Ogof Marris (described here by Darkness UK), details of the permit system for access to the Castlemartin Range for new exploration, an account of the…

Update: More news on Drws Cefn legal threats

Update: More news on Drws Cefn legal threats

We reported on 24 November 2015 about the legal action threatened by cavers Stuart France and Nigel Rogers against Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the landowner concerning their claim to have access rights to Drws Cefn under the CRoW legislation. In the latest development in this long-running issue, their solicitors have now been sent a…

News: Cavers Threaten Legal Proceedings Against Landowners

News: Cavers Threaten Legal Proceedings Against Landowners

Cavers Stuart France and Nigel Rogers are involved in the on-going dispute over closing or gating the Drws Cefn entrance to Ogof Draenen in South Wales. On the 20th November 2015 their solicitors, Richard Buxton of Cambridge, wrote to Natural Resources Wales, sending copies to the Pwll Du Management Group and also to the landowner….