Cave Conservation Plan for Waterways Swallet, Waterings Wood

Cave Conservation Plan
for Waterways Swallet, Waterings Wood
near Blore, Staffordshire
July 2013
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Contents
Subject(s)
Page
Introduction
4
History of Exploration
4
Features of Scientific intersect
7
Geology & Cave Morphology
7
Hydrology and Hydrological relationships
9
Archaeology
9
Biology
9
Current State
9
External and Internal Threats
9
Exploration Potential
10
Conservation Measures to be taken
11
References
12
Access
12
Appendix 1 – Surveys
14
Appendix 2 – Okeover agreement
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Acknowledgements
All photos by Rob Eavis by permission, except the photo on page 6 which is attributed to
Andy Foster (verification pending) and those on page 13 which were taken by myself.
Front Cover photo:- Climbing out of Toad Haul near the bottom of the cave.
Compiled by Melissa Milner, July 2013.
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Introduction
Waterways Swallet is a major high level (sometimes active) swallet cave, at the end of a
blind valley. The original cave was 152m long and 40 metres deep, extended in 2004/5 to
around 500m long and 125m deep.
The original known cave and the new extensions are separated by a boulder choke which
has been dug through over many years and scaffolding installed to make it relatively
stable.
History of Exploration
Waterways Swallet was found in 1958 by the Stoke on Trent Potholing Club, a site that
showed great promise. However progress was halted under the great shakehole (doline) in
an enormous boulder choke.
In the 1970's, the Orpheus C.C. had several attempts at digging into the choke that ran
along one side of the Gallery, but all became too dangerous. (For example at 'The
Northern Dig'.)
In 1987, various members of Darfar P.C. were active down the cave They were again
attempting to find a way past the large choke at the bottom of the cave. The main place
they concentrated on was at the end of a passage leading off at the lowest part of The
Gallery, beyond an old Orpheus C.C. dig, but progress was very slow and needed a team
of people.
In 1995, Keyhole C.C. mined their way down the narrow slot in the floor of The Gallery
(which Martin Milner and Pete Mellors had previously seen taking a lot of water during a
visit in receding flood conditions) and surprisingly intersected a small vadose streamway
(named Keyhole Passage by them) which headed into the choke, but also down a tight rift
just before it. (The main diggers were Andy Foster and Nick Hadland.) They thought it was
a dead end at the time.
In 1996, the 'blind' passage at the bottom of the pot in Keyhole Passage was found to
draught by Martin Milner and Pete Mellors who then enlarged the passage and dug into
the shingle floor and found it wasn't blind! They managed to install some scaffolding and
then started digging down on the edge of the boulder choke, but against a solid undercut
wall making the dig relatively safe.
In 1997, Keyhole C.C. members took over again and extended the dig downwards by
several metres and installed some well placed scaffolding. In September, Martin Milner
and Pete Mellors found the cave in receding flood conditions and had a sporting trip down
to the 'bottom'.
Most of the water was going into Keyhole Passage and down the pot confirming that this
was the way on. The water flow was reducing all the while they down there which is why it
was safe to descend Keyhole Passage.
However, the dig started heading back into the choke and eventually (having done so
much work in the cave during the previous few years), Martin and Pete decided to leave it
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to the younger, enthusiastic Keyhole members and move on to other, easier projects.
(Such as dye testing in the Hamps Valley!)
In 2005, after an enormous amount of effort and determination, (and scaffolding), the
Keyhole members broke through, though there were several more minor boulder chokes to
dig through on the way to the current terminal sump.
A lot of scaffolding and wooden wedges were needed to make the route through the main
choke relatively safe.
Below: A part of one of the chokes.
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Several more extensions were made over the next few years, including the significant
large breakdown chamber, Room 101, discovered in 2008 (by Andy Foster, Ian Bishop,
Pete Dell and Richard Lockyer) which has a fine mud-covered boulder floor.
Below: A photo showing the taping put in place to protect the mud-covered boulder floor.
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Features of Scientific Interest
Geology and cave morphology.
1. Entrance Series and Main Chamber to Gallery CPM: Massive Crinoid fossiliferous
bedrock, North South trending fault orientated passage, and collapse chambers.
2. Vicinity of First Climb CPM: Bedding controlled passage.
3. Blore Street to Toad Haul CPM: North South trending fault orientated passage, with
large pot holes cut through deformed strata. Also possible fossilised tree roots in some
places. (See below.)
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4. Vicinity of Wotno Streamway to sumps. CPM: Bedding controlled passage. (See
below.)
5. Between Rising Damp Sump and Wotno Sump CSS: Undisturbed mudbank containing
silty-clay sediments. (See survey.)
6. Undisturbed mud-covered boulder floor in Room 101.
Notes:
CPM = Cave Passage Morphology.
CSS = Cave Sediment Sequence.
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Hydrology and hydrological relationships
Drains to the Hinckley Wood Risings at Ilam. The stream which sinks near the entrance is
not seen in any of the known cave, but regularly overflows into the cave in wet weather.
Archaeology
There are no known archaeological features, except maybe the possible fossilised tree
roots in some places.
Biology
Bats have been seen in the Main Chamber and The Gallery. A Toad was found in Toad
Haul, hence the name.
Current state
The entrance is currently in good condition, as are the new entrance grille and nearby stile
was which repaired by Melissa Milner in 2011. A tree which had died and was collapsing
onto the fence was chopped up and the fence repaired by Melissa Milner and Rob Thorne
of Darfar P.C. in early 2013.
The entrance series seems to be pretty stable at the moment as long as care is taken
negotiating it.
As the bottom end of the cave contains active digs there is still digging equipment in situ,
although some of this, (such as the blue power cable which used to run down through the
cave and boulder choke has been removed.
There is some rubbish which should be removed, such as old buckets, etc. In the Gallery.
The mud-covered floor formations in Room 101 were taped off by Keyhole CC members
soon after discovery.
The rocks around the scaffolding through the boulder choke have moved in places
apparently, but the scaffolding is currently doing it's job.
External and Internal threats
As long as the fence on the surface is maintained, there appears to be no external threat
to the cave.
The boulders in the side of the first climb down in the entrance series moved slightly
sometime between early 2006 and spring 2007, presumably due to increased traffic. (Or
possibly tectonic activity.)
The main threat to the new extensions is the gradual deterioration of the scaffolding,
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wooden wedges, etc. that exist in the main boulder choke. It is unknown how long they will
last, although the scaffolding in the entrance shaft of Riverside Swallet at Wetton Mill has
been in place for 7 years and is standing up well, despite being underwater for several
months of the year.
Additionally, there is the possibility of the boulder choke moving again and deforming the
scaffolding enough to make the choke impassable.
There is also the possibility of cavers trampling the mud-covered floor in Room 101.
Exploration Potential
As the Rising Damp Sump is not far above the risings at Hinckley Wood any future
extensions are likely to be in a horizontal direction.
Conservation measures to be taken
The state of the surface fence, stile and entrance need monitoring and repairing when
necessary. (See also appendix 2.)
The entrance series needs monitoring for movement. Maybe the addition of some concrete
between the boulders one has to climb down would be prudent to help stop further
movement.
The features shown on the annotated surveys need checking for damage on routine visits
and changes reporting. Monitoring them would be made easier if photos of the features
were added to the monitoring form.
The main boulder choke needs checking for movement on routine visits and changes
reporting. Maybe the addition of some concrete in certain places would be prudent to help
stop further movement.
The mud-covered floor in Room 101 needs checking on routine visits and any damage to
the floor or taping reporting.
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References
Mayer, D. 1962. British Cave No. 36. p48.
Anon. 1974. O.C.C. N/L Vol. 10, No. 4. p32.
Drakeley, K. 1981. The Lyre No. 5. pp54-56.
Potts, J. 1981. The Lyre No. 5. pp 36-37.
Potts, J. 1981. The Lyre No. 5. pp50-53. Survey.
Potts, J. 1981. O.C.C. N/L Vol. 10, No. 6. p49.
Milner, M. 1987. D.C.A. N/L. No.65. P17.
Beck, J. 2005. Descent No. 183. p10.
Foster, A. 2005. Descent No. 186. p14.
Beck, J. 2008. Descent No. 203. p11.
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Access
No need to apply in advance for access but all visitors have to be BCA-affiliated members
or guests and to be either competent cavers or under supervision; visitors have to
understand they enter at their own risk; parking to be only in the designated area. (See
map below.)
An adjustable spanner is required for bolted lid/grille; please re-fasten this when you leave.
(In the position you originally found it in!)
The grille stops casual members of the public from gaining access and also prevents the
ingress of flood debris when the nearby stream overflows in wet weather.
The map below shows where to park and the route to take from there to the cave.
On the next page is a photo showing the fence with stile (after remedial action in 2011 /
2013) to provide easy access for cavers and the bolted down grille. Also photos showing
the incorrect and correct placement of the entrance grille.
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Below: Incorrect placement of the entrance grille. Note the big gap which would allow
the ingress of flood debris. It also requires the nuts to be totally removed next time!
Below: Correct placement of the entrance grille.
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Appendix 1- Surveys
3. CPM. Blore Street to Toad
Haul. North South trending fault
orientated passage, with large pot
holes cut through deformed strata.
2. CPM. Vicinity
of First Climb.
Bedding controlled
passage.
4. CPM. Vicinity of Wotno
Streamway to Sumps. Bedding
controlled passage
5. CSS. Between Rising Damp
Sump
and
Wotno
Sump
Undisturbed mudbank containing
silty-clay sediments.
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Previous page:- Section through the new extensions showing the features of interest that
are being monitored. (Based on original survey by Keyhole C.C.)
Below:- Section through the area of the cave near Room 101. (Based on original survey
by Keyhole C.C.)
6. CSS. Undisturbed
mud-covered boulder
floor in Room 101.
The survey on the next page shows the original cave before the 2005 breakthrough.
(Originally surveyed and drawn up by members of the Orpheus C.C. in 1981 and
published in their journal The Lyre.)
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1. CPM. Entrance Series and Main Chamber to Gallery. Massive Crinoid fossiliferous
bedrock, North South trending fault orientated passage, and collapse chambers.
New extensions
lead
off
from
here.
New extensions lead
off from here.
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Appendix 2 – Okeover Agreement
DERBYSHIRE CAVING ASSOCIATION
Okeover Estate Access Conditions
These are the access conditions drawn up by Okeover Estate re. access to Waterways
Swallet. No specific permit is required, just that cavers abide by these conditions.
3. ACCESS TERMS FOR WATERWAYS SWALLET (as from September 1996)
NB. This access agreement is between DCA and the Okeover Estate. The land is farmed
by the tenant at Waterings Farm, without whose approval the licence would soon lapse. An
agreement has been in force since 1972 and has been renewed by the Estate on a yearly
basis and updated twice (in 1984 & 1996).
Its success has been due largely to DCA's willingness to assume responsibility for cavers'
behaviour. To ensure continued success all visitors are requested to abide by the terms set
out below and respect DCA's role as negotiating party with both tenant & owner.
Visitors are also requested to acquaint themselves beforehand with the grading of the
cave and with descriptions given in "COTPD" 1991 and in any subsequent published
literature.
The period of the licence to be for one year from 29th September.
No cars to be left in the approach road to Waterings Farm or on the adjoining public roads;
cars may be parked within the area of waste land, being part of OS 154.
The Estate not to be liable for any accident which visiting cavers may have and DCA to
explain to all visitors the dangers they face which must be at their own risk. DCA to
indemnify the Estate against any claim which may arise in connection with this Licence.
DCA to pay a nominal fee for the Licence on the signing of it.
Access to the site to be from the public road down the footpath down the SW side of OS
150 and not via OS 149, the field immediately to the south-west.
DCA to maintain a stock-proof fence around the immediate area of the pothole.
The Estate to have the right immediately to terminate the Licence in the event of any part
of it not being complied with.
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