N5

Cave Conservation

The Stories in Stone area is a three-dimensional landscape, much of which is hidden below ground in a labyrinth of caves and underground rivers. Unfortunately, many caves have in the past been used as places to dispose of farm waste and materials and livestock sometimes fall into open shafts, all of which creates point sources of pollution and make the caves potentially dangerous to cavers.

What will the project do?

Volunteers from local caving clubs, working together with statutory conservation bodies, cleared surface shake-holes of historical farm waste, installed fencing around open shafts to prevent livestock from falling in, and cleaned underground speleothems. Although the aim was to complete works at 16 sites, 27 locations were completed under the scheme. Over 120 volunteers delivered this work by giving 306 days of their time to the project.

What will the benefits be?

It was hoped this project would leave a legacy of trained volunteers, and enhoanced landscape and an increased value of cave heritage. It seems to have also improved relations between cavers and the land managers.

Partners

The project was being led by Natural England’s Cave Conservation Adviser, based at Ingleborough NNR and Council of Northern Caving Clubs.