Hidden Earth 2019

Reasons for, and perceptions of access restrictions to caves and recreational mines within the mainland Britain

45 minute Lecture|Robert Middleton

Abstract

Access to caves and recreational mines has been a divisive issue in mainland Britain since the growth of caving as a pastime following the end of the 2nd World War. The subject has been further heightened in recent years by the campaign to include caving within the Countryside Rights of Way Act. This lecture highlights the results of masters dissertation research which used a mixed methods approach including interviews, questionnaires (advertised on UKCaving thanks) and case study analysis to increase understanding of the myriad of access restrictions present to caves and mines in Britain, and cavers’ perceptions of these restrictions. The results show several significant factors at play in both reasons for cave access restrictions, and cavers’ perceptions of these restrictions and offer a unique board based overview of the issues involved.