Hidden Earth 2024

The Slaughter Catchment in the Forest of Dean, cave science and resurveying point to the existence of a Symonds Yat Master System

30 minute Lecture|Mark Tringham

Abstract

During the last 5 years a science and resurveying project has been underway in the Slaughter Catchment in the NW of the Forest of Dean. The Wet Sink - Slaughter Stream Cave (WS-SSC) has been shown to be exclusively formed in dolomite rather than limestone and to contain many geological and speleogenetic features of interest. The resurveying has extended the known cave length from 12.8 to 14.1 km and provided better insight into the evolution of relict and active drainage routes. The new work has also rejuvenated exploration digging efforts in the catchment as a whole with more confidant join-ups and extensions made possible using the new data. A relict more northerly cave drainage route is postulated to intersect the Wye Valley around Symonds Yat East rather than the present day Slaughter Rising and forming a potential Symonds Yat Master System of which WS-SSC is only one part.