> Peter wrote

> > NAMHO will not become 'a subservient part of the caving world'. It will
> > engage with national caving organisations in considering areas of common
> > interest, like mine exploration, and through those organisations seek to
> > influence the conduct of cavers in respecting the archaeology and
> > conservation of mines. But there are many other issues to consider which
> > have little or no connection with 'caving' - historical, archaeological
> and environmental - and these will receive the full attention of NAMHO
> council.

At the risk of being pedantic...the items Peter refers to as having "no connection" to caving certainly do have a connection.  It is not only mines
that have archaeology (those who saw the Time Team programme Roger Gosling and I were involved in will know what I mean) and the environmental issues
are equally relevant to both mines and caves in terms of both pollution issues and preservation.  Members of caving clubs do go into mines, some
purely for recreational purposes others because they have a genuine interest.  The NCA conservation policy covers all these issues.  What I
think Peter is getting at is that there is scope for specialist input from those primarily interested in mines, regarding specific issues that arise
and NAMHO is the ideal body to provide this input to the Caving community. The NCA is probably less concerned with items such as documentary research
and historical evaluation of sites, nor for that matter in conservation of surface remains, both areas in which mining historians (and NAMHO) are
particularly interested, and in such areas NAMHO do have a wider scope than NCA.  

It would however be a gross exaggeration to assume that all "cavers" are not interested in mining history as many (self included)
are.  Similarly to label all those interested in mining history in the purely academic bracket would also be wrong as fieldwork (including
underground exploration) is something many are interested in. Personally I would strongly recommend that anyone interested in underground exploration
joins one of the many clubs which have both a "caving" and mining interest (I am a member of Hades CC others on the list are members of Shropshire
Caving & Mining Club, Northern Mine Research Society, Peak District Mines Historical Society, etc).  

As chairman of the Forest of Dean Cave Conservation and Access Group, an area with both natural cave and both abandoned and working mines, I can
speak with some experience on this.  We have recently been working on an access agreement to sites with the Forestry Commission to secure access to
sites (both caving and mining) at the same time we have been working on Pollution issues and drawing up site specific conservation plans covering
wildlife (e.g. Bats), protection of formations, preservation of archaeology (inc mining remains etc.)

With regards to Ian's comments about "underground explorers" and the "destruction or removal of scientific evidence." whether these are recreational cavers or mining "experts" removing items for their own collections they are, at least in my eyes, vandals.  The merits of underground research both scientific and historical have been emphasised on this list in the past.  It is unfortunately true that there are individual on all sides who do not have a responsible attitude to these issues and the need for access agreements and conservations plans is therefore a sad reality.  The work of access groups (such as FODCCAG), the NCA and NAMHO is very important

I will be posting more information this list shortly regarding the access agreement, but essentially (subject to meeting the landowners requirements
regarding permits insurance etc) access has now been obtained to the sites under the control of the Forestry Commission (for further details - contact
me off list, I will be posting more info shortly)  Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure that those entering mines are competent (and suitably insured) as well as being aware of the restrictions to prevent damage to the environment both natural and historical.
 

Regards

DAVID HARDWICK