This site has been set up to facilitate communication between Natural England (formerly English Nature) and Peak District Cavers on the administration of the Scheme, and to enable cavers to have access to the most up to date version of the Monitoring Forms and surveys that are available for cave sites within our seven geological (Cave) SSSIs.  It is hoped that the site will further serve to publicise the Scheme and highlight the importance of maintaining up to date records on the condition of our scheduled caves and mines.

Here you can find:-

Cave surveys highlighting areas of particular interest in each cave from a scientific and conservation point of view.

Cave Monitoring Forms for cavers to complete to let us know of the condition of and any changes to the features highlighted on the surveys. (Whether good or bad.)

The Scheme.

The Peak District SSSI Cave Conservation Monitoring Scheme, to give it its full title, was set up
in 2002 in order to regularly monitor geologically important features such as cave sediments, mineralisation, speleothems and  unique passage shapes. Approximately 75% of known cave passage in the UK is located within designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Natural England is the government agency in England which has a statutory responsibility for the designation and conservation of SSSIs. Regular underground monitoring is an important part of cave conservation. Natural England uniquely work in partnership with the regional councils such as the DCA, and many local cavers have responded to the challenge to monitor and be responsible for their own environment.

The Peak District’s seven geological (Cave) SSSI areas are monitored as follows:

A list of special cave (and cave/mine) sites in each SSSI is prepared by Natural England with the help of a qualified geologist who decides which of the features within each site needs to be monitored and why. Local volunteer cavers or clubs are appointed to take responsibility for each SSSI and report on the condition, or changes in the condition of features in the caves in their patch. They also coordinate the field work, and forward completed monitoring forms to the DCA Conservation Officer for collation. The Conservation officer also deals with any queries before sending them on to the local office of Natural England.  

Some important points:

1. Recording and completion of forms must only be done as part of a normal caving trip

2. Features of interest in cave SSSIs have been selected primarily for their scientific value and not necessarily their aesthetic appearance. Hence, a much-abused muddy speleothem on a tourist route may not look important but can still provide evidence of ancient climatic conditions and the timing of cave development. Similarly cave sediments, otherwise known as mud, provide a great deal of information to the scientist and should be treated with respect.

3. The scheme provides valuable information to Natural England (formerly English Nature), who in return have provided funding through DCA to enable cavers to maintain entrances and complete much-needed clean-up. The SSSI Project officer (Natural England) &, Area Coordinators meet twice yearly to provide feedback, discuss and prioritise conservation issues in their agreed areas.

The scheme can only operate successfully with your help.

Any queries relating to any of the Cave Forms or other issues relating to the Peak District SSSI Cave Conservation Monitoring Scheme please contact:

Natural England
Jo Poll - Assistant Conservation Officer.
Peak to Trent Team,
Endcliffe, Deepdale Business Park,
Ashford Road, Bakewell,
Derbyshire, DE45 1GT.    
Tel: 01629 816640
E-mail:

DCA (The Derbyshire Caving Association)
Dave Webb – DCA Conservation Officer
Tel: 0115 8401109
E-mail:

If you have any queries about or suggestions for the web site, please contact:
(Focusplus Developments Ltd.)