I imagine those who have been digging (or thinking of digging) in this location are acutely aware now of the SSSI designation and the published documents which detail the NRW management statement and the list of potentially damaging operations that are relevant to the caves. Here they are.
https://naturalresources.wales/media/638451/SSSI_0241_SMS_EN001f961.pdf and
https://naturalresources.wales/media/638441/SSSI_0241_PDO_EN001a1ac.pdf To help, here are the relevant extracts:
From the
management statement:Long-term Vision for the Site and Features:3.7 The Alyn Gorge Caves, comprising three cave systems within the Carboniferous Limestone
The caves should continue to demonstrate how geological structure, lithology and water flow influence passage profile. The range and distribution of sediments deposited in the caves should also continue to provide evidence of the solution and stream processes that have occurred over time. A variety of calcite formations should occur throughout the caves, providing an insight into the history of the caves and the
contemporary environments. Access to the three cave systems, namely Ogof Hesp Alyn, Ogof Hen Ffynhonnau and Ogof Nadolig, should be available for legitimate study and research.
Key Management Issues:4.7 The Alyn Gorge Caves, comprising three cave systems within the Carboniferous Limestone
CavingOgof Hesp Alyn is a ‘sporting’ cave and attracts many visiting cavers; 400 recorded man visits were made over a seven-month period in 1996. Although the North Wales Caving Club (NWCC) considers the cave to be fairly robust, with only minor damage from caving activities since its discovery, there have been no base-line studies against which to monitor the cave.
Ogof Hen Ffynhonnau is an easier and popular cave to explore. It contains calcite formations and a greater variety of cave sediments and is less robust than Ogof Hesp Alyn. Significant damage to some of the calcite formations has already taken place. Ogof Nadolig is the smallest of the three cave systems. It is an older fossil cave, which is unconnected to the present river drainage.
Though Ogof Nadolig is smaller and less well used than the two larger caves, it is more vulnerable. There is currently no effective control over who uses the cave and damage to calcite formations has taken place. Currently, the main threat to the cave fabric and environment comes from the wear and tear resulting from the movement of cavers and their activities. It is important that the more delicate and important formations within the caves are taped off following the baseline survey to be carried out by the NWCC.
Controlling access to the caves, education of visitors and taping off of the more sensitive areas will lead to less damage of the cave formations and conservation of these important cave systems.
At present there is no immediate threat, either directly or indirectly, from mineral extraction/quarrying. However, if one quarry were ever reactivated, consideration would need to be given over the use of explosives and the charges used so that damage from blasting to the cave system and its structures was prevented.
Activities on the surface above the caves or in their catchment areas need to be monitored to ensure that activities which might adversely impact on these underground systems are controlled. Incidents of influxes of diesel oil and dirty water to the caves have been reported within the past five years.
and from the
list of operations requiring consent:20. Extraction of minerals including peat, shingle, hard rock, sand and gravel, topsoil, subsoil, lime, limestone including limestone pavement, spoil and cave deposits.
24. Modification of natural or man-made features, including cave entrances and clearance of boulders, large stones, loose rock or scree and the battering, buttressing or grading of geological exposures and cuttings (rock and soil) and infilling of pits and quarries.
25. Removal of geological specimens, including rock samples, minerals, cave sediments and cave decorations.