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Starter: The big question: Should caving and the show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge?

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? Learning objectives: • To explain why caves are fragile environments. • To explain how caves can be damaged by people. • To decide whether human activity in caves is acceptable or not.

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? What is the difference between caving and show caves? Why do people go caving and go into show caves?

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? Gough’s cave at Cheddar has around 250, 000 visitors a year. The inner caves are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The caves are also home to Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats; one of Britain's more endangered mammals.

How can caving and people visiting show caves damage the cave environment, both living and non-living?

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? Each of you will have a number of 1 to 3 As a group, you will need to be able to answer three questions about the Cheddar Cave ecosystem using information from a set of cards to help you. Person one must write down the answer to question one and, if asked, will be able to feedback that question to the class; person 2 will write down the answer and will feedback question 2 etc. 1. Why are there so few creatures in cave systems? 2. Why are cave environments so fragile? 3. How can people damage caves? Answer the above before you see question 4 on the next slide.

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? Feedback 1. Why are there so few creatures in cave systems? 2. Why are cave environments so fragile? 3. How can people damage caves?

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? 4. Look at the images below. How could these cause damage to caves? What do you think each one is trying to show? Passages may be widened for easier access. Lampenflora has grown near the artificial lighting. Cave entrances may be blocked by doors or grids to protect them from vandalism.

4. Look at the images below. How could these cause damage to caves? Passages may be widened for easier access. This will change air flow, temperature, humidity and CO 2 levels. Lampenflora has grows near lighting. This alters the natural food chain. Entrances blocked. This may also change the air flow or access to animals which use the caves.

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? An artificial pool in Gough’s Cave which has been turned into a wishing well full of coins. Do you agree with this? The lights are on constantly during opening hours in Gough’s cave. Why is this a problem?

A more extreme example: This photograph was taken in Calgardup Cave in Western Australia Before After

The big question: Should caving and the show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? You have 15 minutes to explain whether or not you think caving and show caves should be banned. You can, if you want to, ban one, but not the other. You must use the ‘so what’ technique for each of your points. This will be peer assessed using the criteria on the next slide.

Could caving or visits to show caves take place without damaging caves? Can you think of any rules or guidelines that cavers and show cave tourists should follow to minimise damage? Write these down in your books.

Should caving and show caves be banned at Cheddar Gorge? A Excellent You have included many points as to why caving and show caves should or should not be banned. You have explained all of these points in detail showing an excellent understanding about the issues. B Good You have included many points as to why caving and show caves should or should not be banned. You have explained most of these points in detail showing a good understanding about the issues. C Satisfactory You have included at least 3 points as to why caving and show caves should or should not be banned. You have explained each point briefly. D Improve- You have included a couple of points as to why caving and ment show caves should or should not be banned, with limited Needed explanation. Give it a grade and a WWW and EBI comment

Plenary Would it be such a great loss if people were not allowed in caves? Is it such a big loss if a few tiny creatures that most people have never seen or heard of are destroyed? A cave cricket, Australia Horseshoe bats, UK