Saturday 31st January 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann and Jude Vanderplank. Spoil clearance up the entrance shaft. Not as wet as expected after all the recent rain. Jude at the bottom loading, John on the Naughty Step, Nigel and Pete on the surface. Short delay waiting for the pheasant shooters to pass, then changed and hauling started. After 13 loads Jude needed a large rock breaking up so John went down and, after quite a bit of effort, reduced it to hauling size. Then back to hauling and a total of 21 loads achieved. More could be removed. Jude took before and after clearance photos. 1½ hours. John.

Before clearing. Photo JV.

Before clearing, further in. Photo JV.

After clearing, roof level. Photo JV.

After clearing, roof level on left. Photo JV.

Thursday 18th December 2025

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Wayne Starsmore. Only 9°C on surface but windy and heavy rain with reports of Gough’s Cave being closed due to flooding. Adrian and John got fully changed at Upper Pitts before Wayne drove over to the site. Lots of very squelchy grass and puddles but no lake at the dig. Water coming in at the bottom of the second entrance pipe and running down the walls, so no leaning back today. Took in John’s drill and he drilled 5 x 12mm x 400mm holes in the left hand wall whilst Adrian and Wayne sheltered further in. They reported that whilst John was leaning forward drilling there was no draught, but when he leaned back to change drill bits a noticeable draught came up the shaft towards them. Once John was finished, the holes marked with a short bit of cable supplied by Wayne, he packed up and headed out passing the cable reel on the Naughty Step. Wayne charged the holes with 40gm cord, connected it all up then headed out leaving Adrian to finish and bring the wire end to the surface. John had just finished changing when Wayne appeared on the surface and, as it had nearly stopped raining, Wayne went to get changed whilst John waited at the entrance for Adrian. Just as Wayne finished changing Adrian appeared, connected the firer and made a nice noise. By the time the wire was rolled up and the lid back on fumes poured out the top. Need a new washer on the gate as John dropped it down the shaft! 1 hour. John.

Thursday 11th December 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Alex Lane, Kate Lawrence, Kazushi Noiri, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Wayne Starsmore. Warmed up again,12°C on surface, but breezy. Alex and Kaz went to the bottom as they hadn’t been here before, reported it drippy. Kate and Jude continued digging at the Soakaway turning, Adrian on the Naughty Step and the rest on the surface. After a while the bottoming party returned and assisted the underground team. Total of 22 loads of muddy clatch hauled out today. Adrian had a quick look at the end before coming out. May need to bang the left hand wall again before deciding whether to keep going here or not. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 4th December 2025

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Barry Wilkinson. Cold, 5°C on surface, and rain showers as we changed and started work. Kate and Jude at the Soakaway, Adrian on the Naughty Step and the rest on the surface. Part way through Adrian descended to break up some larger rocks before resuming his position. Nearer the end John went down to break up rocks and Jude went up to help Adrian on the Naughty Step. John removed the first flake on the right wall but the second is still there but loose. There is still more spoil to remove. 22 loads today. 1½ hours. John.

Tuesday 25th November 2025

John Cooper and Adrian Vanderplank. Took John’s drill and 2m of 12gm cord. At the soakaway John drilled 4 x 10mm diameter, 500mm deep holes in the left hand wall. Adrian then selected 3 of them for the cord. The charge was fired from the surface but no fumes seen whilst packing up. 7°C, sunny but windy on surface. There was a “nice” stream flowing today making working conditions rather wet. The two flakes on the right hand wall didn't look to be securely attached and, if they haven't been shaken off, could probably be crowbarred off. 1 hour. John.

Tuesday 18th November 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Barry Wilkinson. Cold, 5°C on surface, and rain shower as we changed and started work. Kate and Jude at the Soakaway, Adrian on the Naughty Step and Barry and John on the surface. The intention is to check out the opposite direction from the current way down ie in the Soakaway direction. 20 loads of clatch and cobbles were hauled out today, much of it debris from the past digging efforts. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 13th November 2025

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Still warm but getting wetter every day. Adrian at the bottom of Pensioners’ Pot capping the step to give more room to work. Jude above him, Kate above her and John at the top stacking the rocks that were sent up. A very good outwards draught today with the capping fumes racing out. That meant it was cold being under the drips! Probably the last session for the year. Two dead karabiners from the hauling ropes brought out to be replaced next time we go in. There is still some spoil at the bottom that could be removed but too wet for cement work now. 1½ hours. John.