10/12/25 grills fixed on 2 holes

Report from Mike Moxon

Mike M checked the water level, which was totally filling lower passage, so most of tools underwater and two tubs we left by railway under roof were also full. I moved everything that I could reach back to top of spoil heap, except the trolley, which is above Stu's seat. Mike Wise drilled holes around both grills and fitted bolts, with Jon's assistance. They only used single hole plates, so are turned out to hold grill from all 4 sides, but can be rotated to still allow access.

25/11/25 end chamber starting to flood...

From Mike Moxon - Jon, Harley and he were digging. 

End was flooded to similar depth as last week, but right across final chamber, so no longer draining. Moved about 5 tubs of mud and similar number of rocks back to entrance, tools back to middle haul and bigger rocks back a bit from chamber. Also filled 4 bags from tubs and some of pile on top of spoil heap, to raise edge of wall. 

18/11/25

Report from Mike Moxon

The chamber at end had obviously flooded on Friday and water had been running along the approach passage (a couple of frogs were in the pool at start of final haul). Fortunately the hole in floor had drained, but quite a lot of water was left at dig face (just over wellie depth in right corner). Ed and Mike cleared up the slumping and dug a channel under the big left hand boulder to drain the water, before bailing out the last bit. This caused the boulder to tilt away from the wall until it was resting on the central rocks, Ed re-exposing the sloping floor on that side which Harley had found last week - fortunately the big rock is resting on this and the one behind it is now resting on the big rock. Harley also helped with trying to drain both front and the flood under right hand aven, also moving tubs back to Jon. Smaller rocks were also moved further back within chamber, before 33 buckets of slop were dumped on spoil heap, with just 2 drier loads resulting from a slump further back. Fortunately clear skies whilst we were changing, although there was a small amount of precipitation whilst underground - retired to the Hunter's at 9.15

11/11/25

report from Mike Moxon

Jon noticed a couple of buckets tucked up the back passage, which Ed and Harley retrieved - we think they may have washed there when the shaft flooded, so Jon and Harley filled most of them up, whilst I did a bit of mud clearing around the chamber and moved all 35 back to the first haul, Ed carrying the majority back to the steps. Harley emptied half of them down the side passage and the rest we did on the spoil heap, as it had stopped raining by then (fortunately it only started as we were heading down to the entrance). Met James and Estelle in the Hunters'

28/10/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Ed and Harley dug, whilst Jackie Bishop (MCG) and Mike moved the 33 buckets back, before we all hauled and Harley emptied most of them down the side passage (various rocks also came out over last couple of weeks that are still in the end chamber). Went to Hunters afterwards where we met up with MCG Tuesday nighters.

21/10/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Estelle out of action due to broken ankle, so no James either as has to walk the dog! 

Mike and Harley dug, Ed and Jon started moving tubs back. 33 were filled and then hauled out for emptying, before we discovered Stu sat in his van, having failed to find his helmet and tripped coming over to the dig with poor lighting and ending up with a dislocated shoulder, which resulted in A&E! 

Most of the bits for securing the 'original' shaft are now with Jon, just needs one of the team to facilitate a drill to do this soon, best done in daylight for safety reasons. 

14/10/25 Surface work/checking old shafts

Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley

1.5hrs

Estelle cut back the brambles, especially around the hole under the hedge (the one with stemples, so didn't require a ladder), whilst Jon and Mike coiled the blue pipe, brought aluminium ladders up from beside main hole, and lifted the old dumpy bags. We then descended all the holes except the deepest one near the gate (as couldn't see ledge to rest ladder on in dark, and really need a longer one), but didn't find anything, except a bit more mud than when we dug them, and the second across has very luxuriant moss in bottom. Next laid longest ladder across hedge hole and cable tied those grills together, before leaving the 3 ladder sections across the two holes nearest the gate, just to make them more obvious and provide more support than just the grill. We then met Stuart at the Waldegrave, after he'd had a good rummage around the Belfry and Rathaus, to see if there were any more useful materials.

We need to plan a daylight session to safely descend the deepest one and secure the mesh/drill the plates in once all materials are sorted in the coming weeks. The key is to make it so they can be unbolted should access be required in future, but make them safe so if anything goes across them, they won't fall in!

7/10/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Harley and Ed dug, whilst Jon moved buckets back and Mike hauled. Cave was a bit damper than last week, so middle haul didn't need lubricating. 33 buckets emptied again and a few rocks moved to start of final haul. Big toad by end of railway. 

30/9/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Mike arrived just before 6pm and took photos of the other entrances to help with the planning to secure the mesh down, Hollie was there just after, having been delayed by an accident in Cheddar. The buckets stank of fermented laurel berries, those that don't leak being two thirds full of water (one live frog in empty bucket, another drowned - two more were lurking under the ladder), so we emptied them out and headed down to fill all 33. Loose rock on left was finally removed from fill. Jon and James arrived at this point so we hauled and emptied everything, then took them down again so J&J could refill. Hollie had been digging around the big suspended rock on right and it was moving a bit by time James finished with it. All 33 buckets emptied and scraped again before heading to the pub. Middle haul had needed lubrication (water), so one of cider flagons emptied, but both refilled from surface bucket (although that seems to have diving beetles living in it, so left some water there). James picked Estelle up so she could come to Waldegrave (his car wasn't playing ball).

12/8/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Ed was digging on the left, Mike on right (around roof boulder - still not exposed enough to lever). Jon then moved buckets back to James on first haul. After 33 buckets were filled, Mike had a go at moving said boulder, but had more success with a smaller one behind the giant on the left, although it only shifted an inch or two it's definitely a loose tooth, whilst still sat on plenty of mud, so not going to slump, but probably best being worked on when you haven't got anyone else behind you. Others emptied the buckets with minimal scraping required, before retiring to the Hunters.

5/8/25

 Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley, Matilda Doel, Ed Ford

1.5hrs

Estelle on left digging and Matilda on the right, easy digging and is quite dry in there now so not getting very dirty at all from digging or hauling. Filled the 33 skips and then hauled them out, emptying them into the old left hand dig. The whole dig face is still going forwards and down, the right has a large boulder in the roof, which at the end Estelle had a prod at, but it isn't loose yet, Small rocks were coming out from above it though confirming it is a rock rather than wall. Headed to the Waldy after. 

22/7/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Matilda was digging, I believe alongside Ed. Jon was passing buckets back and James hauling. Mike arrived just in time to move loads back to second haul and start that (next time we need a knife to replace skip - it's tied in - there are more skips near entrance ladder, with at least one old krab there and another in my car). Buckets hauled back to Stu at the entrance, where a few were emptied down side passage and rest on spoil heap. 18 then went back down for total of 52 loads removed (although one handle broke, so down to 33 from now)

15/7/25

 Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley

1.5hrs

Filled all 34 buckets from digging the end and Mike digging out some slops and other bits up passage. Right hand side is going down as well as forward at the moment, left hand side still looking aven like, but during the course of the digging a large boulder was gently laid to rest next to Jon digging. Mike and Jon manoeuvred it to a better location before we headed up passage to move all the buckets out of the cave. At least they were easy to empty, which was the only easy part of the job when there is only 3 of you!

8/7/25

 from Mike M

James, Jon, Ed, Mike and Stu. James and Jon dug first, whilst Ed moved buckets (and cleared a couple of slop from drainage hole), whilst Mike hauled. Then took them back to Stu, with a few going down the left hand dig and rest on spoil heap. Being only 8.20pm, James and Mike took 19 back to front and filled them with mud from left and red / orange earth from right. Quite a few rocks came out which Ed used for stepping stones in the chamber, also moving the buckets back for Jon to haul. These were taken back to the spoil heap, where Jon filled a few bags. Finished by 9pm. No darts, but waldy was busy with diners just finishing & Estelle joined us.

1/7/25

 Estelle Sandford, Jon Riley, Mike Moxon

1.5hrs

All digging to start, Mike cleared most of the remaining slump from aven on right, then we moved 34 buckets back to spoil heap and still finished by 8.30. Estelle digging downwards to right, Jon digging upwards on left. Left looks like it may be an aven, floor is going down.

24/6/25

 from Mike M

Jon, Stu, James, Ed, Matilda, Mike and Matty Dredge (who locked his keys in his car, so I'm not really sure who did what, as I spent more time trying to get in touch with his girlfriend - eventually he remembered his smart watch would link to his phone in the car and persuaded her to drive an hour with his spare set. Fortunately we could get around his car, so left it at cutler's, having informed Kevin, and took him to waldegrave in Ed's spare clothes and a pair of my shoes), where Bex picked him up just as we were finished.

3/6/25

Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Hollie London, Adrian Miles, Wesley De Beer, Matilda Doel, Stu Lindsay, Ed Ford

1.5-2hrs

Early bird group started at 6:30 with rest turning up usual time of around 7. Mike picked Wesley de Beer up as there wasn't space on MCG trip this evening for him. He went with Hollie around other bit of passage before joining Adrian and myself at front, Adrian and Wes dug, Hollie cleared more of slump from aven and I moved buckets back, until Matilda arrived to do end haul, and then Estelle, Stu and Ed arrived to complete the team. First 34 buckets were mostly full by the time the later ones arrived, so these were dragged out of the system and dumped in the side hole again, then Estelle and Matilda dug the second round of 34 buckets with Estelle left side and Matilda on the right. Still really easy diging and quite a few rocks also coming out, some moved out and some moved to the conveyorbelt chamber area for staging. After the second round of buckets removed and dumped and scraped, we headed to the Waldy. 

27/5/25

Report from Mike Moxon

I was digging on left, Jon on right, James in support, & clearing the drainage hole, until Kat arrived to do end haul. Most of material dumped in side passage, plus some of previous week's rocks moved back to entrance.

20/5/25

Estelle Sandford, Jon Riley, Mike Moxon, Ed Ford, Matilda Doel, Hollie London

1.5hrs

Estelle & Hollie dug first and filled the first round of 34 buckets. Digging is easy and quite dry mud, which is easy to empty. On the left is going in 2 directions, up left looks like an aven possibly again, right hand digging is easy and dry and still going forwards and also down a bit too. After the spoil from the first round of buckets was emptied into the old left hand dig hole and a load of rocks removed, plus a bit of crazy paving in the puddle, 19 buckets went back down and Ed and Matilda filled those and they were brought out and emptied before heading to the Waldy. 

13/5/25

from Mike Moxon

Ed and Mike arrived 6pm to find the rheas in the garden (they were still there an hour later when James and Jon turned up). We took 24 buckets down, filling 18 from the front and 6 with puddle slop, and had got them back along the further 2 hauls by the time others joined us. The wet ones went onto the spoil heap, but most of the mud was dumped down side passage. J&J then dug the full 34 loads, plus about 6 lots of rock - latter left either end of first haul (depending on size) and buckets all dumped down side passage - followed by some vigorous scraping! Out by 9pm for a quick stop in the waldegrave with Estelle and Stu as they closed up around us.

6/5/25

 Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley and Matilda Doel

1.5hrs

Was expecting Duncan and Fran to join us later, but they didn't make it. Filled all 34 buckets 0 Mike and Matilda at the front digging, whilst Estelle shuffled them up the chamber and Jon shuffled them further up the cave. Once all filled, we moved everything out of the cave. Some of the spoil filled the last couple of bags that had space from previous weeks, some was dumped down the hole in the floor and some in the usual spoil dumping spaces. Headed to Waldy after. 

22/4/25

Report from Mike Moxon

Jon, James, Ed and Mike - 32 buckets dug out from end in pretty short order (3 filled with rocks and couple more larger ones left to side), whilst 2 others filled with slop from puddle, were then ferried back to spoilheap and most of last week's bags filled, rest dumped. Broken tools were also brought out and one of small shovels plus crowbar taken in. Off to hunters before 9pm.

15/4/25

Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jonathan Riley, Matilda Doel, Stu Lindsay

1.5hrs

Estelle, Matilda and Mike filled all 34 buckets. Estelle and Matilda at the front, there is easily space for 2 at the dig face! On the left, there is what looks like a large boulder that currently feels solid but needs to keep an eye on. Mike continued to clear slop from the winter flooding. All buckets were transported through the cave and emptied at the surface, mostly into bags which Stu can do alone. Hunters tonight as Waldy closed early.  

1/4/25

 report from Mike Moxon

Mike had a live herald moth in his suit at start, he headed in and dug the slump from aven on right (he and Matilda also climbed up - it's now mostly solid roof with a few, sort of, mud formations). She moved all 34 buckets back to the first haul, whilst James dug the way forward. Fortunately Fran arrived in time for the second haul, so we could get tubs out to Stu at the entrance. 7 bags had 2 loads put in them & need topping up next week, rest was dumped quite easily, with minimal scraping required. Dead duck was removed from below entrance. Met Estelle and Duncan in waldegrave.

25/3/25

Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Dave Walker, Matilda Doel, Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell, Ed Ford

1.5hrs

No sign of any water level at the end, but the layer of flood slurry, plus the slump is going to need a fair bit of work to clear. Estelle & Matilda filled all available buckets, think it's 34, with a mixture of slurry from the end chamber and slump from the aven and these were transported out of the cave and emptied into bags and spoil heap. Waldy afterwards. 

Winter consolidated update

15/12/24 still flooded to top haul

Weather over the winter months has been fairly consistently wet, so no visits were undertaken as it was assumed the dig would still be flooded. 

11/3/25 Report from Mike

Me, Matilda, Stuart, Callum bisley, Ed and Kat found it was still flooded just above the conveyor belt. We removed 17 buckets of slumping / sludge from along the passageway, 1 big frog and a toad. Left 12 or 13 buckets on shelf down near the water. Callum had a look around the other bit of the cave. Then went to join James, Estelle and holly at the waldegrave (photos Kat and Mike)

20/3/25 Mike visited the dig - just a pool over the drainage hole and slump from aven on right, so is now diggable. 

Hopefully this means digging can resume on a regular basis if the weather remains dryer. 

19/11/24 flooded again

Report from Mike
End was flooded just over Welly height, so James, Jon, Matilda and I moved about 15 loads of rock back to entrance.