12/5/26

Estelle, James, Mike, Jon, Harley, Fran 

2hrs

Estelle & Mike started off digging, Mike to the left and Estelle to the right. After clearing the mud around the massive boulder James moved last week, that was rolled back a bit from the dig so is now a seat! It either needs reducing or could stay here potentially as it's not in the way as it stands. The first 33 buckets were filled, there was a 34th which was accidentally left full at the dig last week, that was taken out. Jon and Harley were soon joined by James who had walked the dog over and Fran had arrived also. We all shuffled up passage to transport the buckets out and they were all dumped into the old side dig by James and Harley. 18 further buckets were sent back down and Mike and Fran filled those with help from Jon, whilst Harley, Estelle and James worked further up hauling. All buckets were dumped either in the old dig or a few wet ones up top, buckets scraped and we headed to the Hunters.

5/5/26

Report from Mike

James and Harley dug,  Jon and Mike hauling. James got big slab on right out of face, and most of spoil went down side passage (except for the sloppier ones created by tidying the rest of chamber, and one which got left there - not found until following week). 

28/4/26

Report from Mike

Ed, Harley, Jon and Mike. Red kite flew over just as we were heading to entrance. First two dug whilst last two filled 3 buckets with slop from flooding. 30 or 31 buckets filled fairly easily as mud peeled off, and a large rock was dug out. Toad rescued from end chamber, a slug and beetle were also noticed there. All buckets then hauled back to side passage and mostly emptied there by Jon. Vole ran across surface steps as I stepped off ladder. Then off to the Hunters'

21-4-26 Digging resumes, flooding gone!

Report from Mike Moxon

Mike, Harley and Dave Wiltshire (MCG) took 10 buckets to the end, expecting to only be able to clear the material reported by Estelle previously, but the end was totally dry (apart from a small puddle by digface), so we filled 9 with slumping from there, and the other with slop from the drain hole and loose mud from elsewhere in chamber. These were hauled out and dumped under ladder (where Harley noted small holes in the spoil heap - presumably that toads had wintered in). We then took another 11 (most were stacked in 5s, but one 6 - although another handle went, so we are presumably down to 34) to the start of final haul and dug most of the slump there out as well. Quite a few bats flying around as we headed back to cars for 9pm and a trip to the Hunters'

24/3/26 Flooded still

Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Ed Ford, Harley Bennett, Jon Riley

45mins

Estelle walked up with Holly for her to remain in the car whilst we were underground. Everyone else turned up and went to look at the state of the dig and water. By the time Estelle got changed and down there, they had looked and it was over half way up the long passage towards the steps, so no chance of digging for a while yet until the water tables have subsided. Harley went for an explore in the side passages and found high water levels at the bottom of them too from the levels being the same. Headed to Waldy and met Stu Lindsay and Duncan Butler there for a drink and catch up to pass on GSG journals. First time Stu out since his operations.

4/1/2026 flooded still

Estelle's first time underground exactly 11 weeks after breaking ankle! Dig is still flooded in last chamber from December rains, and also a small collapse at the other end of the conveyor belt. Hopefully we'll get some drier weather in January.