Author: mendipgeoarch

Vince, Jake, Brockers, Jon, Nick, Tav, and Mike

Got to the farm before the team arrived and made my way across the fields to the cave, taking care to keep one eye on the bull on the way. Safely at the cave tidied the spoil heap, added a few rocks to the wall, and packed the dry bags into bundles (x10) ready for use as the morning progressed. It was not too long to wait for Jake and Brockers to arrive (I could hear them as they walked across the field). A brief chat and they went underground to start digging at the NE extent. About 10 minutes after they had departed, the others arrived. A discussion about who was going where ensued – I was on the surface as I dug last weekend – all sorted, they ventured into the ‘abyss’. Once they got themselves organised it was not long before bags (and, infrequently, rocks) arrived ready to be hauled to the surface. The rate was steady enough to allow time to empty the bags, and add rare rocks to the wall, every now and then Jon appeared on the surface to help empty the bags too.

 And that is how the morning progressed. The weather became oppressive – warm, humid and it was not a surprise when it started to rain – quite a lot, making it very slippery on the surface around the entrance and up to the spoil heap. Fortunately, it was not too long before the team arrived on the surface. 68 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied plus some rocks. Time for the Hunter’s and some refreshments.

Vince, Jake, Tav, Brockers, Jon, and Nick

Wandered up to the cave to tidy up the spoil heap and add a few rocks to the wall before heading underground. Grabbed an unused drag tray from just below the entrance and set off to the far NE dig beyond Trick or Treat. Once there put together a haulage skip (I had bought with some lengths of rope from home) ready to try out later in the morning. That done got out the camera and took quite a few photographs  and video of the sediment deposition in this section of the cave. Jake arrived, closely followed by Tav. Digging got underway.

Sediment was loosened, bags were filled, and hauled away, the drag tray worked well although its passage was eased with the occasional sprinkling of water on the slope. I was digging, Jake hauled spoil away, Tav carted the bags and very sporadic rocks across the chamber to the ‘hump’ there the spoil was shifted through the cave and out to the surface where the bags were emptied. In between bags from the NE, about half a dozen bags of spoil were coaxed out of Can of Worms. And that’s how the morning continued until it was time to stop digging and head out to the surface.

Todays total count = 76 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus a token rock or two. To the Hunter’s!

Vince, Jake, Jon, Tav, Brockers, Nick

First job of the day was to liberate a large toad from the cave. As last week all our efforts were concentrated towards digging at the far NE extent of the cave beyond Trick or Treat. Jon was upfront loosening sediment and filling bags. The sediment was removed to reveal a thick false floor with another deposit of fine sediment below it. I was removing the filled bags back up the slope to Jake who transported the spoil across the chamber to the ‘hump’ where Tav dragged it through to the other side. Tav, assisted by Brockers, then shifted the bags (and occasional rocks) along to the pot where some of the spoil made it out to the surface. There was a rumour that someone or other had thought to open a Can of Worms, but this was never confirmed.

 Back at the main focus of digging, in between clearing stuff from Jon the slope was modified to enable a skip/drag tray to be employed in the future as forward progress is good. Meanwhile, Jon had strayed from the path and was going in the ‘wrong’ direction (to the ~east side) and was being influenced by an ‘open’ space in the roof above the sediment fill. It does appear to be an interesting development that requires further investigation. There is quite a lot going on at this dig at present. However, it was past midday, and the decision was made to move back and clear the cave of accumulated spoil. The count for today c.80 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus a couple of skip loads or so of rocks for the wall.

 Glastonbury now over, the pub was reopen and it would have been churlish not to pay them a visit for the usual post-digging refreshments.

Vince, Nick. Jon, and Jake

A smaller team assembled at the farm for today’s digging session and a little earlier than usual. We changed and wandered up to the cave. There the bags had dried nicely in the recent warm spell and excess sediment still adhered was easily shaken off. The bags were bundled into randomly numbered packs usually somewhere near to twenty. All headed underground. We had decided not to open a Can of Worms this session but instead all lend support to Nick’s activity in the far NE extent beyond Trick or Treat. Nick was in his element, happily loosening the sediment and enthusiastically filling bags, on many occasions a little too enthusiastically filled! The spoil was then dragged through the cave to be temporarily stored at the bottom of the pot. a consequence of the clement weather was that the cave was drying, and the lack of lubrication resulted in more effort was required to haul the skips. Water was applied to ease the skips, but this was in short supply so could only be done sparingly. We persevered.

 As time approached midday Nick was persuaded to stop filling bags and all together, we moved back to clear the cave. Jake reported back from the surface that the clegs were arriving in “gangs of twenty” it was a good job I had refreshed the supply of insect repellent.

Eventually the cave was cleared, and the final task was to empty the bags – about 65 of them. Not all of these bags were easily relieved of their contents and required some coaxing, turning inside out and given a jolly good shaking!

 No pub today as the staff had gone to Glastonbury. Some of the team had thought to bring their own refreshments to the entrance, others went thirsty! All was good.

Vince, Brockers, Jake, Jon, Nick, and Mike

Went up before the others arrived to get some photos of the wobbly stal at the NE end of the current digs. After photos were done made my way back out of the cave to the surface where I met up with the team. Jake made a beeline straight to the NE dig, Nick continued to open a Can of Worms, Brockers and Jon provided the support to the diggers, Mike settled in at the bottom of the entrance. I was on the surface hauling out the spoil. Managed to get some of the bags emptied – those from the NE were especially difficult to empty, when they arrived, rocks were added to the wall. When it all got too much the bags were left for later. The persistent accompaniment of buzzing flies was not welcome, and I was glad to find an insect repellent spray stuffed in a hole in a wall.

 Time passed and the diggers seemed reluctant to cease their activities and bring todays session to a conclusion. Eventually help arrived on the surface and the remaining bags emptied, wall extended, and a ‘count’ was made, arriving at 99 bags filled, hauled, and emptied, plus quite a few rocks including a couple of rather heavy ones!

 Refreshments at the Hunter’s were welcome, it had been a busy morning (on the surface) and warm too!

Vince, Jake, Jon, Nick, and Tav

Went up to the cave early to add the rocks hauled out last weekend to the wall and a bit of levelling-up to create a bit more dumping space. There were not as many rocks as I had thought and soon ran out. Nothing for it but to head underground. Bundled up a pack of bags (x20) and headed off to the far NE extent. There I spent the next couple of hours or so loosening sediment and filling bags, prised a few rocks loose too. Cleaned around the ‘wobbly’ stal which is actually wobblier than expected – definitely requires some attention to secure it in place. On closer inspection, it is an interesting stalagmite in that it is a record of several growth phases (interglacials?). Need to get a good photographic record of it still in situ. The filled bags and rocks were regularly cleared away by the support team (Nick and Tav), Jake was digging in a Can of Worms with Jon in attendance there. Currently the progress in CoW is slower as digging is rather constricted – compact sediment overlies calcite flowstone.

 All too soon it was time to stop digging and head towards the surface to empty the bags (and add more rocks to the wall). Jon had carefully carried the filled bags to the spoil dump and had arranged in piles of ten for ease of counting. Unfortunately, this well laid out plan fell apart when the rest of the team acted in an ad hoc fashion and the count reverted to the bags actually hung up. Eventually, a figure of about 70 bags was arrived at plus some skip loads of rock. Satisfied with the outcome we decided to go to the pub.

Vince, Brockers, Jake, Jon, and Nick. Doing our bit for Global Wellness Day 2024!

Wandered up to the cave before the team arrived and trimmed back the vegetation that was beginning to overgrow the path and spoil heap. When the team arrived, bags were gathered together and packed (x20) ready for refilling later.

 Jon headed off to the NE extent and I went to open a Can of Worms. Jake, Brockers, and Nick provided the support to both digs, clearing filled bags and rocks to the surface and emptying the bags. From the surface the word came back reporting the first clegs of the summer!!!

 In between loosening the sediment and filling bags I took a few images in ‘CoW’ of sediment deposition as it wasn’t too steamy at the SW extent. It is much drier and more spacious here.

The digging at the SW extent in ‘CoW’ comprises of fine sediment (sand, silt, clay) deposited over layers of calcite flowstone – the upper layer of which is sometimes degraded and stained ‘black’ from mineralisation (?), the lower layer(s) appear mere ‘solid’. Between the layers of calcite are thin deposits (mm) of fine sediment and it is suggested that during the Pleistocene period of permafrost on Mendip these sediment layers froze, causing frost heave and fracturing of the calcite layers. Hammering a bar between the layers it is possible to prise loose large chunks of calcite (the edges along the fracture line are ’dirty’). It is slower progress but still moving forward.

At the end of the session, 105 bags (from both ends) were filled, hauled, and emptied plus about 20 skip loads of rock stock piled for wall building at a later date. To the Hunter’s!

Vince, Jake, Jon, Tav, Nick, Brockers, and Mike

I went up to the cave early again not to break-up rocks but have a tidy around the spoil dump, mostly clearing away vegetation and levelling-up, and creating space. Brockers arrived, he packed bags, and we talked. Soon the rest of the team arrived, and time to get underground, all except Jake who arrived fully kitted out for surface duties today.

Tav went to the lonely NE, Nick continued to open a Can of Worms, and everyone else was somewhere in between. Initially I followed Tav to the NE dig to take some photos before it got too steamy.

I cleared a pile of bags that Tav had filled and was joined by Jon who helped bag movements. We returned to join the others. It was then a matter of moving filled bags and an assortment of rocks through the cave to the surface, keeping Jake occupied. It seems that Jake was ‘enjoying’ the sounds of playing children somewhere in the fields above the woods. It would quite some time before they moved on, and peace restored.

At the NE dig, Tav had uncovered a fine stalagmite during digging and suggested that a photographic record was taken. This was done. Unfortunately, Tav later reported that the stalagmite is ‘wobbly’. Hopefully it can be made secure with pinning and resin at some point in the future when the area around it has been fully cleared.

As last week the diggers seemed to very happy in their endeavours and were reluctant to cease activities, another later than normal end to the session. At least it was now peaceful on the surface and the weather was good. All the spoil was levelled, and rocks added to various walls, about 104 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied plus around 20 skip loads of rocks for wall building.

As usual refreshments were enjoyed at out favourite hostelry. Another good, productive digging session.

Vince, Jake, Jon, Nick, and Tav

Another earlier, solo start for me, more rocks to split. A suitable pile amassed, kit packed just as Jake arrived, followed by the rest of the team shortly thereafter. Jake kept going in a northeasterly direction to continue the dig beyond Trick or Treat, Jon set up to dig a Can of Worms, Nick and Tav providing support to the diggers. I set off to the NE with a plan to visit An Unexpected Development (AUD) to find out if we could establish a voice connection between AUD and the NE dig.

 On arrival at AUD a voice connection with Jake was easily made – loud and clear – distance between the two points estimated 2-3m. A look around the chamber at the SW extent of AUD, and beyond some fine calcite formations, the passage appears to continue, the NE dig on current trajectory should pass closely this possible continuation. Reference to survey suggests the dig is to the SE side of the known passage (AUD) and leading towards a “blank” area. Very interesting.

 A satisfactory result, time to head back to join the rest of the team and assist with spoil movements. Going through this part of the cave I was reminded just how extensive HR is, and how much excavation work has been done! It is a fine bit of caving. Back at the entrance hauled a few bags back from the Soft South, Nick suggested I might go to the surface and haul out from there. I, of course, obliged. Bags were hauled out and emptied, rocks were hauled up and another section of wall constructed, and the bags kept coming! It seemed a long time before I was joined on the surface by any of the underground team members. At the end of the session, about 100 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied from the two digs, plus a good quantity of rocks pulled out and added to a wall somewhere or other. It was a bit later than our usual finish time.

Refreshment was, as ever, sought at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn.

Vince, Jake, Jon, Nick, and Tav

I was up at the cave early to continue creating wall building material. Still clearing the accumulation of boulders at the bottom of the pot in the Sift South. There are a couple of more substantial boulders that might require more aggressive treatment, in the meantime, I will persevere with plugs and feathers. I was just about done and repacking kit when Jake arrived, followed shortly afterwards by the rest of the team. I headed off along the NE passage to dig at the far end, Tav settled in to open a Can of Worms.

 At the NE extent, a considerable quantity of sediment was removed from floor level, much of this was loose material that had become trampled, this increased the working height of the dig. Then proceeded to remove sediment from the sides and slowly moving forward (c.NE direction). The deposition layering is clearly visible – alternate bands of varying red and grey. The area to be excavated is broad. To the left side (c.NW direction) is a likely connection into Unexpected Development (it might be worth trying a voice connection next week). Of more interest is that the floor and roof appear to be dipping down steadily.  About midday digging at the NE end was finished and effort was concentrated to emptying the cave of amassed spoil. I went to the surface and started hauling bags out, then as the spoil was moved through the cave the rest of the team appeared on the surface to empty bags. Spoil dumped to the N while the weather is dry. About 90 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus several loads of rock added to the walls.

Vince, Brockers, Jake, Jon, and Tav

Yet another earlier start for me, continuing the process of reducing the accumulated pile of larger boulders at the base of the pot in the Soft South. The rocks are required for wall-building. There are a couple of especially large boulders and I experimented with removing chunks off one of them with varying success.

Brockers and Jake arrived in tandem, Brockers making a beeline to the NE extent to take up position in the ‘lonely spot’, Jake opening up a ‘CoW’. Soon after Jon and Tav were on the scene and the pile of reduced rocks I had amassed were hauled out of the pot by them, I continued to break up the last couple of boulders for this session before packing kit away. Then headed up to the NE extent beyond Trick or Treat to relieve Brockers of his filled bags. Jon came along and together we moved the spoil to the pot. All spoil was removed to the bottom of the entrance where Tav had stacked it very neatly for removal later in the morning. Jake’s accumulated spoil was cleared, then back to Brockers and so on.

Currently, forward progress is more easily obtained following the NE trending dig beyond Trick or Treat, where the spoil mostly comprises finer sediments. In ‘Cow’, forward momentum is hampered by a thick basal calcite flowstone deposit which although appears to have been fractured (freeze/thaw processes) the sediment has to be removed before the fragmented deposit can be removed. This type of obstruction is not entirely unexpected having been encountered before, we just have to ensure that dimensions of the dig allow for comfortable excavation and removal.

Eventually digging activity was curtailed at the NE extent so that spoil could be hauled out to the surface and dispersed there. I joined the surface party and was able to build up the wall and level the spoil, thereby saving me a job for tomorrow. A total of 90 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied from the two digs and about 20 skip loads of rocks added to the wall. A larger team turn-out resulting in a productive session. Refreshments were, of course, taken at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn.

Vince, Brockers and Jon

Another earlier start for me to break-up some more boulders in the bottom of the pot (Soft South) for the continuing wall extension.

Brockers was the first of the team to appear for this morning’s digging session and he promptly got on with opening a Can of Worms. It was not too long before Jon arrived completing this week’s team – 3 of us. I reduced a couple more boulders to manageable size, packed the kit away, and we hauled the rocks out of the pot and dragged them along to the bottom of the entrance. Pot cleared, I took over digging in CoW, while Brockers and Jon cleared the spoil away, getting the filled bags and rocks to the surface, and emptied the bags. And that’s how the morning proceeded at a relaxed pace – 60 bags filled, hauled, and emptied, and a good supply of wall-building material was piled up ready for use, probably tomorrow morning.

As usual, refreshments were enjoyed at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn.

Vince, Brockers, Jon, and Nick

Another early start for me to break some more boulders stashed at the bottom of the pot. Time passed quickly, Brockers was the first of the team to arrive, clutching empty bags and other paraphernalia, he began to open a Can of Worms. Not long after Jon and Nick arrived. Jon took over the digging in ‘CoW’ and Brockers went to the top of the ledge to empty the bucket as I hauled up the accumulation of wall building material. Nick was in position at the bottom of the entrance and hauled the rocks and bags away and temporarily made a pile of stuff ready to go up to the surface later.

While I packed drill and kit away, Brockers cleared filled bags from Jon, Nick continued to accumulate spoil at the bottom of the entrance. Kit stowed, we settled into a steady rhythm keeping the dig clear of bags and, as the morning progressed, the accumulated spoil was removed to the surface. No-one bothered to actually count the quantity of spoil removed but arrived at a ‘guesstimate’ of somewhere around 60-70 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus about 20-30 skip loads of rock ready to be added to the wall. There was an attempt to level the spoil (not by me) but the wall needs building up beforehand really – a job for another day!

The Hunter’s was visited for the usual post-digging refreshments.  

Vince, Nick, Jon, Jake, Brockers, Tav, Mike, and Pete Bolt (with Charlie the dog)

Another full team assemblage, this week with a welcome guest appearance by ‘Bolty’.

An earlier start by me again as more rocks are needed for wall construction and there are quite a number of boulders at the bottom of the pot that require size reduction. Busy with the plugs/feathers until all battery power (3no.) was just about used. At that moment, Jake arrived, clutching several packs of bags, heading off to the NE extent closely followed by Pete B. I packed my kit away and started towards the entrance. Brockers made a beeline for a Can of Worms and proceeded to dig.

On the surface, I swapped place with Nick, who was happy to go underground (my light battery wasn’t as charged as I had thought!), Mike was also on surface duties. The rocks from the pot were hauled out of the cave and soon added to the wall, thereby creating space for spoil disposal, and there was going to be quite a lot of spoil today. A total of 136 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied (and somewhere between 25 to 30 skip loads of rocks). All the while there was plenty of vocal support for the surface team from Charlie the dog! It became more peaceful when Pete returned to the surface.  

A very productive session and we can do it all again next weekend. As usual, there were refreshments at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn.

Vince, Brockers, Jake, Jon, Nick, Tav, and Mike

A full team assembled for today’s digging activities. It was going to be productive.

An earlier start by me and Brockers. The dodgy pulley and sling were replaced at the entrance before venturing underground. There was a small accumulation of boulders on the ledge that needed dealing with, so I got to work with plugs and feathers, Brockers cleared away the reduced lumps of rock and also filled a few bags in Can of Worms (leaving a pile of debris for Jake to clear away later). Jake was the next to arrive and took over from Brockers digging Can of Worms. Rock reduction completed I went up to the surface, collecting some a small bar, as requested by Nick, on the way out. The rest of the team had arrived. Nick was repairing the stile in the woods before heading underground to dig at the NE end beyond Trick or Treat. The subsurface support team comprised Brockers, Mike, and Tav, Jon joined me on the surface. With the two os above ground, the bags were hauled out, emptied, and the dumped spoil levelled, the rocks were added to the wall to create more space for spoil dumping. It was a very pleasant morning on the surface.

Below ground digging progressed a good rate. About 140 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied, plus quite a few rocks hauled out and placed on the spoil heap wall. Refreshments were well-earned at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn today.

Report by Jon

“Only three reliable members of the Team arrived on site at the appointed hour. Between them, Jon, Nick and Jake remembered the key. It was a blustery morning, but dry, as the Team walked up to the dig. The stile just before the dig is in need of attention. A previous attempt to shore up one of the posts has highlighted the fact that the post needs replacing.

The dig was unlocked using the multi-person, rock-and-key method.

Jake repaired the skip on the entrance haul. Cable ties are now available at the bottom of the entrance. After an absence of more than a week, Nick was clearly desperate to dig. The Team opted to focus on the Can of Worms. While Nick filled his first pack of bags, Jon and Jake moved some building stone. Jon worked on the ledge; Jake hauled. After Nick had filled several bags, Jake moved up to the bottom of the entrance. Jon carried bags of spoil from Nick back to the ledge. Nick also dug out a quantity of rocks. Three larger rocks remain on the ledge and will need further persuasion to be removed. Jake hauled.

As is now normal, the hauling pair then moved up again and took the spoil bags to the surface. Jon loaded at the bottom of the entrance. Jake hauled.

Jake’s new oiling system for the pulley above the entrance came too late. The pulley needs to be replaced with some urgency. It survived the morning but is audibly distressed. Some 60 bags of spoil were removed along with 18 loads of stone.

The tree eventually advised Jake that it was time to retire to a local hostelry for light refreshment. The good news was that the tree had put its clock forward the previous week. The key was dutifully returned to the correct place. This act was duly witnessed.”

Vince, Jake, Jon, Brockers, and Mike

Mike digging at the NE extent, continued along on right side to work towards the ‘open’ spaces, reducing the hump of sediment. There is a thin crust of calcite between the ‘space’ and the sediment. Interesting. Meanwhile, in the SW, Brockers was expanding the broad dig-face in a Can of Worms. There is no obvious way ahead as yet, just a wide. Inclined bedding filled to the roof with sediment. Plenty of stuff for us to dig, probably all the way to Badger Hole! The support team – Jake, Jon, and me – worked to keep the filled bags moving freely through the cave to the surface where they were emptied into the extension area. Jake was principal bag remover, Jon did most of the hauling out to the surface and emptying bags, I was flitting about somewhere in between wherever required. All went smoothly and time passed quickly.

 Today’s bag total = 106 filled, hauled, and emptied (42 from the NE, 64 from the SW), plus a few rocks were pulled out to be added to the wall building pile ready for use (probably tomorrow).

Vince, Jake, Brockers, Tav, and Mike

My turn to take up the ‘lonely’ spot beavering away beyond Trick or Treat, Mike was up on the landing opening a Can of Worms. The support team comprising Jake, Brockers, and Tav, not only kept the digs clear of bags but also hauled out a pile of rocks for wall building.

 As the morning progressed at the NE extent the dig ahead looked increasingly interesting. There are more spaces being revealed over the top of the sediment, sometimes with a thin crust of calcite flowstone and a feint hint of air movement. We appear to be approaching a bit of a ‘hump’, another metre or so of digging might reveal something more – all very tantalising, good stuff.

  At the close of the session, about 80 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied and an estimated 30 skip loads of rock for wall construction.

  Another excellent session rounded off with a visit to the Hunter’s Lodge Inn for some refreshments.

Vince, Brockers, Jake, Jon, and Mike

Jake digging in the ‘lonely’ spot at the NE extent while I was opening a ‘Can of Worms’ to the SW. the support team; Brockers, Jon, and Mike were kept fully occupied clearing away filled bags and rocks.

I had packed a drill and plugs/feathers with a plan to reduce a couple of boulders to a more manageable size. Rocks are required for the next phase of wall-building in the extension area. That done, I then got on with loosening sediment and filling bags. A productive session with a steady supply of filled bags and rocks being removed from the two dig sites. The spoil (or at least some of it) was removed to the surface and bags were emptied too.

 Jake had lugged up from the shed a bag of ready-mixed mortar to carry out remedial work to the upper skip haul route. This was done when all spoil had gone beyond that stage and was mostly on the surface. The excess mortar was used to consolidate a rickety stile post on the path to the cave/farm.

 About 90 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus quite a lot of rock added to the wall-building pile. Empty bags were repacked and back underground ready for the next session.

 The session was concluded with refreshments at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn as usual.

Vince, Nick, Jake, Jon, and Tav

The digging continued to be pursued on the two fronts; Nick (on a self-imposed time constraint for this morning) was promptly dispatched to the NE extent, clutching a pack of fresh digging bags (supplied by Brockers), to work alone, Jake was digging at the SW extent in Can of Worms. The support team, comprised Jon, Tav, and me, worked continuously to keep both digs clear of filled bags (and making sure empty bags were available to be filled).

 Jake concentrated his effort on widening Can of Worms to see if the bedding reduced in height on the south side. Meanwhile, Nick working away in the ‘lonely’ spot had opened a small space at roof level that looks interesting, although more work is required to open the space fully to see how it might develop. As Nick was on a time limit, digging ceased in the NE about 11:30 and Nick returned to the surface, staying long enough to haul up some bags before leaving.

 At the bottom of the entrance there was a considerable accumulation of filled bags and the support team decided it was time to get the filled bags out of the cave, Jake was left to continue digging in Can of Worms. Eventually, all hands were engaged in spoil clearance. Once on the surface the bags were then emptied over the wall into the new extension area. I will level off the spoil dump later in the week. Today’s final count was about 120 filled bags emptied, and a token rock added to the wall. The woven bags supplied by Brockers are a lot easier to grip and carry than the plastic bags.

Refreshments at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn as usual.

Vince, Jon, Jake, Brockers, and Nick

As is the current trend, work continues at either end of a NE/SW alignment. Jon was dispatched to the ‘lonely’ spot at the NE extent, dragging a pack of wet and heavy ‘empty’ bags with him. Brockers was in the more sociable SW extent now known as a Can of Worms, support for the diggers was provided by Jake and Nick, I was at the bottom of the entrance. Digging was slightly delayed at the SW extent as the digger needed to adjust his attire. Eventually though work progressed.

 When about 20 bags had amassed at the entrance, I went up to the surface, with Nick loading the bucket, the filled bags were hauled out of the cave, then returned underground to clear away the backlog of bags from the diggers, and the next lot of bags were hauled up to the surface, some of them were emptied too. The rain continued intermittently mixed with hail/sleet. Back underground.

 About midday digging activities were wound down and the process of clearing the cave and emptying the bags took priority. About 100 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied plus one rock. Light rain continued to fall. Job done, back to the farm, changed, and up to the Hunter’s for refreshments.

Solo. At the cave about 2 hours

Underground – went along to the NE extent (Trick or Treat/An Unexpected Development area) to have a quick look at progress (see above) and to take some sediment pH/temperature readings [mean pH 5.2; soil temp. 10 degs C]. Back to Can of Worms for more sediment pH/temp. readings [mean pH5.1; soil temp. 10 degs C], then returned to the surface

Above ground – moved the pile of rocks to where I needed them, down to the spoil heap extension, and then added them to the wall. When all available rocks were used up, that was it for today. Last task was to take some surface soil pH/temp. readings [pH 5.6; soil temp. 8 degs C].

Solo. At the cave about 1½ hours

Weather forecast (Met. Office) is for heavy rain spreading in this afternoon, dry in the morning. So decided to head over to HR and level yesterday’s spoil dump before the rain came and turned it to slop. While I was there added just a few rocks to the extension wall because I couldn’t resist doing so.

 As I headed back over Mendip (south>north) the sky had darkened and it was just beginning to rain!

Vince, Nick, Brockers, Jake, Jon, and Tav

Working on two fronts, Tav was dispatched to the ‘lonely spot’ at the far NE extent, beyond the Soft South, the support team would relieve him of his accumulation of filled bags later in the session. Meanwhile, Jon was forging ahead in the ‘Can of Worms’ in closer contact with the support team, Jake and Brockers. Nick was hauling back a steady supply of filled bags and rocks as the underground rockpile was being deployed to the surface for wall-building later in the coming week.  I was on the surface hauling the spoil to the surface. Nick occasionally resurfaced to help empty bags.

An unusual occurrence when the tranquillity of the setting was shattered by squawking children playing in the fields to the north of the woods. Not a particularly welcome noise.

 No-one paid too much attention to the bag count today it was probably somewhere between 100 and 120 filled, hauled, and emptied plus a lot of rocks including quite a few large ones, ideal for wall-building.

Vince, Tav, Nick, Jon, Jake, Brockers

Following the recent trend digging was continued on two fronts each end of a NE/SW line. I was on the solo effort at the far NE extent while Tav was at the SW extent opening a ‘Can of Worms’ accompanied by the newly acquired ‘Wormslayer’ replacing the measly pick that I broke last weekend. The support team  (underground section) comprised Jake, Brockers, and Jon, with Nick on surface duties this weekend.

 At the NE extent, digging was slow but steady in the slightly constricted space. It is rather squalid as there is a strong drip of water, especially where you need to lie and dig, by the end of the session I was thoroughly soaked through. Looking ahead at the dig face there is a tantalising gap over the top of the sediment and the roof has plenty of ‘scalloping’ evidence of strong water flow through the passage. Also detected a feint air movement.

 At the SW extent, progress was more productive as the digging area is more spacious.

About 100 bags (NE c.30, SW c.70) were filled, hauled, and emptied over the wall to the extension area below (to be levelled off during the coming week) and about 30 skip loads of rock were brought to the surface for wall-building.

An interesting looking sediment deposit had previously caught my eye located off the ledge at the top of the pot in the Soft South, Hallowe’en Rift, Mendip. It was a change of circumstances that prompted a review of our digging strategy and the development of Nick’s ‘alternative’ dig, now renamed ‘Can of Worms’ that prompted a bulk sample (about 1kg weight) to be taken on 03/02/2024. Subsequently, a sub-sample (c.200g) from the bulk was washed over a 63-micron test sieve to remove the silt/clay fraction leaving the sand- and gravel-size particles to be graded (see image below). Clearly evident is the abundance of iron/manganese spherules in the sample. These are thought to have accumulated in turbulent eddies during flood events during the Pleistocene period, the finer silt and clay particles having been winnowed away. The origin of the iron/manganese is the object of further ongoing research. The presence of iron/manganese spherules has been noted in previous sediment samples taken in Hallowe’en Rift but not in the same concentrations.

Vince, Nick, Jon, Jake, Tav, and Mike

Just one down in numbers today. Continued to dig on two fronts at each end of a NE/SW line. Nick on a solo effort at the NE extent on the far side of Trick or Treat (now approaching An Unexpected Development), every now and again the support team going along to clear the accumulated pile of filled bags. At the SW extent, in the “Can of Worms” it was my turn to dig. This dig is still in its infancy at this early stage and will need some time to develop, we might then begin to conjecture about what is happening, or not. It is, however, a very comfortable digging spot.

 The spoil was being taken all the way out to the surface where Jake was busy hauling, the bags were also being emptied. The spoil was being tipped over the wall into the new extension where it will be levelled later in the week. The new extension means it is quite a bit easier/quicker to dispose of spoil. A good, steady session with about 140 bags filled, hauled, and emptied from the two digs.

It was noted, by at least one of the support team, that the heady aroma of “peppermint” had not quite dissipated, requiring an occasional trip to the surface to help empty bags and get a breath of fresh air!

 Up to the Hunter’s for the usual refreshments.

Vince, Brockers, Nick, Mike, Tav, and Jon

Digging proceeded on two fronts again this weekend; Mike and Jon headed off to Trick or Treat to continue the effort there, bags were stored temporarily, while digging also continued off the top of the ledge (Soft South) in Nick’s “Can of Worms.” Brockers took control of the situation here, Nick shuttled the filled bags and rocks along the ledge to load the skip which was hauled away by me at the bottom of the entrance, Tav was on the surface. With the spoil coming from two fronts, it proved to be a full-on session hauling spoil out of the cave. Later in the session I briefly returned to the surface to haul a few bags and helped to empty some before going back underground.

The short video above shows Brockers busily developing Nick’s “Can of Worms” on the ledge above the pot in the Soft South, as Nick approaches from the entrance to keep an eye on proceedings!

Later, Mike reported that the main dig in Trick or Treat appeared to be opening up a bit, hopefully, we are close to getting past the constricted point. The dig off the top of the ledge in the Soft South is still in its infancy and has to be developed more before a better understanding is reached. There are, of course, several theories already discussed – time will tell if any of them were right!

 A total of 100 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus several skip loads of rocks added to the wall-building pile. As ever, refreshments were taken at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn.

Vince, Tav, Mike, Jon, and Nick

A bit down on numbers today – no matter still plenty to make some progress. Arrived at the cave, packed the “freeze-dried” bags that were left hanging up ready to be refilled later, then all underground. Tav led the way to the dig on the northern side of Trick or Treat with Mike to assist, Jon was at the ‘hump,’ Nick transporting the spoil along the NE passage to the pot, and I was up on the ledge.

 There was a bit of a delay in bags arriving, so I was tempted to take a poke at Nick’s ‘dig’ off to one side of the ledge, an action that immediately aroused interest in from Nick. Jon came along with a message from Tav that “progress would be slow, and bags could be temporarily stockpiled.” That was it really, Nick’s “Can of Worms” was opened and was developed further through the course of the morning. With the three of us spoil could be moved all the way to the bottom of the entrance. Every now and again we (me, Nick, Jon) reverted back to clearing the stockpiled bags from Tav and Mike. When about 50 or 60 bags (and rocks) had accumulated at the bottom of the entrance we then thought we had better get the spoil out to the surface, which we did. Jon remaining on the surface to empty the bags while Nick and I headed back along towards Trick or Treat to clear the bags from there.

 Digging activities thereafter came to an end and the last few bags were hauled out to the surface and emptied. All the session’s bags were hung up on the lines to dry or more likely rinsed off if the latest weather forecast is correct for the week ahead – Storm Isha arrives tomorrow apparently! Hopefully, they won’t all blow away.

 Todays’ total, c. 80 bags filled, hauled, and emptied, plus a couple of skip loads of rock added the wall-building stockpile. To the Hunter’s for refreshments.

Vince, Tav, Brockers, Mike, Nick, Jake, and Jon

A full team turnout today – the spoil will go all the way out to the surface!

 At the dig on the northernmost part of Trick or Treat it was my turn to loosen the sediment and fill bags. Tav was clearing the spoil away across the ‘chamber’ to Brockers on the other side of the ‘hump’. Mike hauled the spoil back and transported along the NE passage to the pot. Nick on the ledge caught the bucket, emptied it, transferring the bags to the next skip  which was then hauled away by Jake to the bottom of the entrance. After digging last week, Jon was on the surface and hauled up, and emptied, the filled bags – 120 of them. Only c.80 bags were filled at the far dig, Nick filled some from another dig somewhere near the top of the ledge. Also, Brockers filled a ‘couple’ of bags, and so did Mike – tidying!

 A productive session and refreshments at the Hunter’s later were well-earned.

Vince, Jon, Tav, Brockers, and Jake

The first digging trip in HR of the new year. The bags that had been left hanging on the ‘drying’ lines were well-rinsed on the exterior but not so ‘dry’ on the inside. When rolled into packs of ten they were not exactly lightweight!

 All the team set off into the deep Soft South to take up various allocated positions. Jon was at the helm, digging on the northernmost end of Trick or Treat, I was clearing back the filled bags, across the ‘chamber’ to the ‘hump’. Tav was on the other side of the ‘hump’ hauling away the loaded drag-tray and transferring the load to the next skip to be hauled away by Brockers. The spoil was then lugged along the NE passage to the pot and pulled up to the ledge where the bucket was unloaded by Jake, the filled bags then stacked neatly at the top of the pot.

 Trick or Treat is now a sizeable ‘chamber’, it is about 10m from the dig across to the ‘hump’ and up to about 5m wide, it is mostly stooping height, although there are places where it is about 3 to 4m high. There are some interesting calcite deposits, including small helictites, botryoidal, flowstone, stalactites, and stalagmites, with varying colouration from white to red.

 Digging ceased at midday when the priority became clearing of the accumulated spoil from the cave. By the close of play about 70 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied onto the spoil heap.

Refreshments were taken at the Hunter’s as usual. A mellow session.