Category: 2026

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

At the cave entrance, spent a little time on the surface clearing vegetation and preparing the ground to further extend the spoil heap wall while waiting for the team to assemble.

A strong team for this morning’s digging session. Tav and Sam headed into Can of Worms to continue the dig at the current end, Jon and Harley were on the ledge, Brockers and Nick were also providing support moving spoil to the entrance as well as removing bulk material to expose bedrock and further improve the removal of spoil across the ledge to the entrance. Initially I was at the bottom of the entrance, but it soon became evident the I would be better on the surface with Jake to assist with spoil removal and redistribution. It was going to be a very busy morning with, at least, three diggers in action.

And so, it was! 136 bags were filled, hauled, emptied, and levelled on the spoil heap with at least a dozen skip loads (and a couple of rock-nets) of rock added to the wall.

We were thankful for a pleasant morning on the surface; warm, dry and sunny!

A pleasing and productive session. A positive report from Tav regarding dig at the current end of CoW – easier digging and the roof appears to be rising giving more space to work in. All good.

Refreshments were well-earned at our favourite hostelry!

Vince, Nick, Jake, Jon, Sam, Tav, Harley, and today’s guest, Nick Gymer

Some realignment of the spoil wall extension and bundled up dried bags while waiting for the teams arrival.

First to arrive were Jake and Sam who were quickly on their way underground to get digging underway in Can of Worms, I remained on the surface. The rest of the team turned up soon afterwards and descended into the cave to join the early diggers. Jon took Nick Gymer on a tour to An Unexpected Development (an earlier attempt to visit AUD by NG proved fruitless!) I’m not entirely sure who was where doing what but filled bags (and sporadic rocks) arrived at the entrance to be hauled out of the cave. Fortunately, there were enough breaks in the spoil hauling to allow the bags to be emptied and any rocks added to the wall. The weather was just right, pleasantly warm in the sunshine, and there was plenty of birdsong to entertain.

There were no reports of “supermassive black holes” from below just the steady flow of spoil to be hauled out. By the close of play, 89 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied, plus several skip loads of rocks onto the spoil heap wall. The spoil heap was left neat and tidy ready for the next session. Another good productive morning’s activity.

Time now for some well-earned refreshments at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn.

Vince, Jake, Tav, Sam, Jon, Nick, and Harley

I spent some time levelling over the spoil heap ready for the dumping of more material and started to bundle-up the dried bags ready for refilling later. The team arrived.

In Can of Worms, it was my turn to dig aided by Jake, continued to pursue the sediment-filled fossil passage/bedding trending southwest. It’s not especially ‘easy-digging’’ lying on your side swinging a ‘pick’ to loosen the sometimes cemented-sediment but it is, curiously, satisfying. It is drying out considerably in this part of the cave. There is no sign yet of a ‘supermassive black hole. But it does keep us entertained! And progress is positively going forward.

Tav was on the ledge hauling spoil from CoW with Sam, Harley, and Jon getting the spoil to the bottom of the entrance, where Nick hauled it out to the surface. For no apparent reason, Jon, Harley, and Sam ventured along to the Gnarly North (Harley went to the surface to ‘warm-up’ soon afterwards!) There was also some fettling done to the skip-run between the entrance and ledge, but signs of “improvement” were not obvious.

The time passed quickly and at close of play, a total of 63 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied onto the spoil heap, plus a few rocks added to the wall. As ever, a good session.

Time for the Hunters’

With Nick, Jake, Tav, Jon, Brockers, and young Harley Bennett came back for more. Got to do our part to encourage and support future generations of diggers.

Underground ahead of the teams arrival, a bit more work on the skip-run between the entrance and pot/ledge. Laid down a strip of plastic belt to see if that might ease the movement of the skip around the bend (it wasn’t a success, some further consideration required!) The team arrived…

Before digging in Can of Worms commenced, a brief discussion re: chemical alteration of passage shape, the outcome – not necessary at this moment. Nick got on with digging, I was clearing away the filled bags (filled a few with some ‘trample’ too), Jake was hauling the skip from the dig to the ledge, Tav transferred the spoil to the next skip to be hauled to the entrance by Jon, Brockers was on the surface with Harley.

In Can of Worms, Nick seemed very happy, the digging effort concentrated on following the sediment-filled bedding to the south-west. As yet, no sign of a “supermassive black hole” but then do we really care, after all, ‘breakthroughs’ only spoil a good dig!

Today’s total was 69 bags filled, hauled and emptied on the surface, although there were some bags emptied below ground to ‘level-up’ the skip-run. There were not many rocks suitable for wall building today. A fine session, always better when the cave dries up!

Refreshments were enjoyed at the Hunters’ as tradition dictates!

Just me to start with but Roz joined me later in the morning!

Today’s objective involved more rock bothering focusing on removal of the rock and calcite obstruction that impedes the ‘free-flow’ of the loaded skip from the pot/ledge to the entrance. Calcite is always difficult to deal with, and the rock, geothermally ‘altered’ marl was fine-grained, ‘baked’ hard (‘ceramic-like’) and splintery.  

Slowly chunks were removed, and with much hammering and chisel work the skip route was improved although it might require some ‘levelling-up’ by the addition of a few bags of silt/clay material, we’ll soon find out on the weekend.

Roz arrived and moved the pile of rock debris to the bottom of the entrance, and gravel was bagged and moved too. Roz also took quite a few photographs, and a selection are included with today’s summary.

I packed the kit away (drill and plugs/feathers) before, quickly, going along to the current end of Can of Worms to check on progress. Some discussion had taken place on the weekend about whether some chemical persuasion might be required. I could take off some rock at roof level to increase the working are but the floor needs cleaning to get a better view of what could be done there.

Back on the surface, cave secured, picked up Tav’s helmet (left behind at the weekend) and we returned to the farm. No Hunters; today (closed). Job done!

Vince, Jake, Nick, Jon, Tav, Mike, and todays guest digger, Harley Bennett

While waiting for the team to assemble at the cave I spent some time ‘titivating’ the spoil heap prior to the morning’s activities, before packaging the dried bags ready to be refilled later.

The team duly arrived. I wanted to have a look to see if the area where the bears are located had dried out so took Harley on a round trip to An Unexpected Development (Harley is working towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award) ending at Can of Worms. The ‘bear’ area has not dried sufficiently so no further excavation possible at present. There are a lot of tools and bags left in this area that could do with clearing back towards the cave entrance so they can be used elsewhere. When we got to CoW, Harley was directed towards the dig where Tav and Jon were busy digging and I went to the bottom of the entrance to help with spoil removal, Jake went up to the surface to haul bags and rocks out. Mike was on the ledge hauling spoil from the dig, Nick was doing his own ‘thing’ on the ledge, I’m not sure it is entirely necessary, but I couldn’t be bothered to argue the point.

The backlog of bags and rocks in the entrance were cleared, and I returned to the surface to help Jake empty the bags and add rocks to the wall before going back underground to resume my position. The morning progressed steadily.

At the end of the session, about 75 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied plus several skip loads of rocks added to the wall. And the weather was good!

Onwards to the Hunters’ Lodge Inn for the usual refreshments and debrief discussion.

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

At the cave waiting for the team to arrive fiddled about with the spoil heap walls and started packing the dry bags into bundles ready to be refilled later.

On surface duties today so stripped off oversuit, the sun was shining, and it was likely to be busy today. Jake was continuing the dig towards the southwest in Can of Worms assisted by Tav, Jon on the edge of the pot hauling away the spoil from CoW (I assume), Nick attending to a ‘protrusion’ of sediment that had been left following a recent slump of material, and Brockers at the bottom of the entrance. When there was a lull in proceedings, Brockers came up to the surface to help empty bags. Rocks were added to the wall. That’s how the morning went really.

By the end of the session, at least 100 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied plus quite a few rocks added to the spoil heap wall. A satisfying and productive digging session to be rounded off with a visit to our favourite hostelry, the Hunters’ for some refreshments and conversation.

Vince, Jake, Tav, Sam, Jon, and Nick

Got to the cave ahead of the others planning to reduce the lump of rock and calcite at the dig in Can of Worms. A slight distraction was caused by a pile of rocks, and I could not resist the temptation to add some of the stones to the spoil heap wall. Tore myself away to get underground and get on with my original objective. There has been a spell of fine weather over the last few days and in the cave, it is drying up noticeably, kit stays much cleaner.

I was just finished and packing away my drill and plugs/feathers when I could hear the sound of bag bundles being dropped down the entrance and I was soon joined by Jake. I got on with digging to the SW side of the chamber, Jake cleared the pile of rocks I had created and filled bags. Jake also had a poke in the SSW corner of the chamber but that did not develop into anything of further interest. Tav was hauling spoil from the ledge position with Sam and Jon clearing spoil to the entrance, Nick was enjoying the sunshine on the surface and hauling, emptying bags (and the rocks).

Sam and Jon decided to have a trip to the end of the Gnarly North because Sam had not been there before and to retrieve the digging paraphernalia left there several years ago. It was not a surprise to hear there was still water in the ‘spa’ and that it was cold! But, that section of the cave is now clear of stuff (this required two trips!)

Back in Can of Worms, as the morning passed by, the dig slowly inched forward, the roof began to rise, and more space was created. Most of the digging had been led on my side but at the close of the session I was now able to sit up and dig. The way forward looks promising – always good to finish on a positive note.

On the way back across the ledge something looked different and there was a ‘nose’ of sediment that would probably need tidying as it might soon come away. I was to learn later that there had been another minor slump that Jon had dealt with.

Today’s total = about 60 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus another considerable quantity of rocks added to the wall. Another productive session, but now time for the Hunters’

Walking across the fields, a procession of diggers carrying lots of old skips and plastic bags to be recycled (instigated by Nick, I think)

Vince, Nick, Jake, Tav, and Jon. And then there were five…

Another earlier start for me (underground by 08:45) to break up the very large lump of calcite and conglomerate left on the floor in Can of Worms last weekend. Quickly set to work with plugs and feathers, drilling longer holes today (14mm x 260mm drill bit) due to the thickness of the lump. This process worked well but ran out of battery power (3no. 14ah 36v) before the job was finished, something left for next weekend.

Just as I ran out of battery juice Nick arrived at Can of Worms and the pile of rock debris was removed to the surface. Nick then got on with digging, concentrating on working under the low arch on the SW side of the chamber. I cleared away the filled bags and sporadic rock to Jake perched on the ledge, Tav was flitting to and fro between the entrance and the ledge, Jon made his way up to the surface to haul out the spoil. The digging is not especially easy at present through a compact, alternating layers of calcite flowstone and fine-grained sediment (silt, sand) but Nick maintained a steady flow of spoil. It was noticeably drier in the cave compared to last weekend and certainly not as mucky.

At the close of today’s session, 68 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied and a lot of rocks were added to the wall-building pile. It was pleasant on the surface in the sunshine but now it was time for the Hunters’.

Vince, Brockers, Nick, Jon, Jake, Tav, Mike, and Sam came back for another go!

While at the cave awaiting the arrival of the team carried out some essential wall repairs and some spoil heap management duties.

A full squad assembled for this morning’s activities and while others were sorting out who was going where I took the opportunity to take Sam along to An Unexpected Development. Along the way a brief account of the history of the cave’s exploration to date. Followed the route including Merlin’s Magic Milk Parlour, Tuck Shop, Another Emotional Journey to AUD, returning through ‘the hole in the floor‘ to Trick or Treat along to the pot and up to Can of Worms. Sam continued out to the surface to join Jake and I joined the ‘support’ team (Nick and Brockers) on the ledge, Jon and Tav were busy digging away in CoW. Brockers was hauling the spoil from CoW, and I was loading the skip to Mike at the bottom of the entrance, this left Nick stuck in the middle, so he continued to ‘tidy’ the area where a small alcove had been revealed by the ‘slump’ of material a few of weeks ago. Everyone was happy doing something, there was plenty of banter.

Throughout the session there was a continuous, steady flow of spoil (filled bags and rocks) going out to the surface. Some of the rocks were on the lumpy side and the ‘rock-net’ was put to use on several occasions – good wall-building stuff. When it is busy time passes quickly and all too soon it was time to pack it in and clear the last of the spoil from the cave. My presence was requested in Cow. A large (almost 1m dia. x c.0.5m thick) lump of calcite and conglomerate had become detached and required size reduction. After a close inspection I think I can deal with it using plugs and feathers with some hammer and chisel work if necessary. Out to the surface to join the others.

Today’s count = 101 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus plenty of rocks added to the extension wall. Time for refreshments at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn.

Vince, Mike, Jake, Jon, Tav, Nick, and Brockers. The full squad!

At the cave, while waiting for the team to arrive added the pile of stones recovered last weekend to the wall extension and levelled spoil behind the wall, created more space for emptying bags later.

The team assembled. Underground in Can of Worms, me and Mike rotated the digging under the ‘arch’ on the SW side of the chamber, Jake, Jon, and Tav removed the spoil and between filled bags and rocks cleared the remaining slumped material off the ledge. Also, venturing to the bottom of the pot to tidy the spillover material from there too. Nick and Brockers were on the surface taking care of spoil redistribution.

At the dig face, a large boulder was removed from overhead that had been part of the sediment-fill in another ‘cross-rift’ that needed to be cleared before concentrating again on forward progress. Much of the silt trickling down your neck, which was irritating! Steady progress was made throughout the session and with the full team assembled spoil was shifted through the cave to the surface and on to the spoil heap. This meant digging was continued beyond midday. No idea how many bags were filled, hauled, and emptied today – someone said, “quite a lot!”

Satisfied with the morning’s effort, we departed, re-assembling at the Hunters’ for the usual post-digging refreshments.

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

Packed drill/plugs and feathers into tackle bag and loaded into Kangoo along with the previously prepared skips and all the other stuff required for a digging session in HR. All loaded, over the hill towards Wookey Hole. A bright, sunny morning was a welcome change from the recent persistent rain.

At the cave, quickly underground and along to Can of Worms to deal with the boulder left there (4no. holes – 4no. pieces), then back to the ledge where another boulder had been left. This was, similarly, dealt with. As I was packing kit away Nick and Brockers arrived to get digging underway at the current end of CoW.

A little while later Mike arrived and between us, we started to remove spoil back towards the entrance where Jake was waiting, Jon on the surface (Jake and Jon later swapped positions). It was a busy morning and there was not much time to clear the ledge of slumped material the result of last weekend’s prodding! The small decorated ‘grotto’ is just that – small, it doesn’t have much potential for anything else.

Time slips by quickly when you’re busy and, all too soon, it was midday. As expected, the diggers were reluctant to stop, the way forward was quite easy digging and they were happy to continue…but there was spoil to clear from the cave and there were bags to empty.

Today’s count = 103 (or thereabouts) bags filled, hauled, and emptied and about 15 skip loads of rocks in a pile ready to be added to the spoil heap wall.

It was still sunny! To the Hunters’ for some refreshments.

Vince, Nick, Brockers, Jake, and Jon

Got to HR before the team arrived to clear some vegetation (mostly brambles) and prepare the ground for the continuing extension of the spoil heap wall – somewhere for the inevitable supply of rocks to be utilized.

When the team arrived, Jake and Jon made a ‘beeline’ towards Can of Worms, Nick and Brockers provided the main support clearing away the spoil to the entrance. I started at the bottom of the entrance until a suitable quantity of filled bags had amassed then went up to the surface to haul them out and empty the bags, any rocks were added to the previously prepared area.

Just before Nick went underground, I mentioned that he might take a look at the perched rocks above the ‘slump’ along the ledge. There has been a lot of rain this week so for the sake of ‘safety’ they needed checking. On reflection, that was like ‘a red rag to a bull’ with the predictable result – the rocks were removed and immediately followed by more slumping! This resulted in a lot more work for me and also kept Nick occupied. An interesting consequence of this action was a small ‘viewing’ chamber containing some decent stalactite formations was revealed. This has yet to be fully investigated as it was decided that it might be better to let things settle down a bit and let gravity to its work.

Meanwhile in CoW, things were also progressing, and later reports were encouraging, the small ‘arch’ revealed last weekend continues and is showing some positive signs. It has now been opened up considerably and at the end of the session a lot of rocks were removed, digging is now much easier. As ever, time passes quickly and reluctantly digging came to an end, the last few filled bags and rocks were cleared from the cave and deposited on to the spoil heap. Today’s total: about 100 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus many rocks added to the wall extension!

A very satisfactory session rounded off with a visit to our favourite hostelry – The Hunters’ Lodge Inn.

Vince, Mike, Jon, Jake, Tav, Brockers, and Nick. A full squad gathered!

As planned I arrived at the cave ahead of the others and was quickly underground. I wanted to get the slumped material bagged up and clear the path along the ledge. This was necessary to enable the spoil from Can of Worms to be moved safely. I was just filling the last couple of bags when the team started to arrive.

A brief discussion with Jon and Jake about the slump then joined Mike in CoW. Left Mike to get on with digging (SW side) while I loaded the rocks (from yesterday) into the skip to be hauled away by Jon. Jake transported the spoil across the ledge, Tav was at the bottom of the entrance with Brockers and Nick on the surface. More material was cleared (by Jake and Jon) from the ledge path in between bags.

In CoW, digging is not easy going downwards – calcite-cemented boulders and large lumps of fractured, displaced ‘flowstone’ – it was slow going. At one stage it was not looking quite so good, but towards the end of the session, an ‘edge’ was poked and prodded and a promising ‘arch’ was revealed, there appears to be a way forward trending SW blocked by calcite-layers and compact fine-grained sediment. It was good to end the digging session on a ‘positive’ note! During the morning there was a stream of visitors (Jake, Jon, Tav) into the dig to check on progress. It was soon time to pack it in and return to the surface, there had been mumblings about “getting wet” relayed to the diggers from the surface – it may have been ‘Chinese whispers’, I’m not sure.

Today’s total = 80 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus quite a few rocks to be added to the wall. Everyone was happy, and it was not raining! To the Hunters’

Solo

Packed the Bosch Powerhammer 36v (for a change) along with plugs/feathers, loaded the Kangoo and set-off over the hill to the farm. I was soon at the cave.

On arrival, I got distracted by the pile of rocks hauled out last weekend and could not help myself. All the rocks were added to the western wall extension before venturing underground.

It has been very wet recently and the ingress of water into the cave has resulted in a slump of sediment from the bank alongside the ledge path around the pot. It is in the way and will require clearing tomorrow before spoil can be removed from Can of Worms – good job there is a hand-line in place! I negotiated a route around the slump and made my way into CoW. It did not take too long to deal with the large boulder there before retracing my steps to the ledge.

On the ledge another, smaller, boulder was reduced in size. Photographs were taken, kit was packed away (again) and I made my way out of the cave.

A brief stop at the Hunters’ for refreshments on the way home.

Vince, Jake, Brockers, Nick, and Mike

The plan for this morning was to get up to the cave and along to Can of Worms ahead of the team, real in the wire, and see what effect the ‘bang’ had. At first appearance it did not look as successful as the last blast, but after some poking and prodding it was apparent that many fractures had been induced – might just require a bit more effort to get the rock out!

But that was a task for Nick and Brockers who had just arrived at the dig. After a brief discussion with them I made my way back to help Mike shift the imminent procession of rocks and filled bags along to Jake waiting at the bottom of the entrance. It was not long before a considerable pile of spoil had accrued at the entrance, and I moved along to help Jake get it up to the surface. All cleared, back for the next lot, and so it went.

When the bulk of the loose debris had been cleared there was enough of a lull in proceedings to go and have another look at the end. There is no need for another phase of chemical persuasion, still plenty to dig; there are some large boulders that will require further attention and the use of plugs/feathers. There appears to be some potential moving forward to the ‘southwest’. I returned to spoil removal duties.

At about midday the diggers very reluctantly downed tools and joined the effort to clear the cave and empty bags, rocks were moved closer to the wall. Todays total = 65 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus an unknown quantity of rocks shifted to make a big pile for the wall, and some are heavy!

Time for the Hunters’ Lodge Inn. Another satisfying session done.

Vince, Jon, Brockers, Jake, Nick, Tav, and Mike. A full squad assembled today!

Got to the cave ahead of the team and quickly along to Can of Worms reeling in the wire as I went. On arrival at the dig site, it was obvious that Monday’s ‘bang’ had the desired effect – there was a lot of rock debris to be cleared. Back to the surface where I busied myself with wall preparatory work and awaited the team arrival.

The team arrived and there was a lot of chatter before getting underground. Eventually, me and Jon were left on the surface, and it was not too long before spoil began to arrive – shattered rocks and bags of cobbles, gravel and finer-grained sediment. It was busy!

In the initial stages it was calculated that the number of skip-loads of rocks removed were equivalent to the number of bags removed multiplied by Pi (π = 3.1416). This ratio was later adjusted to the number of skip-loads of rock removed being, at least, equal to or greater than the total number of bags removed. The total number of bags filled, hauled, and emptied = 57, although there is a slight discrepancy regarding a ‘knee-pad’ and whether this is included in the total number of bags removed or might be added, therefore bringing the total number of bags to 58.

At the end of the session, the spoil heap wall had been built-up considerably and backed by a significant quantity of cobbles, gravel, and finer-grained sediment. Another bang will be useful. For now, though it was time for the Hunters’!

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

Arrived at the cave ahead of the team carrying drill and plugs/feathers to deal with a couple of boulders left-over from last weekend on the ledge. Just finished as I heard voices approaching.

I moved along the passage into Can of Worms to get digging underway, I was soon joined by Jon. There is plenty of room for two people to dig. Jon concentrated his effort on following the narrow fissures downwards, while my effort was focussed to the southwest where calcite-cemented boulders of conglomerate and fine-grained sediment needed to be removed. It was not especially easy digging but by the end of the morning we had created more space than we had started with, progress was made. There are a couple of large lumps of conglomerate impeding downward progress, they are beyond the capabilities of plugs/feathers requiring more aggressive attention. A job for another day.

All the spoil had been moved to the surface where Nick had emptied all the bags and added rocks to the spoil heap wall. No idea how many bags, but all seem satisfied with the mornings progress. The session was rounded off, as usual, with refreshments at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn.

Note – 12th January: solo trip into Can of Worms to attend to the rock obstructions. We’ll see on Saturday just how well things went!

With Nick and Jon

As is my wont arrived at Hallowe’en Rift ahead of the team bringing with me a digging hoe ready to prepare the ground for the spoil heap wall extension. There were plenty of rocks piled underground awaiting removal to the surface.

Nick and Jon arrived, for one reason or another only a small team assembled for today’s activities, no matter. A brief discussion before all going underground towards Can of Worms. The rocks were removed. While me and Jon got the rocks up to the surface, Nick returned to CoW to get on with digging. On the surface the rocks were used in the wall extension and then me and Jon went back into the cave to clear the backlog of spoil accumulated by Nick’s endeavours. All spoil was shifted out to the surface, rocks added to the wall, bags emptied into the space created. Back for more and the whole process repeated. And repeat for one more time, this time Nick followed the spoil out. Today’s total = 31 bags filled, hauled, and emptied and more than a dozen skip loads of rock added to the wall.

At the dig, things are still looking interesting, and progress is still going downwards. Nick reported that the digging is not especially difficult. A good session with a small team. But now time for the Hunters’!

Solo. “Rock-bothering session!”

Dragged the drill and plugs/feathers into Can of Worms to deal with the boulders left there last weekend. While I was there had a poke around with a bar to see if there were any other loose rocks that required some further attention. Rocks in the current end ‘chamber’ and those left on the ledge were reduced to more manageable pieces, job done, packed kit away and exited the cave.

Walked down to the farm, a brief chat with the farmer, and then up the hill to the Hunters’ Lodge Inn for the customary refreshments. A good way to start the New Year!