Wednesday 28th January 2026

Mike Kushy, Stu Jellis, Tom Frost and Jake Baynes. First trip back in since closure and the last trip in December 3rd 2025, so personally I was very keen to see the conditions in MHH. Fair stream heading into Puddle Dig as we made our way in. Everyone got through the light connection fine, it was TF's first trip, JB's and SJ's third time. Comments were made about the significant improvments to the Light Connection and The Hookah Pipe to get all the team to the end (previously JB was unable to get through The Hookah, this time he went head first!). Unfortunately MHH was as much a lake as we've ever seen it, although the water has been tracing it's way to the far corner and the amount of water coming in today didn't warrant the lake size (it should having been overflowing back into TPC at that rate!). We did a bit of poking in the mud then headed out. On the way out we popped into 'ED's bet'. SJ went for a look first and made it to where Ed got before. MK also went in for a look and got to the same place. He had brought the long crowbar back from TPC and poked at the floor a bit, right next to the upright flake boulder. Stones did freefall below for an estimated 15ft, it has promise but stabilisation is a must and personally I'd use remote rock removal techniques to push further (video was made). MK and TF went out the old route, whilst the others headed out via Puddle dig. SJ investigated Puddle dig and reported no water at all, just mud, although there was a healthy stream running in! The cave seemed to be breathing the whole trip, it was a colder evening outside with intermittent showers. 2 hours. Mike.

Video of Ed's bet.

SJ, JB and TF in MHH lake. Photo MK.

Friday 16th January 2026

White Rabbit is back open. 

We've been asked to be discreet when changing (put on fleece before arriving or just be discreet).

Also keep noise to minimum and lights low, the people who are in the farmhouse opposite where we park the cars are not the same as those who own White Rabbit.

Please pull the gate to when digging and after leaving. We mean the second gate that is on the cattle grid (basically keep the WRH parking secure when were underground and leaving).

Sunday 7th December 2025

**

Ownership of the land has changed and we are asking about parking and other access arrangements.

We should not drive up, park or go across to the dig at all until we know more.

Hopefully update soon.

**

Wednesday 3rd December 2025

 Eds Bet

Ed Ford and Mike Wise entered WR at 1830. We took 2 drills, batteries, plug and feathers and a crowbar. Got to Eds Bet which looked to be fairly sketching digging. EF started by removing some sizable blocks from the floor working above 2 larger blocks. Some of the removed blocks had holes on the sides from the 12g bang of the Up&Over Boulder - one of the bigger ones brutally attacked one of MWs fingers and crushed it, chipping the top joint, whilst being wrestled into its storage location although the extent of the damage wasn't appreciated until the next morning 😢.

Once a bit of loose fill had been removed, it was clear there was a drop below taking some time for loose rocks to fall and a flowstone covered vertical fault wall was visible.

 EF asked MW to take a look to ensure he didn't bring the roof down on him. MW then took a turn removing some of the spoil and a few loose rocks threatening to drop on anyone venturing below the the 2 larger blocks. The drop below became more visible but all looked reasonably stable considering.

We swapped again and EF went below the two larger blocks. Down here there is sizable space between the bedding. Some overly large rocks were lifted out before the whole floor became quite unstable. Careful footing was required at this point and MW requested that EF refrain from getting sucked down into a loose rock funnel as it was nearing pub time. All the rock was removed bar one which was far bigger than could be lifted. To this point we hadn't used the P&F and decided we didn't have time to retrieve the hammer from Tea Party. EF instead opted to remove the keystone holding it and drop it. It dropped a couple of inches onto a shelf also exposing a body sized hole. EF headed through the hole to explore the new bit before heading out reaching the surface at 2100 for a celebratory pint and a cheese&onion roll. The new bit looks promising and is not fully explored - we will be back. It is still a 2 caver job.

Ed Ford and Mike Wise

 Edit - in the initial rock removal EF found an artefact, that despite its resemblance to the plug of a 14mm plug & feather set, we are convinced is a bone from the mysterious and long extinct Sabre Toothed White Rabbit.  We left it in situ pending professional examination. 

 Photo by S.Wise taken next morning. 

Mikes finger after being crushed by a large rock. Its twice the size it should be.

 

Friday 21st November 2025

Mike Kushy, Hollie London, Alessio Sancetta, Sam Chung, Tuska, Wayne Starsmore, John Cooper and Brian Prewer. We all met around 2.30 and quickly went over how to set up the radio location equipment. Then MK, HL, AS and SC went to the first chamber on the old route in, just to check comms. Comms was established but too close to the iron ladders to Radio Locate. We then all headed to TPC to set up. SC and AS worked on this whilst MK and HL cleared The Hookah Pipe of the bang spoil and tried to divert puddles. Once TPC was located HL, AS and SC went on to MHH...I also believe the team carried on digging out channels to the far corner and the water reaches there now. Meanwhile MK made 2 mixes and carried on with supporting the landing pad. The MHH location sounded really successful (although comms weren't great), now to cross reference with the survey. 1 drum of sand, 1 of cement, lots of stone dust and water in cave. Mike.

AS and JC setting up on surface. Photo SC.

WS, AS, HL, T and MK. Photo SC.

AS on comms in TPC. Photo SC.

HL and AS in MHH. Photo SC.

The Hookah Pipe after clearing. Photo MK.