Sunday 17th August 2025

Mike Kushy and Ed Ford. Took in 4 Daren Drums with ready mixed cement plus some sand in a bag. First we used the drill, already in cave, to smooth out the path from the recent breakthrough point. EF above the squeeze then put cement in around chockstones that seem to be holding the ceiling up and building up the walls. Meanwhile MK below the squeeze worked forwards building retaining walls on the right hand side. There seems to have been a fair amount of movement around where we originally climbed down through to the new chamber. We decided that the light connection hole is the sensible way forward, but cement was still put in near to the original way in to minimise future movement. EF then had a go at kicking stuff through the light connection squeeze but there is one stubborn rock holding us back. We then used what remaining battery we had to pf some of the edge away from the hole. Next best step seems to be either pf or set a small charge into the vertical squeeze and the light connection area at the same time, maybe pf squeeze and set charge lower down might be best. Back into the chamber soon. Still 3/4 BDH of cement in cave and 1/2 Darren Drum of sand. 4 hours. Mike.

Main chockstone in ceiling above squeeze (6 inch wide roughly). Photo EF.

MK trying out the light conncetion hole Photo EF.

Where we originally climbed down to the chamber.
The closest big hole in the floor wasn't there before. Photo EF.

Same photo as previous but further back. Photo EF.

More cementing of the ceiling above the squeeze. Photo EF.

Wednesday 13th August 2025

am. David Morrison, assisted by land owner. Fencing removed today, trailer of stone, sand and cement mixer and other heavy items up to Templeton. David.

pm. John Cooper did a couple of hours in the afternoon assisting David removing the postcrete and all the nails from the fence posts. Left David continuing gradually restoring the site. John

Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th August 2025

David Morrison. ‘Well-Head’ stonework White Rabbit, pointing both afternoons. David.

Well-Head. Photo DM.

Saturday 9th August 2025

Mike Kushy, solo. Took in drill and a BDH of cement. Finished off breaking down the boulder from Wednesday and put the pieces aside. Then a mix was made using 1 Daren Drum of sand and 1/4 drum of cement. This was used in and around the vertical squeeze boulder (unfortunately this boulder can not be removed as it holds up loads above), the vertical squeze boulder will have to be widened later. Went to surface with empty bags and drums then brought back in 2 drums of sand and some more water to mix with. This again was turned into cement and used at the base of the vertical squeeze rock. 3/4 BDH of cement and 2.5l of water left in cave, no sand. Should be safe enough now to open up the light conncetion route to the chamber, but I'd like to see another session of cement work yet. Would be nice to build a wall to the ceiling just above said squeeze. 5 hours. Mike.

Wednesday 6th August 2025

Day. Mike Kushy and Dave Morrison spent 5 hours doing more tidying up on the surface.

17.30 Ed Ford and Hollie London. Ed and Hollie entered around 17.30 after collecting bags from the Belfry. Hollie carried in two bags each containing a Daren Drum of sand, while Ed carried a  black BDH of cement, a Daren Drum of sand and a 5L water container in. Quite the challenge with two large tackle sacks. John arrived shortly after.

18.00  John Cooper entered at 18.00 without any loads to carry! John did 1 mix (2 Daren Drums of sand and half a black BDH of cement) which he passed down to Ed. Then did another mix, same quantities, and used it higher up on the climb down (where the yellow bag is). John then left with bag containing 2 empty Daren Drums - out by 20.30.

Ed and Hollie  worked mainly around the entrance to the new bit. Hollie did a good job at reducing a large block making it much easier to get into the breakthrough (her first time plug and feathering). Ed spent his time adding cement to various loose boulders and made a small wall. We didn't get as far as the squeeze. But Ed took a look. It's definitely tighter than remembered. This will take a fair amount of drilling to widen. Spare bags, empty cement BDH and drill box taken out. Out at 2100 before retreating to the Hunters'. 

Ed, Hollie and John.

Trainee mason in action. Photo EF.

Drilling 14mm holes. Photo EF.

Building block created. Photo EF.

Looking down into pot. Photo EF.