Saturday 25th January 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence and Adrian Vanderplank. The four buckets of mud left last week were transferred to the big bucket. Once Kate was down with a small sledge hammer the bottom ladder was removed to allow easier hauling. She broke up the rock dropped on Pete on 28^th December 2024 and the bits were hauled up in 3 loads and put on one side for walling rock. 42 loads of mud were then hauled out with 30 being transferred to the big bucket. About a dozen bones removed. 2 frogs also rehomed today. At the end of the session Kate was able to slide through and down into the original dig. An old spade was found at the dig face together with an old pit prop. 2½ hours. John.

Conjectured cross section shown below.Area marked slumped in guessed from ATLAS log book.

Saturday 18th January 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann and Kate Lawrence. Double mix of cement used by Pete getting rid of the lovely building rocks created Thursday. Four buckets of mud and 2 of small rocks hauled out. We removed the bottom ladder whilst Pete was walling which also allowed an easier haul. New wall reached old wall on left hand side but still a gap on right. Measured depth at 7.65m. This is less that when last measured! Probably a combination of a more vertical plumb now being possible and John refusing to let Pete measure into the gloopy puddle on the floor. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 16th January 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Sarah Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. John drilled 3 x 10mm holes about 600mm deep which Adrian destroyed. Kate and Jude emptied the 12 full buckets left last Saturday. Pete and Sarah collected botanical specimens. 1½ hours. John.

John with drill. Photo PH.

Adrian preparing charge. Photo PH.

Smoke clearing. Photo PH.

Saturday 11th January 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Adrian and Jude had a delayed start as their van required a new battery. However the other three made a start by emptying the 12 full buckets into the big bucket and started spoil removal from bottom of rift.. Just completed the first 12 buckets when Adrian and Jude arrived. Continued until big bucket deemed full and 12 small buckets ready to empty. Total 32 loads from bottom. 1½ hours. John.

Saturday 4th January 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Nigel Graham, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Spoil removal from bottom of rift. Jude took first session then Kate took over. Total of 42 loads. Reduced number today as spoil very wet and heavy so stopped filling large bucket at 30 loads. One small frog rehomed today. 2  hours. John.