Sunday 26th April 2026

Mike Kushy, Lee Venning and Trevor Hughes. MK and LV met for 10am. LV went down the hole first to clear spoil and 10 buckets removed. After a little break the genny & breaker were set up. MK went down the hole to break rock and clear and LV did winching. 42 buckets cleared in total today. TH arrived around 1330. We decided to prep' up for a charge. Noise made. Finished around 1530. Mike.

Tuesday 14th April 2026

Trevor Hughes arrived on site at 17.10 with Lee Venning joining him shortly after. The weather on the hill was dank and foggy but not too wet. TH went down the hole to add a couple more holes to the ones we had previously drilled, while LV had a little tidy up on the surface. AM joined us at 19.00. TH & AM went down the hole and sent some tools & the work platform up on the rope to get them out of the way. AM then got on with setting up with TH supervising. Once this task was completed we all retreated to a safe distance and a associated noise was made. 1 ¾ hours. Lee

Lee drilling. Photo TH.

Sunday 12th April 2026

Trevor Hughes, Adrian Miles and Lee Venning arrived on site at 14.30, the weather was cold with a mix of rain and sleet. AM & LV went down the hole to set up the work platform and start filling buckets with TH on the surface on winch duty. Once the spoil was cleared AM had a go with the hammer and chisel, 17 x buckets to the surface in total. At around 18.00, AM had to go, leaving TH & LV to drill the holes ready to be destroyed. The hole in the floor that is heading south was emptied of mud and it now looks like it needs to be investigated further. 3 ½ hours. Lee.

Spoil before clearing. Photo LV.

TH drilling 30mm hole. Photo LV.

Tuesday 7th April 2026

Mike Kushy, Lee Venning and John Cooper. We all met at 17.30. LV down the hole with JC winching and MK bucket carrying, 12 loads cleared. LV had a go at battery chiselling for a while and another 5 buckets brought out, LV said there is lots loose still at the dig face. With time short MK got to drilling for a charge around 1900. 1 whole stick in a 30x450mm hole (at the northern end, slightly higher up the wall to get a rising angle on the drill bit) and 1.6m of 40gm used over another 4 holes in the floor, you could tell the difference clearly on surface. Nearest farmer said he hadn't noticed a thing :) Off site for 2000. Mike.

All photo's by LV.

Spoil from Sunday. Looking North.

Loose stuff ready to come out of the floor.

More loose to chisel.

Sunday 5th April 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning. Installing the platform below ladder. Luckily we had a nice ledge one side so only 1 steel needed on the Western wall. The plank and steel have holes drilled for rebar to be bolted on to secure and also for removal. We also set a charge, 4m of 40gm used, so should be plenty to clear. 3 hours. Mike.

Saturday 4th April 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning. LV down the hole and MK winching we cleared the bang spoil. We also used chisel on the drill and removed a fair bit. 4 hours, Mike.

Sunday 29th March 2026

Mike Kushy, Lee Venning and Trevor Hughes. MK and LV to begin with and no water at the bottom. Started at 10.30. We both took turns with capping kit. It does work but slow progress in the conglomerate. A nice band of pink calcite coming out today. MK winched and LV filled buckets, 10 loads. We then met TH at the pub for lunch and to get materials. MK drilled and set up whilst LV watched. TH wired up the det. All filled and fired fine. Mike.