ramblingon

14th May 2017: with Brocker’s. Also, Ray Deasy and Richard Abbot (MNRC).

Brocker’s and me planned to dig the choke at the end of Sandy Tunnel, to which end had bought along the capping gear. The other two went for a tour around and into Young Bloods in Wigmore.

We detoured on the way to the choke along the sixty-metre crawl, which is really more like 30m to assess the prospects there and, if necessary formulate a plan. An interesting looking space beyond has cool air emanating from it. The left-hand side is dominated by what appears to be a large, possibly detached flake, a few holes in the more competent right-hand side might be the best option. Anyway, that’s a job for another day onto the choke.

Quickly, I got the capping gear into action and reduced a couple of large boulders as required, this enabled more digging. Removing smaller boulders, cobbles and some sticky mud, gaps could be seen at stream level.

Some shoring work might be needed, just to be on the safe side, scaffolding tubes would be a good option.

We were joined by the MNRC contingent briefly before they headed out of the cave. We carried on digging for a while longer before we, too made our way out. Good session.

11th May 2017: with Jake, Nick, Tav, Duncan, Roz, Roger Haskett, Dave King and Ray Deasy.

Roz took Roger up to chamber 20, Tav took Dave and Ray for a tour around, the rest of us headed up to the dig at the top of 20.

At the dig, Nick and Duncan rotated the digging effort, Jake and me hauled the spoil away. We were joined later by Tav and co., Ray and Dave went up to the end to assist with the digging, Tav helped out with spoil dispersal.

All too soon, it was time for the pub, it had been another enjoyable session.

4th May 2017: with Jake, Tav and Duncan P.

The usual warm trip up through 20, even though we kept a relaxed pace. Ma and Jake took it in turns to dig, Tav and Duncan hauled and emptied the skip. The new digging buckets were put to good use and spoil was removed at a steady rate. The hole got deeper, it won’t be too long before a ladder will be needed to get in and out.

There is some interesting layering within the sediments, evidence of successive flooding/drying events. Some of the laminations are compact, some less so.

16th April 2017: with Nick Hawkes, Paul Brock and Duncan Price.

This trip had a plan, to go and tickle the choke at the end of the sandy passage in Home Close Hole. I took the capping gear, just in case, but it was not required in the end, Brockers rigged the pitch and led the way, which was curious, as he has always expressed a dislike of pushing chokes.

We followed the inlet stream to where it issues from the boulder choke, then climbed the loose muddy slope to a point where further upward progress was not possible. A small gap was expanded and access to a small chamber was possible. It measured c.5m (l) x 2m (w) x 2m (h) was full of loose boulders and formed along a mineral vein, the floor wasn’t too stable either. After a quick look around, Nick and Vince took it in turns to remove cobbles and boulders from an enticing looking space upwards. Nick managed to cause a slump of boulders that left things teetering on the brink. Nothing moved. We needed a rope, so all our belts were tied together and Vince got a loop over the chock-stone and pulled. That worked. A bit of gardening, Vince then accessed c. 7m (l) of horribly loose ascending passage that closed down to a very narrow fissure, there isn’t a way on here. Here, many of the rocks have a black manganese coating, and there is a trickle of water.

Meanwhile, Duncan had spotted another gap leading downwards and needed assistance to open it up further. Eventually we abandoned this, made our way back down the slope, looked at some potential options off the slope, but after some discussion we decided the best plan was to dig at stream level where there is, at least one solid wall.

We went downstream a little way and climbed up another slope into the choke. Here, there is an open space beyond a precariously balanced boulder that would require moving if further progress was to be made. Gingerly, Vince used a small bar to ease the boulder out of the way, luckily, nothing more came with it. A short clamber up gained access to a gnarly, sharp, boulder passage, a couple of squeezes, it closed down after about 15m. There were some gaps overhead but, as a digging prospect it looked pretty hopeless. Duncan had noticed another space overhead, estimated c.3m (l) but this was not entered.

By now, it seemed everyone had had enough of playing ‘ker-plunk’ and Brockers was already on his way back to the pitch. Although Vince was last up the pitch, Duncan had waited and de-rigged. On the surface were Tony, Chris, Alice and Caroline, after changing, tea and sausage rolls was welcomed, followed by a de-brief about todays events. Then, we all headed off to a very busy Queen Vic for more refreshment.

13th April 2017: with Roz, Nick, Tav and Paul Brock.

Happy days! Back to digging and a good team assembled. The usual steady, warm trip up to the end of 20.

Tav and Brocker’s took it in turns to dig, me and Nick did the hauling – a joint effort, while Roz emptied the skip and managed the spoil heap. Hauling was made considerably better with the replacement rope donated to the cause by Brockers.

No-one counted the number of bucket loads removed, but there was a good-sized hole at the end the session. The digger’s reported that the sediment was becoming more compact and it’s not easy to work-out just where the water has gone.

As ever, we’ll just keep digging on.

11th April 2017: with Nick.

The main purpose of the trip was to have another look at the water level in the dig, so that we can get work there underway. It was noticeably drier on the approach through the cave passage.

At the top of 20 we paused to investigate a curious gurgling sound being created by a trickle of water through a tiny fissure in the rock. We, then collected the digging kit we had stashed about a month ago and took it down to the dig, some of it will be useful I’m sure. The small side passage, that overflows into the dig was dry. I was optimistic that the dig would be dry. It was!

After sorting-out the digging kit, Nick suggested that we remove the clay film that had settled as the water had receded. So, that we did, taking turns to fill the bucket with the claggy sediment and load the skip. Hauling the skip wasn’t so easy either, the haul rope could do with replacing, then there was the thixotropic slop to be removed from the skip. But, we managed to get most of the slumped and settled material out and the digging should be easier next session. Hopefully, more of the team will be available and that will make the task a whole lot better.

Time for refreshment, another warm, thirst inducing digging session.

Herb Paris unfurling in Harptree Combe. This plant species is an indicator of ancient woodland.

15th March 2017: Nunney Castle.

On the way back from the office, stopped for a while to admire this impressive structure at Nunney in eastern Mendip.

A quadrangular castle in the centre of Nunney village, adjacent to the church. The castle stands on the west bank of Nunney Brook at a point where the Brook and the valley in which it lies change direction from north- south to north east-south west.

The castle is of a highly distinctive design, consisting of a high four-storey rectangular building containing principal rooms such as the great hall, with large closely-spaced circular towers providing more private chambers. It displays a high level of sophisticated planning. The towers still rise almost to their full height, and are crested by a parapet surmounted by a drum turret. The building is tightly enclosed by a wide moat.

Nunney Castle was built by Sir John de la Mare in 1373, when he obtained a licence to `crenelate’ his house. He held many offices, being in favour with the king and he appears to have served in the French Wars. The family were Royalists and Roman Catholic in the Civil War, and the castle was besieged by the Parliamentarians in 1645, falling after two days when the north side of the castle was severely damaged by gunfire. It was `slighted’ thereafter, although the walls were left intact, the north wall only finally collapsing in 1910 (www.heritagegateway.org.uk)

Some individuals, for whatever reason, feel the urge to leave their mark, like this 19th century example.

There is currently some renovation works being carried out at the castle.

14th March 2017: with Jake and Nick.

The plan was to go up to the end of Chamber 20 in Wookey Hole to check the water levels in our dig there. Optimism, mostly on my part, began to waiver when a strong drip of water was noted in the show cave, further on, the calcite cascade was flowing, approaching the dig, the small side passage was overflowing into the pond in the chamber just before the dig. The dig, was of course, flooded, the water had been deeper, but for now, had receded to its perched level. A little while yet before the digging effort can re-commence.

To pass some time we made our way over to the rift to retrieve some kit left part way down, the equipment will be of use in the future. Then, we left the cave to go to the pub.

Recent tree clearance works around the aqueduct in Harptree Combe have allowed improved views of this example of Victorian engineering. The abutments have also been given some attention, revealing the dry stone wall construction.

26th February 2017: Cowleaze Lane to Compton Martin.

From Ridge Lane, West Harptree across fields to join Cowleaze Lane. At the top of the lane, just before crossing the road, is a good spread of snowdrops.

Over the road, leaving Cowleaze Lane to cross the field to the Wrangle, Compton Martin. Stopped to take a look at the rag well, that appears to have sprung a leak. The water is flowing out through the tank rather than over the spout.

Up the Wrangle for a short distance before taking the path, west, across fields, Here, in this field are some lynchets, evidence for land usage in the past.

Primrose’s in flower must be a sign that spring is not too far away.

From the combe at Compton Martin, took the steep path up the hill towards Hazel Manor. Passing the quarry where good exposures of Oxwich Head Limestone of Carboniferous age can be seen. At the top of the ridge, took the path east to re-join the combe. From the ridge are some fine panoramic views across the Chew Valley. Sadly, views that will be lost in the future as the recent planting of trees will grow and block out the vista.

Down through the combe, resplendent in mossy green-ness. There is an abundance of scarlet elf cups, not only here but elsewhere too. There are also fine spreads of snowdrops, but these are now past there best.

I didn’t make the steep climb up to the ochre mine today, but returned to West Harptree by reversing the route walked.

19th February:

From the summit of Shute Shelve Hill there are extensive views of the surrounding countryside, to the west over the ridge to Wavering Down and Crook Peak, and over the moors to the south.

Getting to the top is another thing.

While the bright yellow blooms of gorse bring some colour to a grey day, negotiating the overgrown thickets is not a pleasurable experience.

Like bracken, the dominance of gorse in the landscape is detrimental to the growth of other, less aggressive plant species that would normally be found on upland limestone grassland. With the loss of these plants and associated fauna there is a decrease in natural diversity.