Saturday 25th April - All 25 seen

A mixed group of seventeen, including Sussex steer 1626, were grazing to the southwest of James Bond Pond. A few wandered into the woodland to graze among the bushes. Gradually, all but steers 21 and 30, lay down on the patch of grass to rest and chew their cud. Over time, they started to doze in the warm sunshine. They were all very friendly today, coming over to greet me and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs.

Steers 20 and 1640, along with cows 211, 1396, and 940, were taking a drink at the northeast corner of James Bond Pond before moving into the pasture to the north to graze.

The final three Sussex cattle, steers 197 and 210, along with cow 212, were enjoying plenty of grass at the western end of Sandy Hill. They were heading west, but soon turned around and headed back thoroughly enjoying the lush grass.

The cattle were all good today.  Full update and photos to follow later.

Friday 24th April - All 25 seen and 3 adders

 Between 08:30 - 11:00

All seen in 3 locations this morning as follows

///blessing.branded.sketching 021,035,030,270,271,217 and 230

///march.elections.afternoon all 7 Sussex’s and their best friend 219 most of the Sussex had quite a lot of ticks.

///bonnet.conveys.tiredness 033,940,072,220,214,227,222,228 and 020 Also near to this group I was delighted to see 3 adders, 2 males and 1 female. They were basking in the bracken quite close to paths.

All the cattle were good this morning apart from quite a lot of ticks on the Sussex’s ‘armpits’

Wednesday 22nd April - All 25 seen

At 16:30 this afternoon, steers 20 and 33, along with cows 72, 214, and 234, were grazing in the shade of trees a short distance from the Bourley Road car park. They were enjoying the fresh grass and were all very friendly, pausing to greet me, with most enjoying strokes. Cow 72 was especially affectionate, wandering over for a long neck and shoulder rub and returning the attention with gentle head rubs. All five were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after 17:00, the seven Sussex cattle and twelve of Caesar’s original herd were spread through the thicket beneath the Lookout and along its eastern side. By 17:20, steers 21, 227, and 228 emerged onto the stone path on the side of the hill. After stopping to greet me and enjoy some scratches, they browsed the bushes at the side of the path before moving into thicker cover to the west. Soon after, six of the Sussex cattle followed, climbing to the top of the hill and spreading out near ///gala.depth.pushy to continue grazing.

Over time, the rest of the herd moved either into the denser thicket on the hillside near ///badly.pats.chill or into the woodland to the south of the path, where they continued grazing. They were all friendly, with several coming out onto the main path to receive strokes and rubs.

By 18:40, the cattle had begun gathering in the open pasture southwest of the Lookout, near ///spends.behave.blip, to enjoy the lush grass in the evening sunshine. The seven Sussex cattle, along with cow 940 and steers 219, 222, and 271, were all grazing contentedly when I said my goodbyes at 19:00. 

Youngster 270 had a slightly more eventful afternoon. He was first seen from afar at around 17:10, grazing alone south of the covered reservoir near the no-fence boundary. He soon wandered north towards Bourley Road, where the earlier group of five were grazing west along the path by the road. By 19:00, he was again grazing alone on the hillside north of the main group near ///abode.degree.nicely, with the group of five over 150 metres away to the southwest. He appeared completely fine, peacefully grazing on long grass and gorse. He came over to say hello and enjoyed a few back scratches before returning to grazing. I stayed with him for fifteen minutes to check he was okay; he showed no signs of discomfort and was moving well. When I checked again later, he had climbed the hill and rejoined the main group.

The cows were all good today.

Tuesday 21st April - All 25 seen

At 15:40 this afternoon, older steer 30 was grazing on the hillside south of Bourley Road, near ///emails.failed.bump. He walked up to greet me and then accompanied me west as I made my way to join another seven cattle grazing in the pasture northeast of the covered reservoir. Cows 211, 212, 1396, and 940, along with steers 210, 217, and 1640, were grazing on fresh grass in the sunshine. A light breeze helped keep the flies away, making conditions more comfortable. They were all very friendly, stopping to greet me and enjoy strokes and rubs. By 16:15, after a long back rub, cow 940 settled down to rest in the sunshine near ///regress.goad.grace, while the others continued grazing nearby. I said my goodbyes at 16:30, leaving them all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 16:45, Sussex steer 197 was grazing on lush grass on Sandy Hill, near ///beards.grasp.easels. He paused to greet me and enjoyed a neck scratch before returning to grazing. The remaining sixteen cattle were nearby, spread across the hillside between Longbottom and the area south of James Bond Pond. Youngsters 219 and 222 were resting on a patch of grass near ///milky.unite.retract, while steers 21 and 35, along with cow 234, were standing nearby, relaxing and chewing their cud. Youngster 222 enjoyed a long neck and shoulder rub while lying down, while youngster 219 got up for an extended back scratch. The others were either grazing or resting further up the hillside.

The cattle gradually made their way up the hill, with steer 197 rejoining them after a while. They were all very friendly as I moved around checking on them, often pausing their grazing to come over and say hello, with many happy to accept strokes and scratches. By 17:35, youngster 228 was the first to reach the top and came straight over to greet me with head rubs before leaning in for a long shoulder and back scratch. The others soon followed, some moving towards the gorse bushes south of the pond or the heather near the northeast corner, while a few continued grazing among the thicket, browsing leaves from the trees and bushes. They were all content, relaxed, and looking well. I said my goodbyes shortly after 18:30, leaving them either grazing or resting and chewing their cud in the sunshine.

The cows were all good today.

Monday 20th April - All 25 seen

 Between 07:30 - 10:00

All have been seen in 3 locations as follows 

15 of the original herd and Sussex 1626 were at ///aspect.magnitude.landlady opposite the Shell station. They were all in the woods spreading out towards Sandy Hill Road. 

The remaining 6 Sussex’s were at ///informer.perfumed.argued to the west of the water tower.

The last 3, 940,214,234 were on the path adjacent to Sandy Hill Road at ///typified.blankets.processor.

All the cattle were good this morning enjoying their breakfast in the sunshine.