Sunday 26th April - All 25 seen

At 09:50 this morning, a mixed group of ten cattle was in the pasture northeast of Horse Pond, near ///exams.duos.spun. Cows 72 and 940, along with steers 33, 197, 230, and 1640, were resting and chewing their cud. Steers 20, 30, 35, and 270 were grazing nearby, but by 10:40 they had all wandered over to lie down with the others. Older steer 35 had a good scratch on a tree branch before settling down. Youngster 230 was especially friendly today, getting up to wander over to greet me and enjoy endless strokes and rubs. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:55, Sussex steer 210 was grazing alone in the bushes just off the path near ///puts.garage.bells. He was fine and simply seemed to be enjoying some time alone, browsing among the bushes. I stayed with him for a while to make sure he was okay. He started to follow me when I left to find the others, but soon stopped to graze again.

At 11:20, the remaining fourteen cattle were spread out, browsing through the bramble at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. They were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them, with most coming out from the bushes to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Youngsters 219, 228, and 271 all thoroughly enjoyed long neck and back scratches. By 11:40, Sussex steer 210 had rejoined the group, announcing his arrival with a series of loud moos. 

By 12:15, the cattle had started to move to the grassy area to lie down in the sunshine and chew their cud. Around the same time, the group of ten also arrived and started to graze among the bramble. Youngster 222 soon came over for another neck and back scratch, before lying down to rest at my feet. I said my goodbyes at 13:10, leaving cows 212, 214, 234, and 1396, along with steers 210, 217, 219, 222, and 227, resting in the sunshine, while cow 211 was lying in the shade among the woodland to the east. Youngsters 228 and 271 were just about to join them, while the others were still grazing peacefully.

The cows were all good today.

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’