Tuesday 2nd December - All 25 seen — Steer 1626 has a head injury — Cow 211 has slipped her collar

At 14:20 this afternoon, twelve of the Caesar’s original herd were enthusiastically foraging for acorns in the woodland east of Horse Pond near ///jolly.afraid.saddens. They were very friendly, each taking turns to come over, say hello, and enjoy a few strokes and rubs. After about twenty minutes, cow 72 and steers 220 and 271 crossed the path to the southeast to browse leaves from nearby trees and bushes. Yearling 271 was keen to show off his hill-climbing skills! All twelve were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 14:45, youngsters 217, 222, and 230, along with yearling 270, were alternating between eating gorse and foraging for acorns under the trees south of Horse Pond, near ///decoded.maps.trade. Youngsters 222 and 230 were particularly friendly, enjoying long neck and back scratches. All four were content, relaxed, and in good condition.

When I first arrived and walked down from Sandy Hill, I spotted the seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 33 and 219, resting among the bracken and heather on the hillside near ///zinc.propose.drops. By 15:00, only steers 33, 197, 219, and 1626 were still there. They looked very comfortable as they rested and chewed their cud. As Alice mentioned earlier, Sussex steer 1626 had an injury on the left side of his head just under his horn. The wound was still bleeding slightly, but he seemed otherwise fine. A little later, the boys got up and wandered south to join the other five Sussex cattle grazing on the slope of Sandy Hill. Steer 1626 was walking normally and climbed the slope without any difficulty.

At 15:15, those five Sussex cattle were grazing in the thicket near ///fiery.resist.form as they made their way up Sandy Hill. Cow 211 hurried over as soon as she spotted me and settled in for a long neck rub. True to form, she had slipped her collar—our gorgeous girl is determined to keep her freedom and wander wild 🤣. The others also came over for a greeting and enjoyed some strokes. They were all happy and in good condition.

By 15:30, four of the Sussex cattle had reached the top and began grazing near the pillbox, while the remaining three, together with steers 33 and 219, were still grazing on the slope. I said my goodbyes shortly afterwards, leaving them all grazing peacefully.

It was lovely to catch up with Alice today while she was doing her staff checks.

Apart from steer 1626’s head injury, the cows were all good today.

Tuesday 2nd - Staff Check, Sussex 1636 horn

 All 25 seen by the pond on Long Bottom, making my life a lot easier! Forgot to take pictures, but they all looked well aside from Sussex 1636.

His horn was bleeding, and there was an open wound. Ned thought it had probably caught his horn on something and so wrenched it a bit, however he wasn't too concerned.

If you could keep an eye on him over the next couple of days that would be great, thanks!

Monday 1st December - All 25 seen

 Between 07:20  - 09:30

What an awful morning, got totally drenched!

Have seen all the cattle this morning close to the Bourley Road, despite the torrential rain they were doing their best to shelter under the trees while also eating what ever they could reach. They were all soaked but seemed to be ok. 222 came over for his usual head and back rub, so I managed to clear some of the rain off of him. 

All the cattle were good this morning, apologies for no pictures today as when I reached in my pocket for my phone realised I had left it in the car.

Sunday 30th November - All 25 seen

At 10:10 this morning, eleven cattle were happily grazing in the thicket at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. Cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 20, 217, 220, 222, 227, 228, and 270, were enjoying the bramble in the sunshine. I found a few discarded glass bottles and bits of plastic near ///puff.reveal.throw, which I gathered and hid for collection later.

The cattle were very friendly, each taking turns to come over, say hello, and enjoy plenty of strokes. Youngster 222 soaked up the longest neck scratch imaginable, nudging me repeatedly to keep going. Youngsters 227 and 228 especially enjoyed having their withers and backs scratched. All eleven were happy, relaxed, and looking well. I said my goodbyes at 11:20, leaving them chewing their cud in the sunshine.

The remaining fourteen cattle were close by, gathered on the grassy islands at the Sandy Bowl at 11:25. Sussex steer 197 stood on the corner in the sunshine, chewing his cud, while the other thirteen lay resting—either snoozing or chewing their cud. Older steer 35 had an entire island to himself, while the others preferred to lie together. After about twenty minutes, steer 197 settled down as well.

They were all very friendly as I moved among them, happily accepting strokes and rubs. Steers 210, 219, and 271 especially enjoyed their back scratches and soon stretched right out on their sides so I could reach every itchy spot.

By 12:15, older steers 33 and 35 got up, stretched, and wandered west to graze. The others were in no hurry to join them, though several shifted to find some shade. They were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition. I said my goodbyes at 12:45 as the last few got up to chew their cud before heading off to graze.

I returned to the first group shortly after to collect the rubbish from earlier. All eleven were now lying down, resting on the grassy area north of the thicket. After a few more strokes and rubs, I said my goodbyes just after 13:00.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday 29th November - All 25 seen

At 09:30 this morning, eleven cattle were sheltering from the rain and foraging for acorns in the woodland near ///taker.flags.spout, west of Farnborough Road. The seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 30, 35, 219, and 230, were all rather wet but still came over to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Youngster 219 especially appreciated having the rain brushed from his coat during a long back rub. By 09:55, youngster 228 and yearling 270 wandered along the path from the south to join them. All thirteen were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:15, older steer 21 was resting about 500 metres further along the path to the southwest, near ///wakes.seated.cling, after grazing in the nearby gorse bushes. He came over and stood beside me for a while before heading off to join the others.

By 10:30, youngsters 217 and 220 were foraging for acorns near ///float.bench.feasted on Hungry Hill, while older steer 33 munched on gorse on the opposite side of the path. Yearling 271 was also nearby but deep in the bushes and took some finding—though he soon came out when he spotted me, ready for plenty of attention.

At 10:55, the rain had eased, and the remaining seven cattle were either grazing in the thicket along the path or resting and drying out halfway between Hungry Hill and their favourite Sandy Hill corner. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over, say hello, and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. They particularly enjoyed having their coats ruffled to help them dry more quickly. After about ten minutes, the four boys wandered along and joined them. All eleven were relaxed and in good condition, though looking a little sorry for themselves in the wet weather. I said my goodbyes at 11:30, after giving youngster 222 a long neck and back rub, and watched the group begin moving toward the corner.

As the rain had stopped, I returned at 11:45 to spend a bit more time with the first group, who were now relaxing near ///sober.quick.drip, east of the Sandy Bowl. Most were lying down, chewing their cud and drying out. Sussex steer 197 soon got up to enjoy a back scratch. I said my goodbyes at 12:30, leaving them all resting peacefully.

The cows were all good today.