Sunday 12th April - All 25 seen

At 09:20 this morning, the seven Sussex cattle along with steers 21, 30, 35, 217, 220, and 230 were spread out feeding on bramble at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. They were all friendly, often emerging from the bushes to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Youngster 230 in particular enjoyed a long neck and shoulder rub. Cows 211 and 212 wandered off together, grazing on grass and browsing leaves as they moved north up Sunny Hill Road. All thirteen were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:45, cows 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 20, 222, and 271, were grazing at their favourite Sandy Hill corner. Youngster 222 was especially friendly, wandering over to greet me as I approached before enjoying a long neck and shoulder rub. A heavy shower passed through just after 11:00, and we all moved under the trees for shelter, with several of the cattle enjoying back scratches while we waited for it to pass. Afterwards, the cattle gradually drifted off to graze near the pill box. They were all happy and healthy.

At 11:30, cow 72 was grazing beside the path at the far eastern end of Sandy Hill. She wandered over to say hello and enjoyed a long back scratch. Steers 33, 227, 228, and 270 were grazing on heather along the slope of the hill. It was very noticeable how much better steer 33 is walking now that his hooves have been trimmed—he was moving around and climbing the hill with ease.

By noon, youngster 227 had moved to the bottom of the slope to lie down and chew his cud in the sunshine, near ///beans.breeze.lunges. Youngster 270 wandered off to the west to join the other group, who had moved to the bottom of Sandy Hill a little further along, while steer 20 and cow 940 came to join the group I was with. The others soon lay down to rest, looking relaxed and comfortable, and happy to accept scratches while they rested. I said my goodbyes just after 12:35, leaving them resting peacefully.

On my way out, I passed the first group again at 12:50. Twelve of the cattle were lying down, resting and chewing their cud on the grassy area close to where they had been grazing earlier. Sussex steer 1640 was grazing in the woodland to the west but wandered off to rejoin the others after I said goodbye at 13:15.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday 11th April - All 25 seen

At 09:20 this morning, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 30, 220, 222, 228, 230, and 270, were grazing just beyond their favourite Sandy Hill corner, gradually drifting east towards Hungry Hill. They were all very friendly, regularly pausing to greet me and enjoy strokes and rubs. Cow 72 and youngster 222 were especially friendly, both relishing long neck and back scratches and returning the affection with gentle head rubs. The cattle stopped to graze on bilberry on the flat area near ///noises.wired.aside before continuing east along Hungry Hill. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 10:15, steers 20, 227, and 271 were grazing in the thicket near ///clown.alcove.cools, northeast of their favourite Sandy Hill corner. They were all friendly, coming over to greet me, with the youngsters enjoying plenty of scratches. I’m pleased to report there was no sign of blood near older steer 20’s leg today, and no indication of any underlying injury. The boys were calm, content, and in good condition.

At 10:35, the seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 21, 217, and 219, were grazing just west of the pillbox. They were enjoying plenty of fresh grass and gorse, but paused to come over and say hello. The scratch on cow 211’s side appears to be the same one she picked up while in Camp 45 and is healing nicely.

Older steers 33 and 35 were deep in the gorse bushes further east, but by 11:15 they had made their way down the slope of Sandy Hill. Steer 33 was resting and chewing his cud near ///filer.stun.smirking, while steer 35 grazed nearby. Steer 20 had also moved down the slope and was grazing to the north.

By 11:30, some of the Sussex cattle, together with steers 217 and 219, had begun to descend the hill and settle in the bracken near ///visa.eager.something. Cow 211 was especially affectionate, enjoying a long neck and shoulder scratch and responding with plenty of licks. Steers 20, 33, and 35 wandered across to join them but, instead of lying down, drifted off to the north to graze, taking youngster 217 with them. By 12:10, six of the Sussexes were resting and chewing their cud alongside youngster 219. Steers 21, 227, and 271, along with cow 212, were still grazing at the top of the hill but appeared ready to make their way down to join the others. I said my goodbyes shortly after.

The cows were all good today.

Friday 10th April - 210 has cut on side and 020 has blood showing

 Between 08:30 - 11:00 All 25 seen in 4 locations

///arrived.doped.emotional (near pillbox on Sandy Hill) 234,021,072,222 and 940

///feelers.momentous.clocked (on path just south of JB pond) 214,033,271,228,217 and 270

///speeded.forces.lively (north of JB pond) 219,212,197,1396,211,1640 and 1626 

211 has what looks like a cut on left side, not showing any signs of bleeding and she didn’t seem bothered by it. (Picture attached)

///country.formless.life (lower path between sandy hill and the JB pond) 210,030,220,035,230 and 227

020 had signs of blood near front right leg (picture attached)

Apart from 211 and 020 all the cattle were good this morning.