Sunday 5th April - All 25 seen

Happy Easter!

At 10:00 this morning, the cattle were spread out grazing in the sunshine in the areas on either side of the path, from steers 21 and 33 near ///stuffy.piled.issue to youngsters 227 and 230 in the thicket west of the area below the Lookout. By 10:35, a mixed group of fourteen cattle—Sussexes 197, 210, 211, 212, and 1396, along with steers 20, 21, 33, 30, 35, 219, 227, and 230, plus cow 234—had gathered in the open area near ///fired.dining.spenders to rest and chew their cud. They were all very friendly, coming over to greet me, with most enjoying plenty of scratches. They were all happy, relaxed, and looking well. When I wandered off at 10:55 to check a group of nine near ///steady.cans.lobster, the group of fourteen followed. Youngster 220 was enjoying some fresh grass near the path to the west, while cows 72, 214, and 940, along with steers 217, 222, 228, 270, and 271, were spread out, resting and chewing their cud. Except for steer 30, who wandered off to the southeast to browse gorse, the rest of the larger group settled down beside their herd mates. They all looked very comfortable and were happy to be approached, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs while resting. Not long after arriving, youngster 222 got up to greet me with gentle head rubs before thoroughly enjoying a long neck and back scratch. By 11:15, Sussex steers 1626 and 1640, who had been grazing in the gorse to the south of the Lookout, also wandered along and joined the group, pausing briefly to say hello as they passed. I then spent some quiet time with the herd, moving among them and giving each one some attention in turn. As I was saying my goodbyes at 12:15, steer 30 returned from his grazing and was preparing to lie down with the others. The cows were all good today.

Saturday 4th April - All 25 seen

At 09:10, Sussex steers 197 and 1640, along with cow 212, were grazing north of the covered reservoir, just inside the gate from Gelvert, near ///remains.ambushes.look. About 150 metres to the southeast, near ///bagels.moved.wired, cows 211, 214, 234, and 1396, along with steers 219, 222, 228, 230, and 1626, were also spread out grazing. They were all very friendly, wandering over to say hello and enjoy plenty of scratches. Cow 211 and steer 222 were especially friendly, both enjoying long neck rubs and returning the affection with gentle head rubs and licks. The group gradually drifted northeast to the flat grassy area, where they settled to rest and chew their cud. All twelve were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Around 09:35, I heard mooing in the distance and looked up on the hill to the west of the Lookout, where I spotted Sussex steer 210. He appeared to have been left behind when the cattle moved down the hill earlier that morning. Despite seeing the rest of the group, he continued to moo frequently as he made his way down to join them. He stopped briefly to greet me as he passed, before reuniting with the other Sussex cattle. He appeared completely fine.

At 10:05, steers 21, 30, 33, 35, 217, 227, and 270, along with cows 72 and 940, were spread out grazing on the hillside further northeast near ///single.water.merge. They were enjoying a mix of heather, grass, and other foliage as they gradually drifted towards the woodland by the Bourley Road car park. After stopping for a drink, they followed the track through the trees, past the cow shed, and up to the bramble at the Royal Pavilion end of the site where they continued grazing. All nine were content, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 10:55, steers 20, 220, and 271 were already at the grassy patch in the same area, near ///stars.votes.flags. Youngster 220 was lying down, relaxing and chewing his cud, while the other two were initially grazing. Youngster 271 soon came over to say hello and enjoyed plenty of attention, especially a long neck and chin rub. Steers 20 and 271 then lay down to rest. Cows 72 and 940 joined them shortly afterwards, grazing on the lush green grass, while the boys continued browsing the bramble. I said my goodbyes at 11:45, leaving them all happy and content.

As I was leaving at 11:58, the seven Sussex cattle, along with cow 214 and steer 219, were lying down resting near ///tags.bogus.rumble, southeast of where they'd been earlier. Around ten minutes later, steers 222, 228, and 230, along with cow 234, were found resting about 150 metres to the northeast, near ///quoted.kind.soils.

The cows were all good today.

Friday 3rd April - All 25 seen

 Between 08:30 - 11:00

All have been seen this morning in 4 areas as follows

///ripen.spoons.cheerily (by the gate to Gelvert) all seven Sussex’s as well as 219,035,033,228,227,214,030 and 021

The remaining 10 were a bit more scattered across the site…

///.statement.stereos.budgeted (on the path from Sandy hill towards Horse pond) 940 and 072

///statec.racked.once (east of Horse pond) 234,220,020 and 271

///offer.pavillions.secure (southeast of James Bond pond) 217,270,230 and 222.

All the cattle were good this although a little damp from the drizzle.