Sunday 10th May - All 25 seen

Shortly before 10:00 this morning, a group of thirteen cattle were spread out resting in the pasture near ///arose.thud.campsites, northeast of Horse Pond. Older steer 30 was grazing contentedly on fresh grass among them, while steers 21, 35, and 1640, along with cow 234, were grazing further southwest before later joining the group. Youngster 222 spotted me approaching and wandered over to greet me, enjoying a long neck and back scratch. The others were all happy to be approached as I made my way around checking on them, with most enjoying plenty of strokes. Several stood up to be fussed over, enjoying longer neck and back scratches, while youngster 271 stretched right out on his side for a belly scratch. I said my goodbyes shortly before 11:30, leaving all but steer 21 resting. All seventeen were happy, relaxed, and looking well. It was lovely to spend some quiet, relaxing time with the group this morning.

At 11:35, steers 20 and 230 were wandering across the Sandy Bowl, having been grazing among the bramble at the Royal Pavilion end of the site earlier. They both stopped to say hello, with youngster 230 eager for some back scratches. The boys didn't appear to know where the other cattle were and were about to wander off into the woodland to the south, but I instead persuaded them to follow me as I walked them along to the others. Steer 20 was very vocal when he caught sight of the group at 11:50, but soon lay down among the resting cattle. Youngster 230 preferred more back scratches before also lying down to rest and chew his cud. The boys were both happy and healthy.

By 12:25, Sussex steers 197, 210, and 1626 were lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud on the grassy island near ///cross.rags.vision, northeast of the water tower. Youngster 197 was especially friendly, enjoying a long neck rub and responding with gentle head rubs. Cows 211, 212, and 1396 were grazing about 85 metres further north, enjoying plenty of long grass and leaves from the trees. The girls were all very friendly, stopping to greet me and enjoy some strokes. After about fifteen minutes, the boys wandered over to join them. I said my goodbyes around 13:10, leaving them all grazing contentedly.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday 9th May - All 25 seen

Seen in three groups - six Sussex cattle resting southwest of James Bond Pond, Sussex steer 1640 and eleven of the original herd at the Lookout with the final seven relaxing in the cow shed.  Spent a good while with them today and they were all good.

Full update and some photos to follow later.

Thursday 7th May - Staff Check - All 25 seen

13.47. 

Group 1 by the Shell Garage Entrance 

All lying down dozing/chewing the cud 

(7)

SH 222 

SH 220 

SH 270 

BW 234 

SH 33

BW 214 

SH 217 

13.59 

Group 2 by James Bond Pond (10) 

Foraging on broom, gorse, silver birch, bramble. 

Looking amazing, particularly the Shetlands 

Brie 1940

SH 72

SH 271 

SH 219 

SUS 211 

SUS 197

SUS 1396 

SUS 210 

SUS 1640

SUS 212

14.26 

Group 3 at the lookout (4) 

All resting/enjoying the view

BW 227 

SH 228 

SH 30 

SH 35 

14.52 

Group 4 by Horse Pond (4) 

SH 21 

SUS 1626 

SH 230

SH 20 

All 25 seen today 

All in excellent condition and no problems to note 

Zoe 

Wednesday 6th May - All 25 seen

At 17:15 this afternoon, steers 197, 210, 219, and 1640, along with cow 212, were resting in the pasture near ///caked.rank.occurs, north of Hungry Hill. Cow 1396 was grazing nearby and, after wandering over to say hello, lay down beside the others. Cow 211 was browsing on gorse in the bushes on the hillside to the northeast. The group were all very friendly, enjoying plenty of strokes as I made my way around checking on them. Steers 197 and 219 stretched right out on their sides, completely at ease and clearly enjoying the attention. All seven cattle were happy, relaxed, and in good condition. At 17:50, steers 20, 21, 33, and 1626 were grazing in the thicket to the east of Horse Pond, while youngster 230 grazed out in the open nearer the northeastern corner. Youngster 220 was grazing among the bushes along the eastern bank of the pond, while youngster 222 was standing in the pond nearer the woodland to the west. He soon stepped out as I approached, keen to say hello and enjoy a long neck and back scratch. A while later, while I was spending more time with youngster 230, who had moved to graze on the grassy area near ///circus.hers.fault, youngster 217 was grazing about 60 metres further west. All eight boys were happy and healthy. By 18:25, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 228, 270, and 271, were grazing along the sides of the main path near ///stow.logic.dividers. The group gradually made their way through the dense row of gorse bushes on the far side of the path before heading down to the swampy area near ///rattler.butlers.hits to continue grazing. Cow 214 preferred to stay by the path and browse the gorse bushes to the south. All seven were happy, relaxed, and looking well. Finally, at 18:50, steer 30 was grazing in the swampy area southeast of the covered reservoir, near ///pods.change.noble, while youngster 227 grazed on the hillside further to the southeast. He soon began making his way over for plenty of scratches. Older steer 35 was grazing north of the reservoir, but wandered around to join the other two by 19:10. The boys were content, relaxed, and in good condition. As I was leaving at 19:40, youngsters 222 and 230 were grazing in the heather on the hillside north of Horse Pond. Cow 214 had moved south and joined steers 217, 220, and 1396 grazing at the foot of Sandy Hill, south of the pond. Older steers 20, 21, and 33 were grazing further northeast near ///expel.toggle.hurt. I said my goodbyes at 20:00, leaving them all happy. The cows were all good today.

Tuesday 5th May - All 25 seen - Steers 230 and 1626 were grazing inside the NoFence boundary near the gate into Gelvert

At 17:20 this afternoon, Sussex steers 197, 210, and 1640, along with cows 211 and 212, were grazing on Sandy Hill about 100 metres west of the pill box, near ///speak.escape.stunt. They were all very friendly, pausing their grazing to come over, say hello, and enjoy some strokes. After a while, I said my goodbyes and began heading down the hill on the track to their east, but they soon pushed through the gorse and followed me down the slope.

Steers 30, 35, 219, and 227 were resting and chewing their cud at the bottom of the slope, near ///cheeks.walls.listed, while steer 33 grazed contentedly nearby. Sussex cow 1396 lay a little to their west, on the other side of some dividing bushes. The other Sussexes soon wandered over and settled down beside her, quickly relaxing. Youngsters 219 and 227 were happy to receive neck and shoulder rubs as they rested. All eleven were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 18:00, cows 214 and 234, along with youngster 222, were relaxing and chewing their cud in the pasture near ///claw.mash.tones, around 140 metres southeast of the main entrance to the Gelvert reserve. Cow 72 grazed contentedly in the bushes to their north. Youngster 222 stood and thoroughly enjoyed a long neck and back scratch, thanking me with gentle head rubs. Youngster 228 and cow 940 were grazing around 110 metres further east. They both stopped to enjoy plenty of strokes before returning to graze. All six were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 18:50, steers 230 and 1626 were grazing inside the NoFence boundary close to the water treatment compound near the covered reservoir. It was reassuring to see the gate into Gelvert still closed and secured with the rope I tied on 28th March. Both steers were enjoying plenty of fresh grass. Steers 20, 21, 217, 220, 270, and 271 were well spread out, grazing in the valley to the north and east of the reservoir. They were all friendly as I made my way around checking on them, pausing to greet me as I passed. Youngster 271 took a break to enjoy a long neck and back scratch, while the others gradually moved closer. I said my goodbyes at 19:50, leaving them all grazing or resting. All eight boys were happy and healthy.

The cows were all good today.