Sunday 11th October - All 25 seen

At 09:45 this morning, a mixed group of nineteen cattle were spread out grazing along the length of Sandy Hill. They ranged from youngsters 230 and 270 grazing among the gorse near ///email.dolls.trails to cows 214 and 234 grazing on the grass at the western end of the hill. The vast majority were grazing in smaller groups among the gorse bushes along the edge of the hill or further down the slope. They were quick to spot me through gaps in the bushes, poking their heads out before coming over to say hello. They were all very friendly, with most enjoying having loose pieces of gorse brushed from their backs before settling in for long neck and back scratches. Youngster 228 was especially friendly, following me as I went around checking on the others, occasionally giving me gentle nudges and head rubs to remind me that he wanted more attention. The cattle gradually drifted west along the hill, continuing to graze contentedly.

By 10:55, steers 20, 197, and 219 were grazing deep among the gorse bushes on the hillside near ///taxed.pods.fattest. As soon as youngster 219 spotted me, he quickly made his way out to say hello before settling in for a lengthy back scratch. He enthusiastically leaned into the scratch, shifting his weight from side to side whenever I reached a particularly itchy spot.

At 11:15, I was incredibly lucky to spot cow 211 lying on a patch of grass behind some gorse bushes on the hillside near ///nooks.multiply.fixture as I took a shortcut to look for steers 210 and 1640. She was absolutely fine but seemed to be enjoying some quiet time away from the others. She thoroughly enjoyed a long neck and chin scratch before thanking me with several licks. The boys were grazing in the gorse bushes about 110 metres further west. I wouldn't have found cow 211 today if I hadn't taken that route.

At 11:30, I found cow 940, the final member of the group, grazing on the grassy area southwest of James Bond Pond. She had wandered west and joined cow 234 and steers 33 and 220, who were all having a rest. I said my goodbyes shortly afterwards, leaving all four to make their way back towards Sandy Hill. All nineteen cattle — cows 211, 212, 214, 234, 940, and 1396, and steers 20, 21, 33, 35, 197, 210, 219, 220, 227, 228, 230, 270, and 1640 — were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 11:50, the remaining six cattle were grazing beneath the Lookout near ///ironic.tasty.truly. Steers 217 and 271 were the first to spot me approaching and wandered over to greet me. Youngster 222 had been grazing further west but quickly came wading through the mud to say hello before settling in for a lengthy neck and back scratch. Cow 72 appeared about ten minutes later, making her way through the dense bracken to the northwest. She stopped for a drink from a pool of water before coming over for some attention. Steers 30 and 1626 were grazing further west, but steer 30 gradually made his way back to the group. I said my goodbyes just after 12:30, with steers 30, 217, 222, and 271 and cow 72 all resting peacefully and chewing their cud. Steer 1626 continued grazing contentedly on his own.

The cattle were all good today.

Saturday 10th October - All 25 seen

At 09:45 this morning, steers 35 and 220 were grazing together in the thicket near ///whisk.dance.waxes, west of James Bond Pond. They both took turns coming over to say hello. Steer 35 particularly enjoyed a lengthy back scratch, while youngster 220 seemed happiest simply standing by my side, relaxing and chewing his cud. Both were content, relaxed, and looking well.

By 10:15, Sussex cows 211 and 212, Sussex steers 197 and 210, and youngster 219 were grazing near the pillbox on Sandy Hill. Cow 1396 and steer 1640 were grazing at their favourite Sandy Hill corner, but soon wandered along to join the others. They were all very friendly today, wandering over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes. Youngster 219 enjoyed a neck rub but quickly positioned himself for his usual back scratch. Cows 211 and 212 were very affectionate, both enjoying long neck scratches before thanking me with head rubs and a few licks. All seven were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 11:15, steer 228 and cow 234 were browsing among the gorse bushes at the edge of the path near ///finders.mailings.food, having climbed from the pasture below. As I spent some time with youngster 228, I heard some rustling behind me in the gorse. A few minutes later, steer 33 emerged from the bushes. They all came over to say hello, with steer 228 and cow 234 both enjoying plenty of fuss. After saying my goodbyes, I followed the path down the hill, where I came across youngster 270 grazing in the gorse bushes near ///novels.weep.food. He was happy to be approached for a check, enjoying plenty of strokes before returning to grazing.

At 11:45, cow 940 and steers 20, 21, 30, 227, 230, and 1626 were spread out grazing among the bracken west of the path near ///asserts.quote.embers. Youngster 230 was completely hidden by the bracken but eventually gave himself away by poking his head through the foliage. They were all very friendly, stopping their grazing to greet me and be checked. All seven were happy and healthy.

Finally, at midday, youngsters 217, 222, and 271 were relaxing and chewing their cud under the trees next to the entrance to the covered reservoir, near ///bulky.views.unite. Cows 72 and 214 were peacefully grazing among the heather to the southwest. Youngster 222 enjoyed a good neck scratch while resting but soon got to his feet for a lengthy back scratch, shuffling backwards and forwards to ensure I reached all the itchy spots. The girls took turns coming over to greet me, content to stand by my side and chew their cud. While I was spending some quiet time with youngster 271, youngster 222 came wandering over to let me know that he needed more attention, greeting me with a series of head rubs. He soon settled in for another neck and back scratch, happy to soak up what seemed like endless attention.

I said my goodbyes shortly before 13:00, with all five resting peacefully. Steers 30 and 1626 were still grazing on the hillside but were making their way down to join them. Cow 940 and steers 20, 21, 227, and 230 had moved out of the bracken and were now grazing in the pasture further south, near ///rave.bless.upon, gradually making their way up the hill. At 13:15, cow 234 and steers 33, 228, and 270 were resting and chewing their cud on the grass near ///deflect.snipped.chaos, opposite the start of the path down the hill.

The cattle were all good today.

Staff Check Fri 9th October

All 25 found and all fine.

In two groups including the twi without collars thankfully!

Group 1  w3w ///quiet.groom.stole incl #211

Group 2 ///duties.approve.hers incl #217, 72 & 214

Thanks,

Jack

Wednesday 7th October - All 25 seen

At 16:20 this afternoon, a group of nineteen cattle were moving from the grassy area at the eastern end of the Sandy Bowl, where they had been resting, into the woodland to the southwest to graze, near ///jaws.latter.zoom. All nineteen were very friendly, stopping to say hello as they wandered past. They were damp from the earlier rain but were drying out fast. They were thoroughly enjoying a mix of gorse, heather, leaves from the trees and bushes, and the occasional patch of grass. Their favourite, though, was clearly the sweet chestnuts lying on the ground in numerous spots.

Over time, the cattle spread out as they slowly drifted further southwest. Several were playing a game of hide and seek as I made my way around checking on them, appearing one second before disappearing into the thicket, only to re-emerge a little later. Nearly all came over to spend some time with me, thoroughly enjoying long neck and back scratches. Youngster 222 was especially affectionate, offering gentle head rubs after a particularly satisfying neck and chin scratch. Youngster 219 came over to greet me before positioning himself for his usual back scratch.

I said my goodbyes shortly before 18:00, by which time fifteen of the cattle were peacefully grazing in the area near ///banks.woods.back, close to the nursery. Youngsters 217, 227, and 228, along with cow 234, were a bit further northeast, near ///rips.stump.locked, where they were all happily grazing together. All nineteen cattle were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 18:15, older steer 21 was peacefully grazing near ///contained.they.wasp, about 380 metres west of Horse Pond. He took a break to say hello before leaning in for a long back scratch. Cow 212 and steer 1640 were grazing in the heather a bit further southeast, but both stepped out onto the grass path to greet me and enjoy plenty of strokes. Steer 210, along with cows 211 and 1396, were grazing on the hillside near ///glossed.sank.revisits, thoroughly enjoying the heather and leaves from the silver birch trees. Cow 211 was especially friendly, wandering over to say hello before settling in for a neck rub and thanking me with plenty of licks. She was happy to just stand and be fussed over, clearly enjoying the attention.

I said my goodbyes at 18:45, as darkness was falling across the site, with all six peacefully grazing. They were all content, relaxed, and in good condition.

The cattle were all good today.