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.

Tuesday 6th October - All 25 seen

At 16:35 this afternoon, steer 227 and cow 940 were happily grazing to the southwest of the Bourley Road car park, near ///rabble.crypt.seated. They were enjoying the abundant gorse and heather, but both stopped to wander over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes. Steer 30 was standing in the sand about 85 metres further southwest, with youngster 220 lying down in the woodland close by. Cow 940 soon wandered over to join me near steer 30, where she thoroughly enjoyed a long back scratch. Youngster 220 also got up and wandered over before drifting off to graze.

By 17:00, steers 33 and 219, along with cow 234, were grazing in the heather near ///tram.blown.silk, close to the fenced-off area. All three were very friendly and wandered over to say hello and be checked. A short time later, steers 20, 197, 217, 222, 228, 230, 270, 271, and 1626, along with cows 72 and 214, were spread out in the woodland southwest of the cow shed. Most were resting, with a few grazing on leaves from the trees and bushes. The group had recently wandered down from the Royal Pavilion end of the site. Youngsters 222 and 228 were especially friendly, both enjoying long neck, shoulder, and back scratches. The others were equally friendly, happy to be checked and receive plenty of strokes.

I said my goodbyes at 17:30, with the group drifting off to the west to join up with the first four cattle. All nineteen cattle were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:45, Sussex steers 210 and 1640, along with cows 211, 212, and 1396, were spread out grazing among the heather on the slope of Sandy Hill, south of Horse Pond, near ///both.hurtles.risky. Steer 1640 spotted me approaching and wandered over to greet me before leaning in for a neck rub. The others were all friendly as I wandered around to say hello and check them over. Older steer 21 had been grazing in the gorse bushes by the pond but soon wandered over to join the group, making his way straight over to greet me. He thoroughly enjoyed a good neck scratch before shifting forward for a long back scratch. I said my goodbyes at 18:30, leaving them peacefully resting on the hillside. All six were content and in good condition.

The cattle were all good today.

Sunday 4th October – All 25 seen – Steer 219's inner claw on his rear left foot is starting to grow over his outer claw

From 09:45 this morning, a mixed group of eighteen cattle, including all seven of the Sussex cattle, gradually converged from all directions into the rows of gorse bushes along the paths south of James Bond Pond. As I wandered around, they would slowly emerge to say hello and be checked, with most enjoying having the gorse brushed from their backs. Afterwards, many would lean in for long neck and back scratches, clearly loving the attention. Although it was a lovely sunny morning, fog began to develop around the pond and spread across the surrounding area. It lingered for a while before the strengthening sunshine gradually burned it away.

As I was saying my goodbyes at 11:35, eight of the cattle had settled down to rest in the heather near ///mills.huddle.lend. Others were grazing peacefully in the surrounding area, enjoying a mixture of gorse, heather, and leaves from the trees and bushes. Steers 20, 33, and 220 were browsing on gorse just outside the area and soon wandered in to join the others. All eighteen cattle were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

I did notice that the inner claw on youngster 219's rear left foot is starting to grow over his outer claw. It wasn't causing him any issues today, but it is certainly something to monitor moving forward.

Shortly before midday, youngster 230 was grazing in the pasture north of Hungry Hill, near ///bulky.cools.beaker. He was very friendly and stopped to enjoy a long neck, shoulder, and back scratch. Youngster 270 was grazing contentedly about 120 metres to the north, on the far side of the path. He had wandered off by himself even further north searching for something besides gorse to eat, but was gradually making his way back.

Stealthy cow 72 was grazing on the hillside southeast of Horse Pond. After saying hello, she accompanied me down to the pond, where cows 214, 234, and 940, along with steer 222, were having a refreshing drink. The girls were quick to come over to say hello, all enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs, while youngster 222 moved into the pond to eat some lily pads. After a short time, youngster 230 also turned up to take a drink and relax in the sunshine.

When youngster 222 spotted that I was free, he wandered out of the pond to come over and say hello, greeting me with the sweetest head rubs. He was content to just stand in the sun and be fussed over, shifting forwards and backwards for shoulder and back scratches. The girls also enjoyed more strokes, but youngster 222 was very much the centre of attention. He was walking fine today, which was great to see.

I said my goodbyes at 13:20, shortly after youngster 270 came and joined the group, mooing several times to announce his arrival. The girls were all happily standing on the southern bank of the pond, relaxing and chewing their cud. Youngster 222 had gone back into the pond to eat more lily pads, while youngster 230 was making his way around to the woodland to the west of the pond to get some shade.

The cattle were all good today.