Sunday 26th April - All 25 seen

At 09:50 this morning, a mixed group of ten cattle was in the pasture northeast of Horse Pond, near ///exams.duos.spun. Cows 72 and 940, along with steers 33, 197, 230, and 1640, were resting and chewing their cud. Steers 20, 30, 35, and 270 were grazing nearby, but by 10:40 they had all wandered over to lie down with the others. Older steer 35 had a good scratch on a tree branch before settling down. Youngster 230 was especially friendly today, getting up to wander over to greet me and enjoy endless strokes and rubs. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:55, Sussex steer 210 was grazing alone in the bushes just off the path near ///puts.garage.bells. He was fine and simply seemed to be enjoying some time alone, browsing among the bushes. I stayed with him for a while to make sure he was okay. He started to follow me when I left to find the others, but soon stopped to graze again.

At 11:20, the remaining fourteen cattle were spread out, browsing through the bramble at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. They were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them, with most coming out from the bushes to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Youngsters 219, 228, and 271 all thoroughly enjoyed long neck and back scratches. By 11:40, Sussex steer 210 had rejoined the group, announcing his arrival with a series of loud moos. 

By 12:15, the cattle had started to move to the grassy area to lie down in the sunshine and chew their cud. Around the same time, the group of ten also arrived and started to graze among the bramble. Youngster 222 soon came over for another neck and back scratch, before lying down to rest at my feet. I said my goodbyes at 13:10, leaving cows 212, 214, 234, and 1396, along with steers 210, 217, 219, 222, and 227, resting in the sunshine, while cow 211 was lying in the shade among the woodland to the east. Youngsters 228 and 271 were just about to join them, while the others were still grazing peacefully.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday 25th April - All 25 seen

At 09:50 this morning, a mixed group of seventeen cattle, including Sussex steer 1626, was grazing in the thicket southwest of James Bond Pond, having moved over earlier from the pasture north of the pond. They gradually emerged from the bushes and wandered across to the patch of grass near ///locked.coats.idealist, where they stopped to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Youngster 219 was especially friendly, enjoying a long, relaxing back rub while resting in the sunshine. Steers 30, 33, 35, 222, 228, 230, and 271 moved into the woodland to the west to continue grazing, enjoying plenty of leaves from the trees and bushes. Youngster 222 soon wandered over for more scratches, offering gentle head rubs in return. By 11:30, most of the cattle had settled on the grassy patch, either chewing their cud or dozing in the sunshine. Unfortunately, the warm weather had brought out the flies, although they did not seem too bothered. They would occasionally get up and take turns standing in the shade of the trees in the centre of the area for some respite from the sun and flies. Older steers 21 and 31 preferred to rest beneath the trees just off the path to the west. All seventeen were happy, relaxed, and looking well. At 11:50, steers 20 and 1640, along with cows 211, 940, and 1396, were drinking at the northeastern corner of James Bond Pond. They all stepped out of the water to say hello and enjoy a few strokes. Cow 211 thoroughly enjoyed a long neck rub while standing at the water's edge. The group then made their way into the pasture to the north to graze, before moving into the shade of the trees and bushes near ///adapt.ruled.enjoy. All five were content, relaxed, and in good condition. At 12:20, the final three Sussex cattle—steers 197 and 210, along with cow 212—were grazing at the western end of Sandy Hill. They had been making their way west, but soon turned back, clearly enjoying the lush grass. They all took turns coming over to say hello and enjoy some strokes, standing close to me to help keep the flies off their faces. All three were all happy and healthy. After spending some time with the three Sussex cattle, I returned to the main group, who were still resting where I had left them earlier. They were happy for me to sit with them and give them some more attention as they relaxed. I said my goodbyes shortly after 13:00, leaving them all resting peacefully. The cows were all good today.

Friday 24th April - All 25 seen and 3 adders

 Between 08:30 - 11:00

All seen in 3 locations this morning as follows

///blessing.branded.sketching 021,035,030,270,271,217 and 230

///march.elections.afternoon all 7 Sussex’s and their best friend 219 most of the Sussex had quite a lot of ticks.

///bonnet.conveys.tiredness 033,940,072,220,214,227,222,228 and 020 Also near to this group I was delighted to see 3 adders, 2 males and 1 female. They were basking in the bracken quite close to paths.

All the cattle were good this morning apart from quite a lot of ticks on the Sussex’s ‘armpits’