Sunday 26th July - All 25 seen

At 09:10 this morning, youngster 219 and Sussex cattle 197, 210, 211, 212, and 1640 were resting beneath the shade of the trees by the Bourley Road car park, near ///flies.sprouted.last. They were all happy to be approached for their checks, enjoying plenty of strokes and scratches. Cow 211 soon got up to enjoy a long back scratch, thanking me with lots of gentle licks. Although it was a more overcast and cooler start to the day, there were still plenty of flies around. All six were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 09:55, youngsters 217 and 271 were in Horse Pond, thoroughly enjoying the lily pads floating on the surface. Youngster 271 was almost totally submerged, but seemed completely unbothered. Steers 30, 35, 220, and 228 had already enjoyed a drink before heading into the shade of the trees to the west of the pond to relax and chew their cud. The duo eventually left the water and wandered along to join them. Youngster 228 thoroughly enjoyed a long back scratch while resting. The boys were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 10:45, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 20, 222, and 271, were relaxing and chewing their cud beneath the trees at the Lookout. By now, the sun had broken through the clouds, but they were being kept nice and cool by a fairly strong wind. They were all very friendly, wandering over to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Youngster 222 was his usual affectionate self, offering the sweetest head rubs after enjoying plenty of neck and shoulder rubs. All seven were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

Finally, at 11:35, the remaining six cattle were resting beneath the trees to the east of James Bond Pond. Steers 21, 33, 227, 230, and 1626, along with cow 1396, were peacefully relaxing and chewing their cud. They were all happy to be approached for their checks, with most enjoying plenty of head and neck scratches. They were all content, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after noon, the group of seven from the Lookout came wandering along and joined the other six. Youngster 222 came straight over to greet me again, offering even more head rubs, while cow 234 returned for the second part of her back scratch. By 12:20, the group had started to drift southwest to graze, and I said my goodbyes a short time later.

The ladies from the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership were onsite again today to mark the start of Heath Week 2026, running their 'Wild Senses Trail' drop-in session.

The cattle were all good today.

Saturday 25th July - All 25 seen

At 08:50 this morning, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 33, 222, 227, and 270, were grazing in the woodland near the patch of grass at the Royal Pavilion end of the site, northeast of the cow shed. They were very friendly, taking turns to come over, greet me, and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. The group gradually made their way down towards the cow shed, with several stopping for a drink from the stream. They alternated between resting in the shade and coming over for neck and back scratches, with youngsters 222 and 227 rewarding me with gentle head rubs. Although it was a little cooler today, there were still plenty of flies around.

By 09:50, I wandered back to the patch of grass, where I found Sussex steer 1626 lying in the sunshine, chewing his cud. He was covered in flies and seemed to appreciate having them brushed from his face and shoulders, even if it was only temporary. Sussex cow 1396 was standing in the woodland behind him, also chewing her cud, but was happy to enjoy a back scratch while she rested. They were both happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after 10:10, I returned to the cow shed to find older steers 20 and 21 had arrived during my absence after wandering down from the area south of the Sandy Bowl. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looked settled. I said my goodbyes at 10:25, leaving them resting peacefully together.

At 10:40, steers 30, 35, 217, 220, 228, and 271 were relaxing and chewing their cud under the trees west of Horse Pond. They were all being bothered by large numbers of flies, with several showing signs of watery eyes. Youngster 228 was quick to come over to greet me, happy to stand and be fussed over, especially enjoying a long, relaxing back rub. Yearling 271 was content simply to stand close, while I helped keep the flies at bay. Shortly before I left, steers 30 and 228 wandered off to lie down in the dense bracken to the south. All six boys were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

Finally, at 11:30, the last seven cattle were resting under the trees near the entrance to the covered reservoir. The remaining five Sussex cattle, along with steers 219 and 230, were initially all lying down, happy to be approached for their checks. Before long, however, they began getting up one by one to enjoy long neck and back scratches. Steer 197 was especially friendly today, enjoying plenty of attention and returning the affection with gentle head rubs, while cow 211 thoroughly enjoyed an extended neck rub, thanking me with plenty of licks. I said my goodbyes at 12:25, leaving them all resting peacefully.

The cattle were all good today.

Friday 24th July - All 25 seen

 Between 06:00 - 08:00

All seen this morning in 3 locations…

///slap.headless.figure (western side of the fenced off area) 1640,210 and 212

///front.sweep.solar (north of Horse Pond) 219,197 and 230

///giggles.without.growth (alongside the Bourley Road) all the rest scattered mostly within the bracken.

By the time I returned to the Bourley Road car park most of this group were beginning to settle in and around the cow shed.

All the cattle were good this morning, notably 222 and 072 coming over for long neck and back rubs.

 

Wednesday 22nd July - All 25 seen

At 17:35 this afternoon, steer 197 and cows 212 and 234 were gathered on a patch of grass southwest of James Bond Pond, near ///actors.cobbled.crossings. They were all relaxing and chewing their cud, with cow 234 taking the weight off her feet. Steer 210 and cow 214 were tucked away deep in the bushes behind them, but both came to the edge to say hello. Nearby, steer 30 was resting on the stony bank of the pond near the water's edge, while steers 35 and 217 were cooling off in the water. Again today, large numbers of flies were bothering the herd, especially around their eyes and nostrils. Despite the constant irritation, all eight cattle were looking well.

When I set off east to find the next group of cattle, steers 197 and 210, along with cows 212, 214, and 234, decided to follow me. By 18:05, we had arrived at the woodland to the east of James Bond Pond, where cows 72 and 940, along with steers 20, 33, 220, 222, 227, 228, 270, and 271, were resting together. Most were relaxing and chewing their cud, while others were shielding their faces from the flies and enjoying an early evening snooze. They were all happy to be approached for their checks, clearly appreciating having the flies gently brushed from their eyes and nostrils. Youngsters 222 and 228 were both quick to get up and take turns wandering over for neck and back scratches, rewarding me with gentle head rubs. The group that had followed me all lay down to rest in the shade. By 18:40, the cattle had begun to get up and wander out to the south to graze. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after 19:00, youngster 230 was grazing among the gorse bushes opposite the herd's favourite Sandy Hill corner. He was very friendly, wandering into a clearing to say hello and enjoy some attention. After a short while, we moved down onto the slope of Sandy Hill, near ///olive.haunt.sneezed, where cows 211 and 1396, along with steers 219, 1626, and 1640, were grazing among the bracken. They all wandered over to greet me, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs. All six were content, relaxed, and in good condition.

Around 19:25, I started to hear frequent mooing in the distance to the northwest and went to investigate. The combined second group of fifteen had moved down onto the hillside near ///chain.jetted.cello to graze in the cooler evening conditions. They were well spread out in small groups and appeared to be mooing to check that no one was missing. They all settled down to graze, enjoying plenty of grass, leaves, and heather.

By 19:45, I had headed back up to James Bond Pond to see if I could find the missing older steer 21. I found him soon after, walking along the path just south of the pond between steers 30 and 217. Older steer 35 was lagging behind, continuing to browse leaves. After stopping to say hello, the boys wandered off through the thicket, making their way onto the hillside where the other cattle were grazing. By the time I rejoined them, the group of six from Sandy Hill had also joined the herd, which was now grazing together near ///less.hype.gloom. I said my goodbyes at 20:10, leaving them all peacefully grazing.

The cattle were all good today.

Tuesday 21st July - All 25 seen

At 17:25 this afternoon, seventeen cattle, including Sussex steers 197 and 210 and cow 212, were resting on an area of long grass north of the water tower, near ///calm.sped.panthers. Most were relaxing and chewing their cud, with several enjoying a late-afternoon snooze. They were being plagued by flies, which were continually settling on their eyes and around their nostrils. They were clearly uncomfortable, often standing up to shift position. Even so, several wandered over to say hello, happily enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs before offering a gentle head rub in return. Despite the constant irritation from the flies, they were all looking well.

Older steers 21 and 35 were resting beneath the shade of the trees to the southeast, near ///burden.text.part. Although they were still being bothered by flies, there were noticeably fewer, and it was considerably cooler in the shade. The boys were both happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 18:45, the remaining six cattle were resting or grazing in the pasture north of James Bond Pond. Sussex cow 1396, along with steers 1626 and 1640, were resting in the bracken near ///litters.rating.warthog. Steer 219 and cow 211 were grazing to the northwest, while steer 230 was resting beneath the shade of the trees to the south. Youngsters 219 and 230 were especially friendly, both thoroughly enjoying long neck and back scratches while relaxing in the sunshine. Cow 211 soon wandered over to greet me, happily accepting plenty of strokes before lying down in the bracken to chew her cud. This group was also being bothered by large numbers of flies, although they appeared considerably more settled than the first group. I said my goodbyes at 19:20, leaving them all resting peacefully.

The cattle were all good today.

Note: For some unexplained reason, I've been unable to create a new blog post since last night, regardless of which device or browser I've used. I've found a workaround, but I wanted to mention it in case anyone else is experiencing the same issue.