Tuesday 3rd February - 17 seen

At 15:00 on a very wet afternoon, steer 30 and cow 940 were grazing among the bushes near ///tour.belt.signed at the bottom of Sandy Hill. Despite being soaked, both appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

To the southeast, on the hillside, steers 20, 217, 220, 222, 227, 228, and 230 were braving the worst of the weather, while contentedly munching on heather. They all stopped to say hello as I moved around checking on them. Youngsters 222, 227, 228, and 230 especially enjoyed long neck and shoulder scratches, returning the affection with enthusiastic, rain‑soaked head rubs. All seven were content and looking well.

By 15:25, older steers 21, 33, and 35 were sheltering on the northern side of the path near ///towel.seat.trio. Steer 21 was resting beneath a tree, while the other two alternated between foraging for acorns and browsing leaves from nearby bushes.

Further north, up the hill near ///calls.rejoined.pasta, cows 214 and 234, together with yearling 271 were resting under the trees, chewing their cud. Yearling 270 was foraging for acorns close by. Yearling 271 was particularly friendly and enjoyed a long back rub while resting.

Finally, further east near the path, cow 72 was foraging for acorns. She wandered over to greet me and seemed pleased to have the rain brushed from her back, sides, and neck. I stayed with her for a while, and she happily soaked up the attention.

Despite a thorough search, I was unable to locate the elusive youngster 219 or the six Sussex cattle. Hopefully, they were hunkered down somewhere, keeping dry.

The cows that were found were all good today.

Unable to do looker duty this week Thursday 5th Feb

 Hello all, I’m going to miss the cows this week.

I can’t get to the site this Thursday, but will return next week.

Kiran 

Monday 2nd February - 17 seen - 033 has long ‘nails’ on rear left leg

 Between 08:00 - 10:30

Could only find 17 members of the original herd this morning, they were all near ///sage.unique.wants which is the woods alongside the Farnborough Road and behind the large nursery school at the top of Cranmore Lane. All looked well, still looking for acorns and eating the gorse. Whilst I was leading a very lonely 033 back to join the rest I noticed that he has very long nails on his rear left foot. Picture attached.

I then spent quite a while looking for the Sussex’s and 219, I searched between the lookout and the Shell station but unfortunately drew a blank. 

All the cattle I found were happy and content. Just a note about 033’s foot.

Sunday 1st February - 17 seen - Fence damage between Caesar’s and Gelvert

Shortly after 08:30 this morning, seventeen members of the Caesar’s original herd were spread out foraging for acorns in the woodland around the cow shed. It was raining fairly heavily and the cattle were all soaking wet, although the trees provided some shelter from the worst of the rain.

The cattle were very friendly, pausing their foraging to come over and say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Most seemed pleased to have the rain brushed from their backs and sides. Youngsters 222 and 228 particularly enjoyed long neck rubs and back scratches, returning the affection with enthusiastic rubs from their wet heads! The rest of the group were just as friendly, leaning in for relaxing neck and shoulder rubs as I moved around checking on them. Despite the weather, all appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

I stayed with them until shortly after 10:10, by which time the TALMAG motorcycle trial was well underway. Although motorbikes could be heard in the distance, the cattle did not appear to be bothered.

After saying my goodbyes, I set off on an extensive search across the length and breadth of the site for youngster 219 and the six Sussex cattle. I first checked areas scheduled to be used during the motorcycle trial, then searched further afield. Despite continuing until after 13:15, I was unable to locate them — I’d love to know where they had gone.

I encountered the group of seventeen again at around noon, further east than their earlier position, towards the Royal Pavilion end of the site. Several were standing on the grassy area near ///formal.calms.faded, drying out while relaxing and chewing their cud, while the others were resting in the surrounding woodland. There was a steady flow of cars passing as people left the event.

While searching for the missing group near the Beacon Hill end of the site, I noticed some fence damage near ///flow.protest.whizzing. As movement between Caesar’s and Gelvert is not currently restricted, I did not report this.

The cows that were found were all good today.

Saturday 31st January - All 24 seen

At 09:15 this morning, steer 21 and cow 214 were foraging for acorns among the fallen leaves near ///crate.deaf.moral, close to Crown Dairy Nursery. Steer 220 and cow 234 were grazing in the gorse at the top of the hill nearby. Although they were wet from earlier rain, all four appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

In the pasture to the northwest near ///towers.drape.pigs, cows 72 and 940, along with steers 30, 217, 222, 227, 228, 270, and 271, were either resting or browsing gorse. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to greet me and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs.

Just after 10:20, I returned to where I'd found the first four and met youngster 230 walking down the path from the east. He stopped to say hello and enjoyed a long back scratch. After about ten minutes, as I was preparing to set off and continue my search, he encouraged me to follow him further east with gentle head rubs and a few moos. Fortunately, he led me straight to the rest of the herd.

At around 10:35, four of the Sussex cattle, along with steers 20 and 219, were foraging for acorns in the woodland near ///cases.pumps.homes, close to Farnborough Road. Older steers 33 and 35 were browsing gorse nearby. Sussex cows 211 and 212 were further northwest near the Sandy Bowl and were especially affectionate, enjoying long neck and back rubs and offering head rubs and licks in return. Both eventually lay down at my feet to rest and chew their cud. The original group of four was grazing in the woodland east of the Sandy Bowl.

By 11:30, the rain had returned, but it didn’t deter the cattle from continuing their acorn foraging. Youngster 219 took a break to come over for some attention. I said my goodbyes at noon, leaving them calm and content.

Before leaving the site, I returned to the group in the pasture, where most were lying down in the bracken, soaking wet but contentedly chewing their cud. Steers 30, 217, and 270 had sensibly taken shelter in the gorse bushes. Yearling 271 appreciated having the rain brushed from his back and sides before rolling over and stretching out for a belly rub. Several others enjoyed more strokes and rubs before I said my final goodbyes at 13:05.

Unfortunately, the cattle were spread throughout the area where the TALMAG motorcycle club was setting up for their event tomorrow. Activities were taking place across sections of woodland south of the Sandy Bowl and along towards Hungry Hill. Hopefully, the cattle will move away from the area before the morning.

The cows were all good today.