Wednesday 23rd September - All 25 seen

At 16:35 this afternoon, steers 21, 33, 217, 220, 227, 228, and 271 were browsing among the gorse bushes opposite the Shell garage, near ///drifters.prawn.onion. They kindly stepped out from the bushes as I made my way around to check on them. Steers 21, 227, and 271 all enjoyed neck and back scratches before drifting off to munch some grass along the sides of the paths. All seven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 17:00, cows 214 and 234, along with steer 35, were grazing the gorse bushes along the path west of the water tower, near ///debit.galloping.lawn. Cow 214 was especially friendly, taking a break to enjoy some fuss. After a while, I wandered further west and spotted steers 219 and 222, along with cow 940, emerging from the thicket near ///drags.loses.signs. All three wandered over to greet me at the entrance, taking turns to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs in the late afternoon sunshine. Steer 30 was grazing in the pasture to the east, while cow 72 was deep in the gorse bushes to the northwest. All eight were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 17:45, steers 20 and 270 were enjoying plenty of grass among the bracken near ///anode.recital.skim, north of Sandy Hill. They both wandered over to say hello before crossing the path and continuing to graze to the south. Youngster 230 was grazing in the thicket further northwest but soon emerged into an open area where I could check him over. The boys were all content, relaxed, and looking well.

Finally, at 18:15, the seven Sussex cattle were spread out grazing among the heather on the hillside west of Horse Pond, near ///fuzz.hopes.hamper. They all paused their grazing to say hello and enjoy some head scratches. Cow 211 was especially friendly, greeting me with gentle head rubs before leaning in for neck scratches, returning the affection with plenty of licks. All seven were looking stunning as they grazed in the setting sun. They were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

As I was leaving shortly before 18:45, youngster 230 had moved into the woodland near ///lied.pinks.relished, where he was foraging for acorns. He looked so innocent when I approached, but clearly knew I'd spotted him eating them. After another back scratch, he followed me out to the side of the path to continue grazing, with steers 20 and 270 nearby on the slope of Sandy Hill.

The cattle were all good today.

Tuesday 22nd September - All 25 seen

At 16:40 this afternoon, cow 214 was relaxing and chewing her cud among the bracken at the side of Sunny Hill Road, near ///list.since.dots. She was very friendly and enjoyed a back rub while resting. About ten minutes later, I made my way down to the grassy patch at the eastern end of the Sandy Bowl, where I was met by youngster 222. He greeted me with some affectionate head rubs before leaning in for a neck and back scratch. While standing with him, steers 33, 210, 270, 1626 and 1640, along with cow 1396, were all resting on the grass, with older steer 30 grazing in the thicket behind. After a while, I made my way over to check on them. Most had already got to their feet and were preparing to wander off to catch up with the rest of the group in the woodland to the south. Unfortunately, the unseasonably warm weather had brought out the flies, but the cattle didn't appear too bothered.

Around 17:20, I accompanied the group into the woodland, where steers 20, 21, 197, 230 and cows 211, 212, 234, and 940 were well spread out, enjoying plenty of gorse and leaves from the trees and bushes. They were all very friendly as I made my way around, happily accepting plenty of strokes and rubs. Cow 211 enjoyed a long neck rub and thanked me with plenty of licks, while youngster 230 enjoyed an extra long back scratch while resting under the shade of a tree. I said my goodbyes at 18:00, leaving them peacefully grazing in smaller groups, gradually making their way southwest through the woodland. All seventeen cattle were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 18:15, youngster 217 was munching on the grass just to the side of the cattle grid at the Beacon Hill Road entrance to the site. He paused to say hello before getting back to his dinner. He seems to be making a habit of wandering off on his own lately, but thankfully this evening he knew where the others were and, after a while, wandered over to rejoin them.

At 18:25, steers 219, 220, 227, 228, and 271, along with cow 72, were spread out browsing the gorse bushes along the sides of the path near ///curable.places.twitches, about 350 metres to the southeast. They all stopped to say hello and enjoyed plenty of fuss before getting back to their grazing. Older steer 35 was grazing alone among the thicket about 70 metres further southwest, near ///trend.dunes.noun.

By 18:55, the group had started to gather near ///grapes.suits.bowls, where they took a well-deserved break, with several coming over for more strokes and rubs. I said my goodbyes at 19:20 as darkness was falling, leaving them slowly moving north to continue their grazing. All eight were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

The cattle were all good today.

Monday 21st September - All 25 seen

 Between 07:00 - 10:15

All seen in 4 places this morning

///hoped.magical.biked (near the lookout) 940,228,214,030,234,072,033 and 219. All very grazing on the gorse. I was surprised to see 219 without any of the Sussex’s, so I guess they had run away from him!

///oval.vivid.chill (east of Horse pond) 020,270,227 and 035. All 4 very content grazing on the grass.

///even.weary.loaders (Sandy Hill Road) 222,211,210,212,197,230,1626,220 and 217. All eating the gorse and enjoying the sunshine.

The last 4 were at ///bravest.backswing.losses (at the covered dome) 021,1396,1640 and 271. They were right alongside the fence surrounding the dome mainly eating the gorse.

All the cattle were good

Sunday 20h September - All 25 seen

At 09:30 this morning, a mixed group of twenty-one cattle were at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. Cows 212 and 940, along with steers 219, 227, and 1626, were grazing in the sunshine around the grassy area, enjoying the bramble in the surrounding bushes. Cow 940 was especially friendly today, bounding over to say hello before enjoying a long neck and shoulder rub. Youngster 219 also wandered over to greet me before positioning himself for his back scratch. Older steer 33 was standing in the shade, relaxing and chewing his cud, while Sussex steers 197, 210, and 1640, along with cows 211 and 1396, were resting in the woodland to the north. They were all happy to be approached and enjoyed plenty of attention. Cow 211 was her usual affectionate self, greeting me with head rubs and plenty of licks. Youngster 227 decided to follow me into the woodland and soon lay down to rest in the shade with the Sussexes.

Steers 20, 21, 30, 35, 228, and 271, along with cows 72, 214, and 234, were all grazing among the thicket to the south, gradually emerging from the woodland one by one to join the group at the grassy area. They were all very friendly, wandering over to greet me before settling down to rest with the group. By 11:00, youngster 230 was still grazing among the gorse bushes further southeast near ///deep.cone.hobby, so I went to spend some time with him. He was very friendly, stopping his grazing to say hello before enjoying a long back scratch. When we were done, he got back to browsing the gorse. His wound continues to heal nicely and was looking very similar to yesterday. I returned to the main group shortly after 11:20 and said my goodbyes around fifteen minutes later, leaving them all happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 11:55, youngster 270 was having a drink at the northeastern corner of James Bond Pond. He was by himself and soon waded through the mud to come over and say hello before leaning in for a long neck and back scratch. I was hoping that, when we were done, he might follow me, as it’s a busy spot with many dogs. Instead, he preferred to stand in the sunshine and chew his cud. I reluctantly said goodbye at 12:20 and set off to the northeast to find the others.

At 12:25, youngsters 220 and 222 were grazing among the heather southwest of the Lookout, near ///duties.ever.lazy. They both wandered over to say hello, with youngster 222 greeting me with gentle head rubs before settling in for a long neck and back scratch. Expecting to find youngster 217 with them, I had a good look around the surrounding area, as well as looking down towards the covered reservoir, where they had been earlier, but there was no sign of him. Remembering that youngster 270 was on his own, I walked the boys towards James Bond Pond to meet him. When we reached the pond at 12:45, however, he was no longer there. He had moved west along the main path and was eating gorse about halfway along. I encouraged him into the pasture to the north of the pond before returning to youngsters 220 and 222 and walking them over to join him. I stayed with them until shortly after 13:30, leaving them resting peacefully.

After a good search, I found youngster 217 at 14:25 grazing among the gorse bushes very close to where I'd found youngsters 220 and 222 earlier. Thankfully, he spotted me approaching and wandered out to say hello. After a short while, we headed towards James Bond Pond, with him frequently stopping and mooing as he tried to locate the others. By 14:50, they were reunited on the patch of grass to the northwest of the pond, with the three youngsters emerging through the bushes to meet us. I stayed with them for a while to make sure they were settled before they wandered down for a drink of water. I said my goodbyes soon after.

The cattle were all good today.