Thursday 5th Febuary - 1262 steer back on site

Hi All, 

I dropped 1626 off at the bottom of sunny corner, with the only collars I could see. Turned out to be two shetlands, as I was leaving the site on to Beacon Hill road, I came across a sussex steer with one shetland friend, they followed me to the cattle grid.

Unfortunately i didnt have time to look for the MIA cattle in gelvert as i needed to get back for a meeting.

Thanks so much for keeping an eye on them. 

Grazing Team 

Wednesday 4th February - 17 seen

What a difference 24 hours makes. It was a lovely, sunny day, and the cattle were dry, in good spirits, and looking well. Youngster 217 still had a wet head from browsing damp gorse, but soon lay down to rest and dry out.

At 11:10, steers 21, 30, 33, 217, 220, 222, and 230 were browsing gorse near ///liner.truck.guides. They were all friendly, pausing their grazing to say hello as I checked on them, with most enjoying some strokes. Youngster 222 came over as soon as he spotted me and enjoyed a long neck and back scratch. He was lovely and soft after the previous day’s rain and returned the affection with gentle head rubs. Youngster 230 was equally happy to stand in the sunshine and be fussed over. All seven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 11:40, steer 20 and cow 940 were relaxing and chewing their cud in the sunshine among the heather near ///loom.smirking.bills, while older steer 35 grazed nearby in the gorse. Around 45 metres further southeast, youngster 228 was sitting in the sunshine, peacefully chewing his cud. He was more than happy to be approached for plenty of scratches. On the opposite side of the path, youngster 227 was browsing gorse, but soon came over to say hello and enjoy a long back rub before lying down to rest.

At 12:10, cow 234 was grazing in the gorse by the path at the eastern end of Sandy Hill. Nearby, cows 72 and 214, together with yearlings 270 and 271, were grazing enthusiastically among the heather on the slope, gradually making their way down towards Horse Pond. Cow 234 soon joined them. They were all very friendly and enjoyed plenty of attention. All five were happy, content, and in good condition.

When I returned to the earlier group at 12:40, steers 20 and 35 and cow 940 were lying down close to where I had seen them before. Youngsters 227 and 228 were still resting in the same spot, enjoying the sunshine. Youngster 228 soon got up for a relaxing back scratch before lying back down again at 13:00. I said my goodbyes shortly afterwards.

There was still no sign of youngster 219 or the six Sussex cattle today. I suspect they were over on Gelvert, but unfortunately, I didn’t have time to cross over and look for them.

The cows that were found were all good today.

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.