Wednesday 29th July - All 25 seen

At 17:35 this afternoon, the cattle were all together, although well spread out while grazing in the pasture near ///ideas.suffer.afraid, west of Horse Pond. Despite another very hot day, there was a gentle breeze that helped take the edge off the heat. The cattle were enjoying plenty of heather, silver birch leaves, and grass growing around the dense bracken. They were all very friendly, taking turns to wander over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs before returning to their grazing. All twenty-five were happy, relaxed, and looking well. By 18:10, the cattle had begun to move into the shade of the woodland to the northeast, where they continued grazing before gradually settling down to chew their cud. The remaining six Sussex cattle, along with steers 219, 227, and 271, chose to continue grazing out in the pasture. Many of the cattle beneath the trees wandered over for more attention, thoroughly enjoying long neck and back scratches. By 18:40, the group of nine had wandered into the woodland in groups of two or three to join the main herd, which had gradually moved closer to the main path to the north. It was only when I went to spend some more time with youngster 228 that I noticed the Army had set up camp among the same trees further to the east. A group of soldiers spotted me and came over for a brief chat about the cattle. Around 18:50, the herd started to move east along the main path before cutting through the thicket at the foot of the hill and into the dense bracken beneath the Lookout to graze. I said my goodbyes to the last few shortly before they disappeared into the bushes at the side of the hill. As I walked back towards Horse Pond, the Army began a training exercise. The cattle were all good today.

staff check Tues 28th

All cattle looking well, no concerns

Thank you for your continued support

The grazing team

Tuesday 28th July - All 25 seen

At 16:45 this afternoon, all twenty-five cattle were together, although separated by the path, northeast of Horse Pond. Seventeen of the Caesar's original herd were gathered north of the path near ///perky.durations.critic. Youngster 219 and the seven Sussex cattle were grazing south of the path, gradually making their way towards the shade of the large tree at the southern edge of the pasture.

The group of seventeen were very friendly, taking turns to wander over for plenty of strokes. Unfortunately, another hot day had brought large numbers of flies, causing plenty of watery eyes. Cows 72 and 940 stood head to tail, doing an impressive job of keeping the flies off each other's faces with regular swishes of their tails. After a while, several lay down in the heather to rest, while others preferred long neck and back scratches or simply standing close so I could help keep the flies at bay. Despite the hot weather, they were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

By 17:20, the cattle had started making their way towards Horse Pond, grazing down the hillside and enjoying plenty of heather and grass along the way. When they reached the pond, they all enjoyed a long drink before most gathered along the northern bank to rest. Youngsters 222 and 271 spent a while in the pond feasting on lily pads, while others were content to stand in the water and cool themselves down. They gradually made their way into the shade of the trees to the west of the pond.

Shortly before 18:00, I wandered along to check on the group of eight that had moved further south into the neighbouring pasture to rest. Youngster 219 watched me approaching and immediately positioned himself for a long back scratch near ///timer.lived.senses. Cow 211, who had been lying partially hidden behind some bushes, must have heard my voice because she soon wandered over to greet me, offering plenty of head rubs while I gently brushed the flies from her face and neck. After spending some time with them, I found steer 210 and cow 212 resting about ten metres away, quietly chewing their cud in the sunshine. Further south, cow 1396, along with steers 1626 and 1640, were resting peacefully deep among the dense bracken. They were all happy to be approached for their checks and were looking well. Sussex steer 197 was resting in a slightly more open area near ///pupils.just.clap. He happily had the flies brushed from his face before enjoying a head and neck rub. All eight were content, relaxed, and looking well.

After saying my goodbyes at 18:30, I wandered back to Horse Pond and found all seventeen cattle standing in the shade of the trees, relaxing and chewing their cud. Several wandered over to say hello, including youngsters 222 and 271, who were still wet from their earlier exploits. As I left at 19:00, the group began making their way back onto the northern bank of the pond to rest in the sunshine, with many stopping for another drink along the way.

The cattle were all good today.

Monday 27th July - All 25 seen

 Between 06:30 - 08:30

All 25 seen in two scattered groups this morning

///lived.cakewalk.vivid between the main path and the corner of the closed area. The seven Sussex’s, 219,214,227 and 230. All were in amongst the bracken and reluctant to come out. Eventually 230,227 and 212 came out to say hello. All 3 enjoyed some long back rubs.

The remaining 14 were near ///ended.items.lifts which is close to the covered reservoir. Like the first group all were enjoying their breakfast with only 228 coming over for a back rub. 

Unfortunately all the cattle were being pestered by hundreds of flies causing some watery eyes. 

Apart from the flies all the cattle were good this morning.

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.