Sunday 2nd August - All 25 seen

Shortly before 09:00 this morning, youngster 219 and the seven Sussex cattle were resting beneath the trees near the Bourley Road car park. Steer 1640 was initially lying down, but soon got up to say hello and enjoy some strokes before settling back down in the open. His healing cut looked slightly redder today, and the warm weather meant that plenty of flies were gathering around it. After giving it a quick check, I laid some bracken over the area to help keep the flies off for a while. I also made Ned at HIWWT aware of the injury and shared some additional photos. The other six were equally friendly, taking turns to say hello before enjoying long back scratches. By 09:35, they were all lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud.

By 09:50, I was wandering along the path beside the Bourley Road fence line when cow 234 stepped out of the thicket and came over to say hello near ///linen.poetry.chest. Cows 72 and 940, along with steer 271, soon followed, each stopping to greet me before setting off east along the path. Steers 20, 30, and 220 continued grazing in the thicket to the south, but they were all happy and looking well. At 10:15, youngster 230 was grazing alone among the bracken beside the western fence line near ///poets.king.grapes and didn't appear to be in any rush to catch up with the others. He happily paused his grazing to enjoy a long back scratch before wandering through the bracken to the path by the cattle grid into Gelvert and disappearing into the thicket. Curious to see where he was heading, I followed, only to find him enjoying a long drink from a large pool of water near the fence line. Afterwards, he set off to catch up with the others, who were now almost with the first group of eight.

As I made my way to the final group of cattle, I noticed that the gate by the water treatment compound near ///behalf.fury.wiggly had been left open. The gate wouldn't sit properly in its catch, so I secured it using a used bike tyre inner tube.

At 10:35, the remaining nine cattle were spread out beneath the trees east of James Bond Pond. Cow 214, along with steers 21, 33, 35, 217, 222, 227, 228, and 270, were all resting comfortably in the shade. They were happy to be approached for their checks, with most enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs while resting. Youngster 222 was especially affectionate, offering gentle head rubs and licks after a particularly satisfying neck rub. The others were content for me to sit nearby, helping to keep the flies away from their faces for a while. All nine were happy, relaxed, and looking well. I said my goodbyes at 11:20, leaving them resting peacefully.

As I was leaving at 11:35, cows 72, 234, and 940 were resting in the cow shed, along with youngster 271. Steers 20, 30, and 220 had joined the seven Sussex cattle and youngster 219 beneath the trees by the car park. Cow 212 and youngster 230 both thoroughly enjoyed long back scratches before I said my final goodbyes at 12:10.

The cattle were all good today.

Saturday 1st August - All 25 seen - Steer 1640 has a healing cut on his left side

The cattle were found in five groups today and were all doing well. Although it was still very warm, temperatures were a little lower than they have been recently, and the cattle were noticeably more active.

Sussex steer 1640 has a healing cut on his left flank. The injury isn't new and appears to be around a day old, with a protective crust already formed. Even so, a number of flies were still gathering around it. He was perfectly content for me to take a closer look and gently clean the area, which helped keep the flies away for a while. Otherwise, he was fine, moving around without any issues and was seen both grazing and resting.

Will do a full update and add a few photos lat

Friday 31st July - All 25 seen

 Between 06:15 - 08:40

All seen in the following locations

///spectacle.condensed.suspect (at the lookout)

///distilled.these.esruaries (close to the fence by Gelvert)

///project.judges.downs (near the dome heading towards the cow shed)

///gobbling.fries.blushed (main path north of Horse pond)

All the cattle were good this morning, all eating and enjoying the sunshine with a nice breeze as well.

There were still a lot of soldiers around, a couple were quite interested in what I was doing and were happy to know the cattle were looked after.

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.