Saturday 2nd May - All 25 seen

At 09:50 this morning, cows 72, 214, and 940, along with steers 21 and 33, were relaxing at their favourite corner of Sandy Hill, while cow 234 grazed contentedly nearby in the sunshine. They were all very friendly, coming over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes. Cow 72 was particularly affectionate, leaning in for a long neck rub before thanking me with gentle head rubs. All six were happy, healthy, and looking well.

At 10:20, steer 20 was grazing in the woodland west of Horse Pond. Nearby, Sussex cows 212 and 1396, along with steers 210 and 1640, were resting and chewing their cud in the shade of the trees near ///eagle.satin.salutes. Youngster 219 spotted me approaching and got up to greet me, standing still for a long back scratch. Older steer 35 and youngster 222 were grazing in the open area on the opposite side of the path. Youngster 222 was especially friendly, greeting me with gentle head rubs before leaning in for a long neck rub. After a while, he stepped forward for an extra-long back scratch before lying down at my feet to rest and chew his cud. Around 10:40, older steer 30 came wandering along the path from the west and settled under the shade of the trees. Sussex steer 1626 approached from the same direction at 11:00 and soon joined him. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 11:15, I heard some mooing north of Horse Pond, so I wandered over to investigate, and Sussex steer 197 appeared. He came down to say hello and enjoyed some strokes. After a while, I heard more mooing further west, so I went to investigate again, with steer 197 following behind. This time, I spotted cow 211 moving through the pasture near ///racked.wool.blogs. She was clearly searching for other cows, and I finally caught up with her on Longbottom, near ///upon.shrug.workbench, when she stopped to rest. She was happy to be approached and thoroughly enjoyed a long neck rub, thanking me with plenty of licks. By 11:45, I set off east towards the group by Horse Pond, with both of them following me for a while before stopping to graze.

After spending some more time with youngster 222, I headed further east and, at 12:15, found steers 217, 220, 228, 270, and 271 grazing in the sunshine near ///jungle.flame.gazed. They were all friendly, coming over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes. Youngsters 227 and 230 were grazing in the pasture to the northwest, on the other side of the path. They spotted me approaching and moved into the shade of a large tree, where they happily enjoyed long neck and back scratches while resting and chewing their cud. The boys were all happy, relaxed, and looking well.

As I was leaving at 13:15, the group from Sandy Hill had wandered down the hill and joined the second group, and the combined herd was grazing in the thicket along the eastern side of Horse Pond.

The cows were all good today.

< Photos to follow tomorrow >

Friday 1st May - All 25 seen

 Between 05:45 - 08:00

Early start this morning due to me having a busy day ahead

All seen in 3 areas this morning….

///massaged.furnish.landed 219 and the 7 Sussex’s 

///instincts.completed.leap 227 and 228

The remains 15 were spread out below the lookout and also near the covered dome.

On my return the Sussex’s and their best friend 219 had moved to the Horse pond.

All the cattle were good this morning and clearly enjoying the early sunshine ☀️ 

29th April staff check All 25 seen

Tuesday 28th April - All 25 seen

At 16:10 this afternoon, Sussex steers 197 and 210, along with cows 211 and 212, were happily grazing in the sunshine at their favourite corner of Sandy Hill. They were all friendly and stopped to say hello. Youngster 219 was grazing a little further east, but as soon as he spotted me, he began making his way over, eager for a long neck and back scratch. By 16:40, steers 21, 33, and 1640, along with cow 1396, were grazing nearby on the slope of Sandy Hill near ///pelt.assets.locating. All nine were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:00, steers 20, 30, 35, 217, 230, and 1626 were spread out resting in the pasture northeast of Horse Pond, near ///vast.gold.wheat. Youngsters 220 and 271 were grazing in the pasture across the path to the east, but were gradually making their way back towards the group. Youngster 230 soon got up and wandered over to greet me, thoroughly enjoying a long back scratch while chewing his cud in the sunshine. The boys were all happy and healthy.

At 17:25, youngsters 222 and 228 were grazing among the heather and browsing silver birch leaves south of the Lookout, near ///painter.bins.caring. They were both very affectionate, taking turns to greet me with gentle head rubs before enjoying plenty of attention. At 17:40, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 227 and 270, began emerging from the gorse across the path, wandering over to say hello and enjoy a few strokes. After a little grazing, they made their way south through the thicket and descended the hill. They then followed the path east, cutting through the gorse, to graze along the eastern side of the Lookout near ///extra.slate.awoke. Several of the cattle stopped for drinks in the swampy area before continuing to graze peacefully in the evening sun. I said my goodbyes just after 18:30, leaving them all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

As I was leaving at 18:45, I came across steers 33, 219, and 1640 grazing in the pasture north of Horse Pond, while the other six from the first group were browsing leaves on the southern side of the pond. Youngster 219 soon approached for more strokes before I said my goodbyes just after 19:05.

The cows were all good today.

Holiday dates

 I am off to Fuerteventura to get some sunshine next week so will be unable to do looked duties on the following dates 8th,11th,15th and 18th May.

Cheers, Graham 

Monday 27th April - All 25 seen

 Between 07:30 - 10:00

All seen in 3 groups this morning as follows

///harshest.scare.likewise (Sandy Hill road) 214,234,227,940,072,220,217,222 and 228

///textiles.plums.simmer (lower patch adjacent to Sandy Hill Road) 030,271,033,035,270,230 and 020

///quote.eggshell.waffle (just north of James Bond pond) All 7 Sussex’s 210 and 021.

All the cattle were good this morning grazing on the gorse. By the time I left the Sussex’s they had all started to lie down and chew their cud.

Sunday 26th April - All 25 seen

At 09:50 this morning, a mixed group of ten cattle was in the pasture northeast of Horse Pond, near ///exams.duos.spun. Cows 72 and 940, along with steers 33, 197, 230, and 1640, were resting and chewing their cud. Steers 20, 30, 35, and 270 were grazing nearby, but by 10:40 they had all wandered over to lie down with the others. Older steer 35 had a good scratch on a tree branch before settling down. Youngster 230 was especially friendly today, getting up to wander over to greet me and enjoy endless strokes and rubs. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:55, Sussex steer 210 was grazing alone in the bushes just off the path near ///puts.garage.bells. He was fine and simply seemed to be enjoying some time alone, browsing among the bushes. I stayed with him for a while to make sure he was okay. He started to follow me when I left to find the others, but soon stopped to graze again.

At 11:20, the remaining fourteen cattle were spread out, browsing through the bramble at the Royal Pavilion end of the site. They were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them, with most coming out from the bushes to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Youngsters 219, 228, and 271 all thoroughly enjoyed long neck and back scratches. By 11:40, Sussex steer 210 had rejoined the group, announcing his arrival with a series of loud moos. 

By 12:15, the cattle had started to move to the grassy area to lie down in the sunshine and chew their cud. Around the same time, the group of ten also arrived and started to graze among the bramble. Youngster 222 soon came over for another neck and back scratch, before lying down to rest at my feet. I said my goodbyes at 13:10, leaving cows 212, 214, 234, and 1396, along with steers 210, 217, 219, 222, and 227, resting in the sunshine, while cow 211 was lying in the shade among the woodland to the east. Youngsters 228 and 271 were just about to join them, while the others were still grazing peacefully.

The cows were all good today.