Wednesday 22nd April - All 25 seen

At 16:30 this afternoon, steers 20 and 33, along with cows 72, 214, and 234, were grazing in the shade of trees a short distance from the Bourley Road car park. They were enjoying the fresh grass and were all very friendly, pausing to greet me, with most enjoying strokes. Cow 72 was especially affectionate, wandering over for a long neck and shoulder rub and returning the attention with gentle head rubs. All five were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Shortly after 17:00, the seven Sussex cattle and twelve of Caesar’s original herd were spread through the thicket beneath the Lookout and along its eastern side. By 17:20, steers 21, 227, and 228 emerged onto the stone path on the side of the hill. After stopping to greet me and enjoy some scratches, they browsed the bushes at the side of the path before moving into thicker cover to the west. Soon after, six of the Sussex cattle followed, climbing to the top of the hill and spreading out near ///gala.depth.pushy to continue grazing.

Over time, the rest of the herd moved either into the denser thicket on the hillside near ///badly.pats.chill or into the woodland to the south of the path, where they continued grazing. They were all friendly, with several coming out onto the main path to receive strokes and rubs.

By 18:40, the cattle had begun gathering in the open pasture southwest of the Lookout, near ///spends.behave.blip, to enjoy the lush grass in the evening sunshine. The seven Sussex cattle, along with cow 940 and steers 219, 222, and 271, were all grazing contentedly when I said my goodbyes at 19:00. 

Youngster 270 had a slightly more eventful afternoon. He was first seen from afar at around 17:10, grazing alone south of the covered reservoir near the no-fence boundary. He soon wandered north towards Bourley Road, where the earlier group of five were grazing west along the path by the road. By 19:00, he was again grazing alone on the hillside north of the main group near ///abode.degree.nicely, with the group of five over 150 metres away to the southwest. He appeared completely fine, peacefully grazing on long grass and gorse. He came over to say hello and enjoyed a few back scratches before returning to grazing. I stayed with him for fifteen minutes to check he was okay; he showed no signs of discomfort and was moving well. When I checked again later, he had climbed the hill and rejoined the main group.

The cows were all good today.