Wed 31 August

Two seen grazing in the undergrowth. I think the others must be hidden in the thicker undergrowth.

Thurs 25th August 1pm

Checked both feilds today but no sign of them. Going for a run so might bump into them along the way!

Actually just found them, 216 only has one ear tag.  a231 seemed very interested today!  Lots of flys but all seemed well and grazing.

 Saturday 27 Aug

All seen grazing in the field at the canal end.

Missing ear tags? Hey guys, please pop me an email if you've noticed any missing tags on the cows recently. I know some of you have reported some already, but if you could remind me that would be great. Thanks!

all at canal end of site and all look fine, plenty of water.

Monday 22 August

All well, seen by the gate in the northeast corner. Has there been some change.. I thought we had two steers and two heifers but this was definately one steer and three heifers?

 Friday 19 Aug

All seen grazing at the canal end of the field.

Thursday- all well

Peek-a-moo!

Thurs 18th August

All four cows grazing in the field furthest from gate. All seemed fine, 225 and 216  (I think was the number) both had slightly weepy left eyes but didn’t look sore or cloudy from where I was standing.

wed 17th aug

All 4 seen by the pondtail end. All looked happy and healthy 

Saturday and Sunday from Tim

All four cattle fine and by the canal which seems to be a preferred place

 Tues 16 August 5.30pm

All seen lying down by the watering hole.

Monday August 15

All well..browsing the trees on the fence along the medical dump.

Friday 12

All well...sorry for very late post (Sunday!)

Thurs 11th Aug

Found all four today in the top right hand corner of the field. All grazing and looked well. 

Wednesday - all seen and well by one of their drinking holes

Tuesday 9th August

All 4 seen by the fence by the stream to the canal. They looked fine although couldn't get close as I was on the path opposite. 

IMPORTANT summer update - please read!

Hi everyone, thank you for your continued support of our grazing project. Please read the following reminders.

Reporting Emergencies
If there is ever something wrong with:
-a trough
-a gate
-a fence
-a natural water source

Or there is something dangerous to livestock, such as:
-fly tipping (litter and vegetation)
-fires lit (including BBQs and recently doused fires)
-dens built (ropes to be chewed on, nails trodden on, tarpaulin etc.)

Please phone us immediately. While we do our best to monitor the blogs, things do sometimes get missed and problems posted over the weekend don't get picked up until Monday. Even if you are not sure if something is an urgent issue, far better to let us know so we can make an informed decision.

The office number is 01256 381190 and voicemail will direct you to who is on call.

Heatwaves and fires
All our sites are incredibly dry at the moment and at high risk from fires. What to do if you notice a fire risk on site:

Smouldering BBQs/bonfires - put out with a bucket of water if possible (fill up from a nearby trough/stream). If not possible, do not leave it unattended. Call the site manager/on call staff member and wait with it until someone arrives to put it out.
If you deem the fire to be at risk of escalating, trust your gut and please alert the fire services on 999.

As the temperatures rise again, please take care while you are out on site. Take plenty of water, sun cream, a hat and please let someone know you have gone out. It is best to go out at first light or later in the evening when the sun is less intense. You know yourselves best, so don't push yourselves and stay safe.

Blog etiquette
Please continue to only use the blogs to report your cattle sightings or to let everyone know if you won't be attending your usual day. If you have noticed a non urgent issue, please put it at the beginning of your post or mention it in the title so that we can quickly find out about it.

Flies on cows
Unfortunately, flies are an unpleasant part of life for cows and and ponies at this time of year. It is bothersome for them and there isn't a lot we can do other than continue to monitor the condition of their eyes. If the eyes start to look cloudy, then the flies have become too much and we will need to intervene. Other than that, we spray them for flies once a month. 

Any questions, please get in touch! Thanks once again and happy cow spotting!

Saturday & Sunday 7th August 2022 - post from Tim

As Friday, all 4 cattle grazing in the extreme, almost impenetrable, South East corner of the Heath next to the canal towpath. They all looked well and although nowhere near their water there is plenty of shade, lush grass and few flys here. They can't be seen from the middle of the Heath. If they stay in this area the easiest way to find them is to walk along the canal towpath from Pondtail Bridge. After passing the last bungalow go another 50 metres and and keep looking to the left. Tim.

August 8 Monday

All well. The heifers and one of the steers were coming up the pathnto the north gate...the other steer was in the gorse...I looked from afar, having bare legs and arms.. and checked to make sure I didn't bring any passengers home from the long grass.. It's good to see new names on the blog...is there a rota?

 Sunday 7 August

Two seen grazing in the shade by the canal fence

 Friday 5 August

All seen keeping cool in the shade by the canal fence 

Thurs 4th August

No luck finding the cows today, walked all round the field and then back down the middle and round. I went much later in the day than normal so not sure if they may be in a different area later in the day?

Just been to see the cows this evening, two were grazing amongst the gorse just up from the gate and looked fine (not sure where the other two were) We entered the field just to view them from afar but one rapidly approached us and it was not happy so see us, luckily I remembered the wide open arms and the hiss which worked well to stop in in it's tracks. It didn't appear to be injured or in any distress. On future visits I will view them from the gates, I have binoculors that I can use too.

 Tuesday 2 August 

Two seen grazing near the gate. 

Due to ongoing mobility issues and the unevenness of the ground I will not venture into the field but will observe the cattle from the perimeter fences if this is ok.

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Monday 1st - all seen and well!