Wednesday 25th

All three girls were hidden away in the undergrowth but cam out with a shout and a rattle of a bucket. Please to have a few nuts. All looking fine.

visited today at 3.30

All the girls grazing in the center of the heath field. X

visited today at 2.30

All three girls spread out along the top edge of the heath field eating gorse and reachable pine branches. X

Early visit this week at 0830 hrs today.  3 ladies fit and well in H9 - albeit a bit dirty from rubbing up against wet birch - and grazing some grass but mostly browsing bramble and gorse.

visited today at 2.30

The girls were slightly spread out in the trees at the top of the heath field adjacent to the road. Again eating the pine needles they could reach. Bless em,I might start bringing the fallen apples and the veg peeling. X

As we found out when we met, the chap with the stick was me!  The cattle are fine and well, browsing gorse in H8.

Today

Madly enough my dogs are being really protective over the cows there's a fellow taking pics of them he has a long stick. They didn't like it lol. X

visited today at 2pm

All the girls grazing amongst the gorse and fern in the top left corner of the heath field near the track. Wow they have actually resorted to eating gorse rather them than me. X

All found in the middle section among the heather.

All looking good, not impressed by the weather. 063 slightly thinner but not a concern at present, it may be my imagination.

Nice on the blogs today guys, I wasn't sure when I would be out so it will always be a random day, thanks for blogging after me.

On the subject of what they are currently eating, could I ask a small favour? Now is that time of year where concerned members of the public start to worry about an apparent lack in grazing on a lot of our sites, if you asked, it would be fantastic if you could allay their fears for us with some simple facts / information. For example:

·         A lot of people  will not realise that gorse, heather, bramble, birch and scrub in general are a very natural and seasonal change in the diet of our cattle. Summer they put the weight on, winter they loose a little.

·         They are constantly being monitored by your good selves as well as us so rest assured then that when we feel they are starting to loose condition, they will get the licks (mineral blocks) and if required they will be taken off site.

·         Importantly, it's now that are cattle really crack on with the conservation grazing, this grazing removes the thick grasses, scrub and dense vegetation, allowing the wild flowers to germinate and thrive, and remains one of the best tools we have to maintain our precious heathlands!

Thank in advance all, and thanks again for your efforts and support!

Guy

Visited today at 1315 hrs. All 3 fit and well and browsing thin gorse under the trees in M7.  Difficult to tell them apart in their winter coats, and to read their ear tag numbers, but Kitkat has a small gash at the top of her left hind leg.  It's dry and healing, however.

visited today at 12.20

All the cows grazing on heather in the middle of the heath field. X

visited today at 3.50

All three hanging out under the laurel bushes by the front main gate. One still has a very black head.lol.x

visited today at 3pm

All the girls happily grazing on the path at the top of the heath field, one of them has got a completely black muddy head. I guess she's been rubbing in something fun. Xx

Visited today at 1500 hrs.  3 girls around E15 very intent on searching under a complete carpet of sweet chestnut leaves; presumably for sweet chestnuts?  I could not ascetain what it was they were eating but it wasn't the leaves, and there was no grass under the leaf carpet.

They all look very well, in great condition and set for winter.  The trough is OK too.

visited today at 12pm

All the girls are sniffling around under the chestnut tree just up the path from the trough, they are searching for and munching on chestnuts.the crunching is soo loud. I could watch them doing this all day. X

Tuesday 3rd November

Found the girls in N4 this afternoon all looking well. Trough full and ok.

2/11

Did visit yesterday evening but with the fog I couldn't find the girls. X

visited today at 2.30

All seemed pretty serine today as they grazed on brown long grass at the top corner of the field at the train track side. Is it just me or are they looking a little thin.x

10:15 this morning, the girls were between the trough and the gates again, must like this area at the moment. All had their heads down munching what they could find and all looking good.