Fri 30th Oct

59 sheep all looked fine. all back in western compartment. Gap in fence blocked. Trough full.

Wednesday 28 October

 All 59 enjoying the pale autumnal sunshine together this morning on the slopes above the trough. All looking well.

 Trough full with the two spare containers holding a full container between them and plenty of pellets in the tub.

Sunday 25th October

 Our volunteer arrived in the Western compartment in a major rain storm-  managed to count 56.   Pippa

Monday 26/09

 All sheep accounted for and look well. Ten were found in the central compartment and moved to the west to join the herd.

Sam

Fri 23rd Oct

Not confident with counts. Mostly 58. All looked good fine. Trough full.

Wednesday 21 October

  All 59 together on the slopes today looking happy and refreshed in the rain.

Trough full. Spare bottle only a quarter full of water. A few handsful of pellets left in the tub.

Monday 19th October

Couldn't get a full count today so went wondering. The place where sheep have been escaping has revealed itself! Opposite plum pudding. Very worn now so will need patching up.

Luckily some visitors saw four sheep go back under into western compartment so I think that makes 59, however did not recount or do wellbeing checks on the returners.

Topped up the trough there is only quarter a container of water left spare.

Sunny but breezy had a sighting of a brimstone and some bullfinches have been hanging around the carall.

Thanks,

Bea

Sunday October 18th

 Volunteer had difficulty counting as the sheep were scattered in groups - one lot up near Plum Pudding, but all seemed calm. Water trough fine. Pippa Evans

Fri 16th Oct

59 sheep in quarry. All looked fine. Water full.

Thursday 15 October - the slippery six, episode 2

 I popped back to the Down to check on the six escapees this morning, only to find that they were all back in their proper enclosure having re-joined the rest of the flock. All 59 were happily together, feeding on the slopes near the trough. And the one with the thorny bramble stuck to his leg yesterday had managed to dislodge it. So all was calm and peaceful.

I took the opportunity to check the length of the fencing and think I found the escape route. From the top of the tumulus/barrow, looking north-east, about twenty feet from the base of the barrow to the barbed-wire topped fence, it seems clear, from the wool wrapped tightly around the bottom wire, and the bare earth under the wire where the grass has been worn away, along with the tufts of wool on the low shrubbery just outside the fence, that the six sheep had escaped at this point. 

It’s pure speculation but, I suspect that they got back in simply by pushing open the kissing gate a few feet further along this fence. It has no latch at all and opens particularly wide when gently pushed from the opposite side of the western enclosure.

Anyway, it was good to see them all safe and well and back together again today.

Wednesday 14 October - the slippery six

 Counted all 59 today but six had found their way into the next enclosure along from where they should be - the six were quite content together in their own little group. 

Mike said it would help if we could identify the slippery six, so I took a few photos, which are attached. The ringleader seemed to be the little guy in the first photo and I see that one of them is my favourite, the one-horned little varmint with the beautiful eyes.  Mike advised to leave them there as they were staying together, quite content, and only just on the wrong side of the fence. 

I couldn't see where they'd got out, but another two had likely hoped to join the errant six as these two were on the correct side of the fence but staying close by, far from the main group. Like me, these two mustn't have been able to spot the escape route.

All 59 looked very well but one, in the main group, on the other side of the enclosure, had a thorny piece of bramble stuck to his right hind leg and it was clearly causing him some irritation as he was charging about, jumping and shaking his leg, but he didn’t come close enough for me to try to grab the spiky stick off. 

Plenty of water in the trough and in the spare container. Still a goodly amount of nuts left in the tub.

Monday 12th October

All 59 together and looking really good.

Trough topped up but still 3/4 of a spare container of water.

Beech trees in the autumn colour looking lovely.

Looking forward to the first Broughton reserve work party of the autumn tomorrow.

Bea

Saturday 10th October

 All sheep present and correct and trough level good. Pippa |Evans

Wednesday 7 October

 All 59 turned up today, everyone looking gorgeous and well.

Trough full to the brim and plenty of nuts left.

(A two-seater, faux leather sofa has appeared on the grassy triangle at the end of Buckholt Road, opposite the tree trunks sculpture. Looks comfy!!)

Cindy Tetstall 

Monday 5th October

All 59 easy to count near the carral. 

They definitely are starting to get their winter coat through and are looking well

Trough full

Sunday 4th October

 

Sheep were grazing in the rain uphill from the trough, on the "Ramparts". Water trough is, no surprise, full. Plenty of food in the tub, too. I went through the feeding drill and counted and counted and there do appear to be 59 sheep - Pippa Evans pp David R

Fri 2nd Oct

Sheep obliged today. All 59 under beech. No issues seen. Water trough full. Missed the heavy rain.