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.
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