Wednesday 31st

 All 20 sheep looking well. Plenty of water but sheep feed is at 25% so needs topping up. No walkers seen. Nick

Tuesday 30 August

All sheep present and spread in good shape. Good and trough fine. Gates and fences checked and ok. Guy

Monday 29th August

 All is well with the sheep. Pippa pp. Clare Davies

Sunday 28th August

 

"We are pleased to report that all is well on the down. We counted 20 sheep all of them looking healthy. The water trough is full. There were no dog walkers in the enclosure whilst we were there, on our return home there was one gentleman with two setters heading towards the enclosure but they were on leads." Pippa pp. Keith & Sue Stevens

 

20 No  Sheep all ok this morning , plenty of food and water.

Wednesday 24

 All 20 sheep present and correct. No one seen during the visit. Nick

Tuesday 23 aug

All 20 sheep present and look healthy. Trough and nuts

 fine. Fences and gates all ok. Vehicle gate at https://w3w.co/exit.slant.packing (bottom of slope between East and Central) now has a combination padlock which I haven't noticed before, hopefully this is Bea's. Runners have been through with their white powder marks but they have left no other sign.

Monday 22nd August

 

18:00 "Just been up the down in the rain in between finishing volunteering at the shop and entertaining guests in 5 minutes. So not too long but went up and round twice and found no sheep.  However I heard one.  I am afraid I had no further time to look for them." Pippa pp. Clare Davies  

Let me know what you see

 Hello all, 

I want to get a better understanding of dos walkers using the sight, please include on your post if you see dog walkers and if they are following the dogs on lead rules for when they are in the compartment that sheep are also in and if you approach them asking to put their dog on a lead.

It does not take much to spook a sheep and serious injury can occur, especially on the rough slopes. The stress can also add to health problems, especially for our Shetlands which are getting quite old. 

If you speak to owners, they sometimes can be quite adamant that their dogs are well behaved and wouldn't do anything, but it is important that they help set the precedent. They also do not know what trauma the sheep have experienced before, which can make sheep extra flighty at the smallest disturbance to them.

Thanks all, hope this explains the dogs on leads signs, any information you have will be really useful to me!

Thanks,

Bea

Sunday 21st August

 

All’s well on The Down.  20 animals counted and all seemed to be in good health. Gates (4off) into The Reserve that I inspected were in good order. One wasn’t latched but no big deal as don’t believe sheep would get through the swinging gate, anyway. Found no litter. Pippa pp. Will Hacking

Friday 19th August

 20 sheep, trough, gates & fences all in good order. Pippa pp. Tim & Dave Whitehouse

Wednesday check

 All 20 sheep in good health. Lots of sheep food in bucket, water ok. Nick (Wednesday looker).

Tuesday 16 August

All sheep present, correct and not limping. Took me a while to find them, they seem quieter than previous? 5 gates checked (I am not sure if that is all there is?, all fences I could see were ok. Water and nuts fine. Guy

Sunday 14th August

 All 20 sheep accounted for and trough full. Pippa pp Neil & Lilian Kinghan

Saturday 13th August

Tim & I moved the sheep bucket near to the trough in the Eastern compartment. Only a handful of nuts there. 20 sheep all pleased to see us at 07:30. Saw two red kites perched on a tree nearby in the Western compartment, a deer in with the sheep and plenty of house martins. Wardens on weekend duty going tomorrow. Pippa Evans

SHEEP ON SITE!

There are now 20 sheep on eastern compartment of Broughton Down.

I'll be bringing the sheep bucket over to this field next week so you can call the group over. Please put any comments good or bad on the blog and anything that needs attention please call me to notify.

Thanks,

Bea

Saturday 6th August

 

This weekend when I was up on the Downs all was very quiet, I didn’t get the opportunity to photograph any butterflies but I did see a chap up there earlier in the week complete with net and all the gear of an enthusiast. Wasn’t sure about catching butterflies.?  Pippa Evans pp. Gaynor Simpson

Reminder: Fire Risk!

  Hi All,

With the weather getting hot again, Jayne and the team thought it would be a good idea to remind you of what to do if you notice a fire risk on site.

Smouldering BBQ's/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.

Stay safe in the heat,

Sophie

Saturday 30th July

 

Gates all good. Beautiful array of wild flowers - including my favourites, harebells and scabious.  Lots of chalk blue butterflies and heath browns but only one peacock. Pippa Evans pp Mary Hagger & Gwen McConnachie