Wednesday 30 November

 Fog all over the down. All sheep well and accounted for. No dog walkers seem. Limppy Mc limppy was well. Nick HB

Tuesday 29 November

All 32 sheep seem in fine fettle (which is a relief after last week when I was sure something was seriously wrong. Shows what I know!). Food and water ok. Bea was present so I didn't check gates or dog walkers. 

Sunday 27 November 2022

All 32 sheep appeared to be in good health this morning , no limping noted.

Water trough is full and feed bucket approximately half full.

We met one walker with two dogs, both on leads.

Noted that the catch to gate No 5 requires adjustment as it is not closing correctly, no other issues found to gates or fences

Friday 25th November

 All sheep seemed well, including limper. No walkers, gates checked, black water trough full - surprise, surprise!! Tim Evans

Thursday 24th November

 Ascended in torrential rain & rewarded by this rainbow. Sheep took me 40 minutes to locate, & even then I pretty much had to further traverse the slippery slopes to all 32 of them - they were up by Plum Pud, where I’d initially come from! 

Wednesday 23 November

 All sheep well especially after the torrential rain. Out in the sun drying off. Water fine   No walkers seen. 

Tuesday 22 Nov

All sheep present, water fine and Bea topped up the food bucket. One sheep very lame, but I gather the livestock team are visiting tomorrow.

Saturday 19th November

 

All is well on the down, 32 sheep counted, no lame or distressed ones. The drinking trough is full, though the bucket of nuts will shortly need a top up. We met with one dog walker whilst inside the Broughton enclosure, a very pleasant lady who was fully aware of the sheep and had her dog on a lead. 

However we also had a brief encounter not with a dog walker but a dog rider! This man appeared inside the western compartment racing at full speed down hill on a mountain bike with his unleashed spaniel leading from the front. We asked him to stop and put a lead on the dog as he flashed past but he simply ignored us and raced on towards the bottom gate.     Pippa pp.      Keith & Sue Stevens

 

livestock update

I will email this out too so everyone sees it.

The 32 sheep re all now in the western compartment. I have moved the signs so they are correspond to this on each gate.

There is no mains water here. The IBC contains currently nearly 800litre but I have not been able to sort a leak so at the moment the small black trough needs to be manually refilled on your rounds please!

Turn the big blue handle anti clockwise to turn in and make sure it's all the way round in the off position in the photo below when you are done.

The grazing team are happy this will be plenty if water for the sheep to use as they drink very little.

The nut bucket is now behind this IBC container. Hopefully you are all familiar with it lication, next to the sheep pen/corral in the most north west point of the reserve.

Have a good weekend all and thank you for all your commitment!

Bea

Beautiful sunny day on the Down this morning, initially 31 sheep came running down the hill to be fed but eventually No 32 arrived !. 

All sheep looked in good health no obvious limping or other health issues. 

Feed bucket is probably just less than one third full.

Thursday 17th November

 Beautiful Autumn day. Approached a pair of dog walkers within the enclosure with their dog off the lead. They hadn’t noticed the signs as were engrossed in conversation, were apologetic & receptive to the welfare of the sheep & assured me it won’t happen again. 

All sheep present, no one noticeably limping. Feed only about 1/3 full.

Wednesday 16 November

 All sheep present. 1 sheep was initially limping but then got better! It’s a white Shetland sheep. Maybe a bit old and like me it takes a few strides to loosen up. 

Tuesday 15 November

All sheep present this morning, and I didn't observe any lameness. Lower fences and gates all ok, I'm afraid I didn't clamber up to check the top as it was too slippery. No dog walkers , but then it was tipping it down so no surprise.

Sunday 13th November

All looked good with the sheep on the Downs this weekend, 32 counted both days and all keen for a snack! Water in the trough, not much litter about. Didn’t come across anyone else in the sheep enclosure. Pippa  pp. David & Gaynor Simpson

Friday November 11th

 Peaceful scene, all sheep lying down. One still a minor limp. Trough, gates & fences all OK   Tim Evans

Thursday 10 November

 I startled 3 beautifully camouflaged deer. Sheep in one flock. All fine & appeared limp-free. Wish I could identify owls by their calls- the trees were busy this dusk!

Tue 8 nov

All sheep accounted for and no problems that I can see. Water and food fine. No walkers or dogs seen. A very small amount of litter which I picked up alongside a load of spent matches, so looks like kids have been playing with matches in the central compartment near the North Eastern gate. 

Sunday 6th November

 All's well, no issues. Pippa pp. Gordon & Rachel Bebb

Beautiful morning on the Down, all 32 sheep appeared to be in good health this morning no obvious limping or any other problems. No dog walkers about and gates and fencing all OK.

lame sheep check

We have been up and had a look at the lame sheep. They seem to be better than they were stilltreated them still. Hopfully it will sort them out over the next couple of days.

Thanks

Grazing team

Wednesday 2 November

 All sheep present but 1 of each type limping. Overall they seem fit and well. No dog walkers seen. The verges on the track from the farm are now cut. Who knew the lane was so wide?

Tuesday 1 November

All 32 present and none excessively lame, which is good news as I wasnt sure what to expect this morning. No people or dogs. Lower fences and gates fine, but it is too slippery for me to make it up to check the top ones. Sheep are in a lazy mood, I walked through the flock on the way to get the food and they didn't follow me, some didn't stand up until I returned with their grub. Food stock running a bit low. Having set off in heavy rain, sun has come out and a merlin flown over the reserve, which is nice

Sunday 30th October

 I bailed out and scrubbed the water trough. Two sheep with a limp but I didn't catch them. Saw a man with three large dogs not on a lead but he was gone before I could get to him.   Pippa pp. Mark Redman