Tuesday 31 st October

All sheep accounted for and checked, no sign of ill health. Food and water fine. No walkers

Monday 30th October

 Beautiful sunny morning and most of the sheep (53) were out on the Downs.

7 were near the water trough but one was very hard to find as it was up amongst the beeches on the top western side, it seemed healthy in itself though.

So all 61 sheep found and all look healthy.

Water trough is fine and there are enough sheep nuts for at least 3 days.

No dog walkers on the reserve itself a few on the way there/back.

Sunday 29th October

 All well on the down this weekend. Pippa  pp. Mark Redman

Friday 27 October

Found all 61 sheep without any problem, all appear to be in good health. No dog walkers.

Plenty of food in bucket and water in trough.

Wednesday 25th October

I managed to get together a large group of 45, and found another group of 17, making a total of 62. (The mystery of the phantom sheep continues!) They didn't seem particularly unresponsive, just uninterested. Didn't notice any health problems with any of them.

Plenty of nuts remain. The trough was in working order, as were the gates.

There was one dog walker but they were one of our volunteers who wardens in the summer, and they assured me they kept their dog on a lead around the sheep.

Tuesday 24 October

All 61 accounted for, although not first time around , I had to go back later to ensure they were all seen. No injuries or unhealthiness observed.

Monday 23rd October

 The sheep were very scattered today, two groups on Downs, others in undergrowth and in area around water trough, but I found 61 (hopefully no double counting).

One WWF appeared to have a cough, but I wasn't sure as it was just after it had eaten,

all others looked healthy.

Very quiet with no dogs or walkers.

Sheep nuts still okay and water trough working.

Sunday 22nd October

 

I was up on the down this weekend with Mike Mossman who joined me for his down wardening induction. Checked fences at top and bottom of Down. Those on left of top path have holes into the top fields but they are not relevant to the sheep. 

Counted 61 sheep and walked the whole of the perimeter. There was a young Roe buck in with the sheep, who were quite happy and ignored him. Very handsome! We did some cutting on the path to the water trough and the steep path up to the beech hanger. Very quiet. No dogs/walkers in middle compartment. Pippa Evans pp.      Chris Lloyd

Friday 20th October

Three times counted 60 and once 61, so hope ok!  The Whitefaced Woodlands seem rather lethargic coming to call but some small ones are over zealous. All seem fit. Water trough and all gates secure. Met one walker on top path with elderly Springer spaniel at heel but not on lead - politely advised that sheep were in compound and we prefer all dogs to be on lead if only to show example to others - quite cordial. Plenty of nuts.   Tim Evans

Wednesday 18 October

All 61 sheep accounted for. Some were on the far western side, others where in a copse in the center and reluctant to leave. All seemed in good health, one WFW did have this brown patch on their back though. Probably just mud, but thought best report it in case someone knows better. 

Plenty of food and the trough was in working order. Fencing all looked secure. No walkers or dogs.

Tuesday 17 October

Sheep were spread out when I arrived but all 61  came to the eastern slope when I called. All appeared healthy. Food and water fine. No walkers or dogs

Monday 16th October

 Found all 61 sheep (no sign of a 62nd, is 61 correct ?), in two main groups on the downs and two together near the water trough:-

27 (nearly all WWF) to the Eastern side of the central compartment

32 Shetlands towards the thicket on the Western side of the central compartment, one was really friendly (Gerry from the previous photos) and followed me

2 WWF near the water trough.

Plenty of sheep nuts and the water trough is near full.

No walkers or dogs today.

Sunday 15th October

  Pleased to report no litter and paths in good condition. I did see dog walkers in the sheep compartment but the dog was on a lead and well behaved. Water level in trough is fine, pretty much full. The sheep all looked healthy bar one of the Whitefaced Woodlands which was coughing. All 61 present and correct - I found it much easier spreading the sheep nuts in a row and then standing back and taking a photo of them on my phone to count as they don’t stay still for long!     Pippa pp.   Rob Markham

Friday 13th October 2023

62 sheep found this morning despite the weather! All in good condition with no sign of problems, plenty of food and water.

No walkers or dogs 

Thursday 12 October

We kept counting 62 today, so not sure how that's happened but there's none missing. There was no damage to the gates or fences that I could see. 

One of the Shetlands had a stick in its ear, looks like it's gone through the same hole as the tag, but it didn't seem to be causing any harm.

One of the WFW seemed to be coughing a bit after being fed but stopped after a short while.

Plenty of nuts and the trough is working fine.

Didn't see any dog walkers in the enclosure.

Tuesday 10 Oct correction

Dog walkers at to of central, I asked them to put did on leads but only two out of for were

Tuesday 10th October

61 sheep counted, although I did spend a few minutes tangled up in bramble, so possible that some I had already counted bypassed me to be counted again, but I don't think so. All looked in good shape, no limping. Lots of scratching against trees and fence posts though. Water and food fine, gates fine, nobody around 

Monday 9th October

 Just read your post Bea, I must have been there not long after you as the Sheep Nuts were full !!

I also checked the water in the water trough, I only got a small flow when I depressed the ball cock, but it was full so I don't think it will be a problem.

When. I went the sheep were in two groups :-

- 30 in the area near the water trough (mostly WWF), I was able to check all of these were healthy.

- 31 in the thicket part way up the hill on the western side of the central compartment. 

  I wasn't able to check all of these 31 were healthy as some were too far into the thicket.

I met one walker (a weekend warden) with camera.

I also saw that the gate was off its hinges (and was placed back so that vehicles can pass).

Monday 9th staff check

Nut bucket filled up and I managed a count if 61. 3 straggling white-faced woodlands decided to join after a while. I just kept calling 'c'mon'! Lots after I dished out the nuts and they eventually plodding across the Downs. 

Hopefully as forge levels go down they might be a bit more enthusiastic so we get better counts!

There's also one brown Shetland that was adament on following me and my bucket to the top of the hill. Let me introduce you to Gerry, an 8 year old Shetland who is very friendly and you will probably meet Ollie too who has a similar personality!

Woodland entrance gate post has broken, I'll try replace this but might have to wait till the springtime as it is not a priority or causing any h&s issues

Sunday 8th October

 

Sheep all ok, the water butt was full, not too many flies etc around now. We counted 58/59 sheep. The sheep nuts bin is now empty though. Photos taken in the morning

Friday 6th October

 Found the sheep in 2 groups (by silver birch and near water trough). Managed to count 59 before they started wandering off (not enough nuts to spread liberally). All seemed fit. Water trough full. All gates OK. No walkers. Left a couple of handfuls of nuts which need replenishing asap.  Tim

Wednesday 4 October

All 38 sheep accounted for. 12 were hanging about the water trough, the rest were in a copse a bit further west, still on the northern side. All seemed in good health.

Water trough is functioning as normal. Nuts are running low, there's enough in there for tomorrow but that'll probably be it.

I did see a couple of dog walkers at the reserve but none actually in the compound.

Tuesday 3rd October

All 38 found in the copse around the trough. No lameness nor any sign of fly strike that I could identify, I checked everyone's bum (I do hope this blog is never taken out of context). Water fine, sufficient food for a couple of days I reckon. Lower gates ok (sorry, I didn't climb to the top today). No people or dogs.

Monday 2nd October

 All 38 sheep present in area under trees near water trough, 33 came for the sheep nuts, 5 were further in but I was able to get to them.

Checked the rears of all sheep that weren't sitting down and they looked healthy.

One WWF was scratching its bottom on a branch but it then did its shoulder and its rear looked fine so I think it is okay.

No walkers (or dogs) seen either on the reserve or the way there/back.

Water trough was fine, but sheep nuts are running low (there are enough for Tuesday and probably Wednesday).

Sunday October 1st

We counted 38 and they all appeared healthy and walking well with no limps or injury. As you said they are very friendly and definitely handsome. We checked the water, fencing and gates and all were undamaged and fine.       Pippa        pp. John & Sue Stafford