Saturday 31 August

We visited the sheep earlier and can report all is well. We found all 49 of them were fit and able. There were  no dog walkers during our time there, and the water trough is full.

Dave Whitehouse pp Keith and Sue Stevens

Tuesday update

Got the sheep back into central area he walked in gracefully. Not concerned with Mark on his head, not a fresh wound.

Code for this gate is 1961

Grazing colleague saw sheep yesterday with suspected flystrike. All fine no treatment needed but please monitor

We found 2 areas sheep may have gotten out and now patched up.

Gate 14 now closed

Tuesday 27 aug

1 escapee wfw on eastern compartment, I can't open the gate to get him back, and he has now disappeared into the compartment. Update: Bea will come this afternoon to fetch him back, as I can't find him anywhere. 

The other 49 accounted for, including broken horn who seems ok except for itchy foot, I can't see a wound, could be a tick? Not limping anyway.

No walkers, dogs.

Guy

Monday 26th August

 All 50 sheep found in the Beech wood, but 1 Shetland with a broken right horn seems to have a problem,

it has a black mark (maybe a natural marking ?) on its left side above its front left leg and keeps trying  to itch it with its hind leg, see below :-

I tried calling the central office and left a message with Lottie, but I think everyone is out as it is a bank holiday.

Sheep Nuts, Water and Gates all fine.

Sunday 25th August

Sheep all present and correct, sheltering in the scrub below plum pudding today. In two separate groups yesterday. All looking fit and healthy, keen for snacks! No dog walkers (except ourselves)

Gate 14 by swing leading into Eastern compartment looks damaged 

Pippa Evans   pp. David & Gaynor Simpson

Friday 23 August

The sheep were all hiding in the trees and bushes adjacent to the western boundary this morning so it was difficult to count them all but 45 were eventually found and then another 2 or 3 up by the gate leading to plum pudding.

No limpers or problems noted, water troughs are full and plenty of food.

No walkers or dogs

Tuesday 20 August

All sheep accounted for, no major limpers although 1wfw looks a little stiff, probably same I've I identified last week. Food and water are fine. No dogs or walkers gates ok. 

It must have taken me 20 counts this morning to find all of them!

Monday 19th August

 All 50 sheep found, 34 in usual beech wood and 16 in the undergrowth not far from the water troughs and food. All looked healthy, I couldn't spot the limper (WWF) but a number of these were quite far into the undergrowth and I couldn't see their lower legs.

Water troughs and food all good.

No problems with fences or gates.

No dogs or walkers seen on reserve.

Note: In the undergrowth not far west of where the water troughs are I did see an upturned tree with burnt roots, these burn marks looked recent. Luckily the fire seems to have been  minor and not spread.

Sunday 18th August

The sheep were mostly out in the open enabling me to walk through and count them - 45/46 the remaining 4/5 were more stubborn and I could hear them in the scrub and bushes but just wouldn’t come out! All seemed to be fine though.

Pippa   pp Richard Thompson

Friday 16th August

 Ned & Tracy checked the sheep today as it was a training day for lookers. Pippa  pp Tim

Tuesday 13 aug

All 50 present in the western edge woodland. One wfw appears not to be able to stand on his left foreleg, photos attached. As instructed I didn't approach. I could not get in a position to see an ear tag let alone get the number but did have a red mark on his neck, although if it is blackberry juice that won't help find him! All photos are of the same animal. All the rest looked in fine fettle, I'm fact they seemed peckish this morning. Water and food ok. Gates ok although I haven't checked the top ones leading in to the footpath. No visitors so far. Guy

Monday 12th August

 48 sheep found eventually (15 White Face and 33 Shetland), 43 were in the Beech wood in the South West corner of the compartment, the other 3 were scattered in 1's and 2's.

All 48 looked fit and healthy, from signs of droppings the sheep have been in a lot of places throughout the compartment.

Gates and Fences all okay.

Water troughs near full and there are plenty of sheep nuts.

2 walkers without dogs seen (met).

Sunday 11th August

 Sheep all present, no concerns.

Pippa     pp Becky McKay

Saturday 10th August

 All 50 sheep found under the trees near the Western fencing of the Central compartment. No issues, plenty of water.

Pippa     pp. Rebecca McKay

Friday 9 August

I found all 50 sheep in the trees adjacent to the western compartment fence, all appear to be healthy.

No walkers or dogs, all fences and gates ok.

Tuesday 6aug

50, in the end. I can't see any injuries or sign of I'll health (or the head injury, so my observational skills may be lacking). They are moving around a lot as the rain clears. No dog walkers, water and food ok. 

Monday 5th August

 Found all 50 sheep in the Beech Woodland near Plum Pudding.

All looked healthy, although some were under undergrowth so I couldn't check for limping/scratches on head (for Pink tag 12).

Water troughs both full, but ball cock mechanism not working on old trough.

Sheep Nuts arte just over half full.

I met 2 sets of dog walker both with their dog on a lead.

Sunday 4th August

 All well on the down today and 50 sheep present & correct.

Pippa Evans    pp. Lizzie Lane

Friday 2nd August

 Found all 50 (in the shade at west end near Plum Pudding). A few Whiteface didn't venture out for food - just poked their heads out to see what all the shouting was about!

Water troughs full. Met one naturist (or is it naturalist?!) - no dogs. 

Gates OK but kissing gate at bottom west corner not secured - determined sheep could have wriggled through - is it worth a sign "Please shut gate securely"?

Pippa Evans      pp. Tim Evans