Tuesday new year's eve

All 35 Shetland (although one took a long time to wander out of the bushes) and 14 wfw found around the trough area and slope. None limping and all looked healthy (apart from the lookerer, but I managed not to sneeze on any of the sheep). One couple with a dog on lead , and they kindly detoured away from where I had gathered the sheep. Water, food and lower gates ok, but I didn't climb the slope to check upper gates. I did find an owl pellet though!

Happy new year!

Monday 30th December

 Found all 49 sheep in the central compartment. All look healthy, but the one below is missing quite a bit of its coat 

Sheep missing parts of coat on lower abdomen (it is the same on the other side). No signs of infection so I assume it is from being in the scrub (lots were initially today).

Sheep all on lower slopes on the NE side, or in the nearby scrub, until I called them. Then all 49 came for sheep nuts.

Sheep nuts about 50% full, water troughs full.

Very quiet today only one dog walker seen on Clarendon Way and none in reserve.

All gates good.

Sunday 29th December

 All 49 sheep were accounted for & appeared healthy, as they enjoyed their treats The water trough was full. The gate on the Eastern side of the central compartment wasn't shut properly.......it is now!!

Otherwise, we didn't encounter any dog walkers & all was ok, no fly tipping, litter, or anything of that nature.

Pippa pp.    Mike & Lindsey Moore

Friday 27 December

Very misty on the Down this morning but managed to find all 49 (14WFW & 35 Shetland) sheep on the hill in the Central compartment, all seem to be in good health and no limpers. Couldn't find any  ticks although I was unable to get too close to one or two.

Plenty of food in the bucket and water in the troughs.

No dogs or walkers

Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

All 49 sheep accountable in Eastern compound, 14 WFW & 35 Shetland. No limping, however WFW 112 (I call Brutus, I think others called him Kit) he has a large tick in his left ear.

WFW 169 has a bloody scratch on his nose. 

Shetland (number unknown) right horn curling into eye and causing eye lid to twitch and struggle to close. He may need a horn trim.

All water troughs full, sheep nuts tub over half full. 

7 walkers and 6 dogs seen on site, all on leads or outside eastern compound. 

Fencing in order, I believe WFW 112 has been getting out through lower gate 7. I adjusted the gate weight so it should shut automatically, too much friction on the wire cable.

A lot of WFW Rams mounting a Shetland ewe, then fighting afterwards. 3 x WFW after one ewe, lots of testosterone about today. 

WFW 169 - Scratch

overgrown right horn

WFW 112 tick in ear

Tuesday Christmas eve

All 14 wfw, mainly on the slope next to Eastern compartment, and 35 (eventually) Shetland spread more widely. No sign of lameness despite one wfw standing on my foot. Food and water fine. 

North West gate between West and Central, self closer is a bit sticky. And I agree that likely egress point is gate between Central and East at the foot of the steep slope, I meant to bring some string to loop over it but forgot. A couple of dogs on leads.

Happy Christmas!

Monday 23rd December

 All 49 sheep came for sheep nuts and looked healthy (no limping spotted).

Sheep nuts are about 3/4 full and water troughs are full.

Initially one WFW was in the Eastern Compartment on top of the hill. By talking to it I got it to come down the hill and to me and follow me through the kissing gate. 

The other 48 sheep were either on the lower part of the downs or in the bushes within about 400m of the water.

No dog walkers seen in the central compartment.

All gates were secure, I think the WFW is getting through the SE gate there is a lot of wool on the gate and nearby and sheep droppings and hoof marks also both sides of the gate.

Saturday 21st December

 Counted 14 White faced, they were mostly together! 35 Shetland and then one black! I must have counted one twice? 

Pippa      pp. Debs & Chris Barlow

Friday December 20th

 47? 48? 47? 48?  Decided to call it a day........but suddenly caught a glimpse of Houdini the Whiteface in the Eastern compartment!  Managed to coax it down to the bottom kissing gate but 3 times failed to get the gate open before it bolted. After more encouragement got it to the other kissing gate (by the steep slope) and success! I think this is where it gets through (there were hoof prints in the mud). The gate opens very easily pushing from central to Eastern. Have managed to jam it shut with an old fencing stake.

Nuts and water full.  Gates otherwise all ok. One walker with dog on lead.

Tim Evans

Tuesday 17 December

All 14 wfw and 35 Shetland found, I couldn't see any limping. All in central, but very spread out and a number of them didn't come to me, I had to go and find them. Number 12 was liaising with one of the farmer's sheep on the other side of the north fence, if a motorbike goes missing from Broughton I reckon this is the culprit, the great escape for love. 

I agree that the fallen tree near the southern gate between Central and East could be a problem.

no walkers or dogs. I did find a dead yellow party balloon (that's what it looks like) under were the owl box used to be. It took a while but I managed to retrieve it.

Monday 16th December

 Initially 1 WFW (Yellow tag 120) was about 200m into Eastern Compartment (just South, up the slope) of the central bushes/trees.  By talking to it and standing still when I got to within about 15m it came up to me (so I could read its tag) and then followed me down to the (new) NE kissing gate where I let it back into the Central Compartment.

So all 49 sheep now in the central compartment and all came to me when I called, they had been either on the slopes or near the water. I didn't spot the lame one but that's probably as there were so many close together.

Sheep Nuts have now run out by water troughs are full.

No dogs or walkers seen on Nature reserve.

It isn't clear how the WFW is getting into the Eastern Compartment, the SE gate now has a strong spring so it seems unlikely it would be here. There is still the small tree down on the fence just south of the SE gate but that only affects the top piece of barbed wire. And it would seem unlikely at the NE kissing gate as I had to hold the gate open to let the WFW back.

Sunday 15th December

 We saw no dog walkers, counted 49 sheep in total and the water troughs are full. One of the Shetland sheep is lame, it is difficult to see which leg it is, but we think front left. We tried to get closer to see its number tag but it was too quick for us and we did not want to cause it any more discomfort. 

Pippa pp. Keith & Sue Stevens

Friday 13 December

6 WFW were found on the slope adjacent to the east compartment but they followed me to the central area where the remaining 8WFW and 35 Shetlands were grazing.

Noticed that one of the Shetlands was limping but could get close enough to check its number, the rest were all ok, no walkers or dogs 

Wednesday 11th December

All 49 sheep accountable 14 WFW & 35 Shetland and in good shape. They were very vocal and approachable this morning. The first time I have entered the compound and all 49 could be counted at once 🐑👏

All Gates and fencing in good shape. Fresh chalk graffiti on gate 12. Picture below.

All water troughs full, barely a handful of sheep nuts left, but they came out to see me regardless.

2 walkers and 3 dogs off the lead seen in the Meadow. They asked where the sheep were and confirmed they were sticking to the Woodland path. 

Monday 9th staff check

Hello all, Sorry we have a shortage of nuts at the moment at the farm! I hope to get there next week with some, but calling without nuts should bring them out of the scrub. We altered both kissing gates and confirmed numbers on Monday, we made the Eastern compartment a bit more livestock proof incase they get in here again. I think I need to make a better and bigger weight for the gate for our escape artist friend! Thanks all, Bea and Tom

Tuesday 10 Dec

All sheep (14 + 35) present on the lower slope, no lameness seen. Water ok but very little food left. Gates  ok no dogs.

Monday 9th December

 Found 48 sheep (14 WFW and 34 Shetlands) all of which came to me for food.

Unable to find 1 Shetland, but since it was a WFW that got into the Eastern Compartment it is safe to say the escaped sheep is back now.

Water troughs are fine, food practically empty now.

Fences :-

- there is a small tree down on the fence near the SE gate with no latch, id be surprised if the WFW got over it but there are sheep droppings in Eastern Compartment near it. (Photo WhatsApped to Bea as unable to download from phone).

- there is also a branch against the fence on the Western fence but this looks like it has been there a long time. Any other branches on fences I removed.

Dog walkers only seen outside the compartment none in it (they were all relatively thin).

Sunday 8th December

We counted 45 out of the expected 48 sheep in the central compartment. They all looked to be in good health. No limping. We looked round the eastern compartment (one nearest the village) and could not see a sheep. The water trough was full to the brim and looked clean. No dogs or owners on the down. We saw a couple on the way up/down.

Pippa    pp. David & Vicki Reynolds

We have reported on Ned's mobile the WFW that Tim found in the Eastern compartment on Friday. Not sure if it is still there or has got back with the flock          Pippa

Friday 6th December

 47? 48? Couldn't make the 49 despite a number of counts.  One Shetland not interested - was lying down but got up when approached, seems quite ok. All others seem fine. Had good search in Central but no lurkers - but- found a Whiteface in Eastern area, quite OK but not interested in being moved.

Water OK. No Walkers. Gates OK. Only a few handfuls of nuts left.

NB Gate 13 in Eastern section. Shutting catch not engaging - needs moving.

Tim Evans

Wednesday 4th December

All 49 sheep accounted for - happy and healthy. No limping.  14 x WFW & 35 Shetland.  

Different behaviour witnessed today, shetland male mounting a shetland female (fair enough), then a different male being very protective of her backside afterwards.  Lots of backside sniffing today....not something I've witnessed before. 

All Gates and fencing in good order.

All 3 water troughs full, less than 1/4 of sheep nuts in tub.

No dog walkers on site. 

Tuesday 3rd December

A sunny morning, not too cold. Found all 14 + 35  sheep spread all across the North slope, easy to count (so why did it take me a number of attempts?). I made sure that each animal moved, and didn't observe any limping. No visitors, gates and water ok, sufficient food stock. 

Monday 2nd December

 All 49 Sheep were on the lower part of the slopes or in the nearby bushes and came to me when I called them for Sheep Nuts. 

I tried spotting the limper but I didn't notice it and all 49 sheep looked healthy.

Water troughs are full and there is enough food until about the weekend.

Fences and gates were fine.

No walkers or dogs seen, but I did hear 2 people talking high up in the central compartment (probably own the higher path).