Tuesday Staff check 29th July

19 Shetlands in NW scrub. 20 WFWs and 1 Shetland under trees by trough. 

All looking good. 

The wounded WFW seems okay, but everyone please keep and eye on it.

Tuesday 29 July

Sheep were in two groups this morning, the 20 Shetland were in the hedge along the north fence at the western end. 18 responded to call, two just stood in the trees ignoring me. All looked healthy, no limping, no sign of fly strike that I could see. 

Meanwhile all 20 WFW were around the trough. All came to the call, all looked healthy to me, no limping or signs of fly strike etc. The one with the cut to the neck seems fine, and I could not see signs of infection ( the one time I thought I could photo his number I got photo bombed by a Shetland). A number of this group like playing with the fence, putting their feet through it or standing on strands so I wonder if he slipped and cut himself on the barbed wire. 

Food and water fine, no walker or dogs. 

Monday 28th July

 Found all 40 sheep, 14 WFW close to sheep nuts and water, others along Northern boundary.

But one of the sheep that was close to the Sheep nuts and water seems to have a cut on its throat (see below). This sheep has a yellow tag but I couldn't get close enough to see a number. He does not appear to be in distress and the blood seemed dry.

The sheep nuts were almost full and the water troughs are full.

No dogs or walkers seen in the compartment just on the main path outside the compartments.

Fences and gates all okay.

Sunday 27th July

 We struggled to find all of the sheep on our wardening this time, even enticing with the sheep nuts, and only found 30 in total, of which only 10 white ones! The water trough was full but we found a dead bird in there which we fished out…. otherwise nothing further to report. 

Pippa   pp. Paddy & Nicola Mawhinney

Friday 25 July

All 20 Shetland and 20 Whiteface were found in the bushes against the north boundary.

No problems found with the sheep.

Plenty of food and both water troughs are full and the ball valves are working.

No walkers or dogs.

Tuesday 22 July

All 20 white faced and 20 Shetland found, although 5 Shetland didn't respond to my call and I had to go searching. They were in the undergrowth but spread out all along the north fence. All looked fine. Gates, for, trough all fine.i didn't see anybody on the reserve.

Trough trouble and staff check

Hello all, 

All sheep looking fine. 

While giving our new trainee, Kirsty, a tour of the site I showed her how to check if the troughs were filling and it turns out they weren't (but as Franklyn mentioned in previous blog they were full). Then obviously while reporting this to grazing team they gurgled and started working again. 

So could I ask you all to check they are flowing when you do your checks? The older trough's lid just slides off and you can press down the ball valve to see if it runs. The newer trough you will need to find a stick, poke it through the hole, try to push down the ball and listen out for running water. 

Intermittent problems are a pain to diagnose! Please note here in the blog if they are not flowing and ring/message us if the troughs are low. 

01962 790544 is the Hockley Farm number, have a pen ready to note down the number of whoever is on call. 

Thanks, 

Tom

Monday 21st July

Found all 40 sheep and all looked healthy.

The WFW were mainly near to the large gate into the Eastern Compartment.

The Shetlands were mostly in the bushes where they have been  the last few weeks but all came out when I called to them.

Sheep Nuts still nearly full, water troughs not quite so green after weekend rain.

No dogs or walkers seen in Central Compartment.

Sunday 20th July

 This afternoon I found 15 of each sort, the Shetlands to the west but hidden in the low trees and the white faced ones at the other end, the east end near the bottom.  Sorry I didn't find them all but I couldn't stay any longer looking. 

Pippa       pp Claire Davies

Friday 18th July

 All 40 were accounted for, fit & healthy, if panting slightly in the heat!

Pippa   pp. Sam Perrett

Wednesday 17th July

 All sheep found nd doing okay. One Shetland was looking slightly low on condition but still okay.

Thanks

Grazing team

Tuesday 15 July

All 20 Shetland and 20 WFW came out of the bushes on to the Dowland when I called them today. No lameness or symptoms of fly strike Etc seen. One WFW does have a large protuberance, probably thorn but a couple of inches long, through his face and skin damage with maybe further small thorns between his horns. I'll send photo to Sam when I can download from my camera. 

Troughs full but green, nuts fill, all gates fine with one at plum pudding not latching as Franklin reported yesterday. One local person with dog on lead. 

Monday 14th July

 Found all 40 sheep in the undergrowth on the Northern Western side of the compartment, those that I could see clearly were looking healthy, but many were deep in the undergrowth so I couldn't check these thoroughly.

Found another small dead bird (sparrow size) in the older water trough, which I removed.

The water in both water troughs is looking a bit green and I think ideally would be changed (Im not sure how to do this|). There are plenty of sheep nuts.

All fences are sound but gate 6 (by plum pudding) isn't latching correctly. It isn't really a problem as the weights are closing the gate.

2 people seen on plum pudding, standing and chatting but no people or dogs seen in the central compartment.

Sunday 13th July

 I saw 18 Whitefaced and 15 Shetlands, they were hiding in the undergrowth and were in several different groups, Some were interested in food others didn’t move.  I assure the others are there somewhere hiding from the heat.  The white-faced looked in excellent condition.  The water trough was working , but I had to fish a sparrow that had drowned itself.  The gates were all OK except 9 which has a rather weak bit of baler twine to keep it closed, but that was not looped over the post.  It could do with something stronger.  

There was not a lot of wildlife around, but there were a lot of butterflies.  The farmer was cutting the wheat in the fields below the far compartment.  I did not find any litter, there is evidence of a campfire in the top of Plumb Pudding, but it has been cleared up.  I did not see any dog walkers or other people.

Pippa   pp. Mike Mossman

Friday 11 July

All 40 sheep were found in the bushes at the bottom of the slope.

No problems noted with them , plenty of food in the bucket and water in the trough. 

Gates all ok . No walkers nor dogs.

tuesday 8th July.

I eventually counted 20 of each type, but it has taken me two hours to account for the last two Shetlands. The sheep were spread out in small groups and singles across the bottom of the compartment in any shade they could find. All except one wfw looked well

Monday 7th July

Found all 40 sheep, all but 3 (2 WFW and 1 shetland) were in the bushes within 150m of the North West gate. I could see that those who weren't deep in the bushes were healthy, but impossible to be sure with those deep in the bushes.

Sheep Nuts are just under 1/2 full, water troughs are full but looked a bit green/stagnant to me (newer one looked worse).

All gates and fences were fine.

Saturday 5 July

 Eventually located all 40 well shorn sheep after some searching through the dense lowest bushes near the fence. A bit cooler today so probably less resistant. 2 Shetlands were surprisingly bold & friendly considering they've only just landed, & the inital groups came to the shaken sheep nuts. Spoke to one dog walker to remind the sheep were back. Crunchy parched grass - hard to imagine it was ever green now!

Friday 4th July

The hot sun made it very difficult to get the sheep count, they kept moving to different areas. Some did seem a little skittish too. After 1.5 hours I gave up. Water fine, will top up nuts next week

sheep on site

20 WFW and 20 Shetland sheep now adorn the landscape in middle compartment to add to the views!

Hampshire gate also repaired.

Thank you

grazing team