Wednesday 25th of February

All 37 sheep found (sorry when I originally published this I didn't provide the total). 

Misty morning with Kites flying and, surprisingly as it's 20 past 9, tawny owl calling; I thought it was only me who was running late this morning. 

Western side of the down has five wfw and one Shetland.

Central section of down has 16 Shetland, and 15 wfw. Well that was easier than usual.

Water troughs and gates all ok, no walkers, dogs or, sadly, fox, seen.

Staff Update - Friday 27th

Hi all,

Just to confirm for our weekend crew - there should be 37 sheep. 

Looks like we haven't had a full count since the beginning of the week so please try to make sure you find them all if you can. 

Thanks!

Andy

Friday 27 February

 20 pretty clean spritely looking WFW conveniently situated in Central near Eastern gate & along bottom fence. 16 Shetlands nearby too. I stopped looking at 36 convincing myself that was currently the magic number. Didn't see anyone else, no issues. Both species are beginning to moult.

Monday 23rd February

 Found all 37 Sheep fit and healthy up towards Plum Pudding (very easy to find this week).

All gates and fences are fine, all gates have Livestock grazing signs.

Water troughs are full. Sheep Nuts are empty, possibly enough for when the sheep leave site.

I also saw a Fox just under 20m ahead of me walking down the Clarendon Way, lots of commotion 

from the birds just before and after seeing it.

No dogs or walkers seen on nature reserve.

Sunday 22nd February

 Very pleased to report all sheep present and correct, and all as should be.

Pippa    pp Nicola & Paddy Mawhinney

Friday 20 February

I found 6 Shetlands down on the lower part of the slope and in the copse by the feed bucket with the remaining Shetlands and all the Whiteface on the slope leading up to Plum Pudding gate.

No issues noted to the sheep. No walkers in the central compartment nor dogs but quite a few on paths at the top of the down and leading up to the down from Buckholt Road.

Plenty of food in bucket and water in trough.

Wednesday 18th February

All 37 sheep found. 12 of the white faced were at the top of the hill, the other eight near the northeast gate. One Shetland on the down, the rest spread along the North  part of the reserve. No limping or signs of injury or distress observed .

Water trough and gates fine, I did not check the supply of sheep nuts. No walkers or dogs in the reserve 

Staff update - Monday 16th Feb

Hi all,

Thanks for the report of dead sheep. Unfortunately in a very inaccessible part of the site for this time of year but staff will attempt to remove it tomorrow. 

As Franklyn has reported, the remaining 37 sheep are all healthy - and I have now moved them into the Central compartment for their final bit of grazing.

Carcass at the top of the down is a deer so need to worry.

Thanks,

Andy 

Monday 16th February

Found 37 sheep Alive and healthy and the 1 dead sheep photographed below (although in worse condition now).

The 37 live sheep were :-

21 - 2 Shetlands and 19 WFW on the top of the downs near the South Gate (it took 3 attempts to find all the WFW as a couple were in the bushes initially).

4    - all Shetlands just in front of the fenced of yews Straight down from the South Gate

12  - 11 Shetlands ands 1 WFW in the vicinity of the North West gate 

The dead sheep was not far the other side of the fenced of yews to the 4 live Shetlands.

The water troughs were full.

The gates were all working and no dogs or walkers were seen in the compartment.

Sunday 15th February

Just back after rather a wet afternoon.  I counted approx 17 of each.  I also found a dead dark faced one down not far from the water.  It looked fairly freshly dead but already had its eyes taken out.  I don't know if that was known about.  Also high up a carcass that must be known about.  No sign of a tag on that one.  I shall try to send you photos of the dead one I found. 

Pippa   pp Claire Davies

Wednesday 11th February

All 38 sheep accounted for, the Shetlands mostly around the northern part of the reserve with a handful against the Eastern fence. The wfw mostly around the Eastern and Southern  perimeter 

No issues with gates or trough. One Walker with dog on lead, traversing the steep slippery slopes between East and central compartment, I would have let the dog off the lead in case it pulled me over but they managed the job perfectly well.. 

Monday 9th February

 Found all 38 sheep, mostly at the bottom out of the wind near the North fence. No high jumpers this week.

All gates and fences okay, water toughs full.

No dogs or walkers seen on nature reserve.

Saturday 7th February

  There was nobody around and the rain kindly abated.  Unsurprisingly the water troughs are full.  The sheep are all present and correct, with the white face on the hillside in the woods split into two teams of 10.   They look well washed and clean.   The Shetlands were at the bottom, apart from one pretending to be a white face in the woods.  So all present and correct, the fences and new stiles are all in good condition.  Considering the recent weather we didn’t look for camp fires at Plumb Pudding.  

Pippa    pp Chris Lloyd & Mike Mossman

Friday 6 February

All 38 sheep found out grazing on the central slope although 7 Shetlands were further over to the eastern boundary. No issues noted , no limping apparent. No sheep in the yew tree copse.

No walkers or dogs

Wednesday 4th February

Found all 38 this morning, although it took a while. The WFW were mostly in the northern part, the Shetland in the south. One Shetland has a bad limp, another, tag ending 107, is not moving much and looking particularly bedraggled, although no obvious cause, no limp when made to move. He Cheered up a bit when I found a few old sheep nuts in my pocket.

No sheep were inside yew enclosures, but some of the fencing is drooping , for example around the root of the fallen tree which may give them a hoof hold. Also encouraging the solitary yew the corner post seems to have moved making the fence very loose.

Otherwise all quiet, no walkers or dogs. Gates and troughs ok. 

Sheep removed from Yew enclosure

Thanks to Franklyn for the report - I managed to get the sheep out, although not before he got himself entangled in the fence in his attempt to compete for the high jump gold medal. He quickly broke free once I got close and no injuries.

Only one found in there and I added a few staples and dead wood to a few areas that might have been his entrance - but nothing obvious along the fence.

Monday 2nd February

 Found all 38 sheep, a lot in the undergrowth, and all look well.

The only downside is that 2 WFW have got into the fenced off area in the centre with the Yews (Ned Prestige informed). I have walked all around this fenced off area and it's not obvious how they got in. There are a few areas where a cat or fox could get under the fence but I doubt a sheep could. There is also a lot of sheep wool on the barbed wire on the southern side but again I doubt a sheep could get over here.

Water toughs both full.

All gate working okay.

No dogs or walkers seen on the nature reserve.

Sunday 1st February

 Only counted 36  sheep today, although some were on the hoof so could have confused my count. No walkers, I removed some material & wire pegs from the ground. Shetland with red tag 00107 has thinning fleece on its sides - I wasn't sure if this is natural moulting?