Wednesday 30th april staff visit

Hi all,

Started with a bird survey. Plenty pairs of skylark.

The central hedge had yellowhammer, stonechat, dunnock, sparrow, blackbird and whitethroat present too!

The small field trough was leaking and has hopefully now been fixed. Let me know if the leak reappears.

I've also removed the central electric fence which wasn't live some reason. So the cows have access to all of both fields.

I repaired the broken rail by the gate south of the large field.

Carried out a small reptile survey in set aside land and found two slow worms, not the best result I've had but still good to see.

Cows all looking good.

Thanks for your support,

Sam

Wednesday 23rd April

 All 9  grazing in the big field, looking content, no problems seen.

Cowslips and trefoil starting to appear.

Tuesday 15th April

 Half way through Apri already. All 9 cows calmly grazing at southern end of western meadow. Water trough and gates fine plus electric fence on.

Lots more cowslips in eastern meadow this week. Heard a green woodpecker and black cap near SE entrance joining the skylark and chiff chaff concert. Very little litter this week  but several clumps of dog poo in the middle of the path which needed flicking to the edge.

Anne and Tim

Friday 11th

 I didn’t check the blog before I went out, so I PANICKED when I could only count 9 cows. Tested the electric fence, everything seems okay. 

Wednesday 9th April

Hi all,

We have taken 5 cows off site. So 9 remain. 

Sam

Tuesday 8th April

 All 14 cows calmly grazing or chewing cud scattered over the western meadow. Electric fence on water in trough and gates securely fastened back between the two fields. 

Chiffchaff, skylarks and great tits song dominating the bird concert. Good to watch a blue tit helping itself to several tufts of cow hair caught in the wire fence presumably for nest building in the top NE corner.  A clump of cowslips in the eastern field and quite a lot of bee flies along the path.

Retrieved a drinks can and water bottle that had been thrown over the fence.

Anne and Tim 

Friday 4th April

 14 cows visible. Couldn’t go in, as I was with dogs and wheelchair, but all the cows were standing around and no one looked in any distress. 

Incident log

 A butterfly survey volunteer has just seen two people (young couple) with three black dogs kicking a football in field for their dogs.

This is awful for skylarks nesting due to significant disturbance, dogs are predators in skylarks eyes! If anyone sees them or knows more then please let me know.

As soon as they saw the volunteer they got out of the field so they know they shouldn't be in there. Hopefully a one off.

This highlights the value of daily visits from you guys so thank you again for your time and eyes on the ground.

Regards,

Sam

Wednesday 2nd April

 All 14 cows spread across the top of the smaller field, looking very content.

Trough working, gate between fields secured. Saw a stonechat.

Tuesday 1st April

 All 14 cows laying down calmly chewing cud in top end of eastern meadow. Electric fence on and water troughs full. Skylarks dominating bird concert at NE corner elsewhere chiffchaffs noisy. Beautiful morning with bumble bees about, a couple of roe deer and a couple of peacock butterflies. Picked up litter from around the benches mostly crisp packets and biscuit wrappers.

Anne and Tim