Reserve Update

 Hi all,

As you are aware the cows are now off site, wet, wet, wet.

Just wanted to thank you all for your time checking the livestock this year! It is much appreciated :)

All the best,

Sam

Peter Manning | Tues 24 Oct

 Cattle now gone.

Richard Friday 20th October

In luck again- it was not raining early this morning when I went to check the cows. My luck ran out at the gate. I could just see one black cow far down the east side of the field so I went to look for them. The field is very very wet and in places more than knee deep as I discovered.

Took some time to find all seven. Two were at the eastern fence under trees and very difficult to see. The white one watched me carefully.

All seven munching well. They all looked well, but I did not get close to them.

Richard 

Peter Manning | Tues 17 Oct

Cattle all at the north of Ashley Meadow around 11:30, making me work to even see them! Non electric fence again off one of the posts, probably meaning that one of them had crossed the wires. But all the cattle looked well and munching; took the cream leader some of the cattle nuts, as usual others look on longingly.

Friday 13th October - Richard and Elizabeth

Luckily for us,

the cows were easily visible and countable because they were spread out near the gate. All 7 eating and looked well if rather wet.

Thanks to Sam for telling us about the battery.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Site Update

 Hi all,

I've removed the battery for the EF, it was dead. Will charge and replace when I'm next on site in 2 weeks.

Sam

Jackie and Nick Butler - Thurs 12th Oct

 The cows were hiding sitting down near the far end of the meadow, so we had to walk all the way down there to find them! They all got up, showing us their faces, which all looked fine and their tags appeared to be ok. Then they turned and ran off into the far corner, so we could see they were all moving well.

 Very kind cows - all close to the gate, so I didn't need the gumboots after all! Looking well and healthy - so were the cows.........

Peter Manning | Tues 10 Oct

 At around 09:30 cattle were all 7 in the NE part of Ashley Meadow. They were all munching away happily and looked well. Meadow perhaps a tad less wet, but still wellies a must. Non working e fence wires all intact, but drooping, presumably easy for cattle to step over.

Richard and Elizabeth -Friday 6th October 2023

The good news is the cows were close to the (non)-electric fence and easily counted from the path. The not so good news is one of them was on the wrong side of the fence, but see yesterday's blogs.

We continued to the screens and on our return all the cows were together further into the meadow.

All 7 were together happily eating as usual, and looking clean and healthy.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Checked Cattle Thursday 5th October

The electric fence along the ditch of Ashley Meadows does not work. Both Chris and Robin, the grazier, know it does not work.

Last night (4th October) David Thelwell told us he saw one of the black cows on the wrong side of the fence.

I phoned Robin last night to tell him. He is confident the cows will not cross the ditch . He said the cows will stay together.

Elizabeth and I checked the cows this morning. All seven were together at the far end of the meadow. Only two of them were visible from the gate so I (Richard) had to walk through the field to find them all.

They were clean, alert, moving around and happily eating. Two of the black one  saw me coming and hurried to the white one. The other black ones  saw me but carried on eating undisturbed. The white one stood watching me but did not move away.

Richard and Elizabeth.

Peter Manning | Tues 03 Oct

All 7 cattle looking well in Ashley Meadow at around 11am, but up at the north end so took a while to find. The electric fence appears not to be working, and in tens of places (now cleared a little) undergrowth was touching the wires. Upper wire was down in one place where it had come off the post, now put back and wire tightened to stop so much drooping. Additional intermediate wire supports are needed; in previous years use has been made of temporary plastic supports. Ashley Meadow remains very wet.

Richard and Elizabeth Saturday 30th September

At Fishlake today to do last butterfly survey of the year. Saw no butterflies, but also checked the cows.  

Eventually sighted the cows  from.the east-west path using binoculars. They were just visible at the far end of the meadows. They were moving around together. 

Richard and Elizabeth 

Richard and Elizabeth - Friday 29th September

When we arrived at the gate of Ashley Meadows, the white cow was just visible at the far side of the field, but the others were hidden. I (Richard) went to look for them. All 7 were together at the western side of the field about half way along it.

They were all eating and moving around together. All look very clean and healthy.

They must be getting used to me,  because they did look up and looked at me,  when I got close, but then carried on eating.

The field is very wet, with standing water everywhere. You need wellies and overtrousers to keep dryish. A stick is useful for support: the ground is very rough. It is hard  wet work pushing through the vegetation.

The electric fence is not working.

We wonder if the cattle nuts can be brought to Ashley Meadows: they are still at the fen. The blue bucket  is at Ashley Meadows. 

Whilst I was moving through the meadows Elizabeth stayed  at the gate. A visitor asked her what I was doing.  Was looking for butterflies or birds? He was surprised by the answer- 7 cows.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Jackie Butler - Thurs 28th Sept

 Jackie was by herself today, so didn't go in the field with the cows, but could clearly see all seven were present and correct and looking well. 

It's a good thing Peter noted in his Tuesday blog that the cows had moved to Ashley Meadows, because we hadn't heard any other way, and when Jackie first arrived they were only just visible. She noted that the food and pump have not been moved over.

I forgot to add to the blog last Thursday (21st) when Jackie checked them, alone again, and found them to be well.

Peter Manning | Tues 26 Sept

Cows have now moved to Ashley Meadow, only just visible from the gate as they were in the NE quadrant. All seemed well at around 10am and eating voraciously. More approachable now, can get within 10m without any food incentive. Much standing water below the vegetation, have not seen Ashley Meadow so wet. Careful of your ankles! No pasture pump installed. Electric fence was silent so seemed not to be working. Probably needs strimming below the electric fence, and a few of the plastic fencing posts needed to stop wires sagging especially towards the western end.

Peter Manning | Tues 19 Sept

All 7 cattle in the sw quadrant of the Western Fen around 10am, spread out a lot more than usual, could only be seen from the screens path not the main gate. NW of the fen is still relatively dry, but most of the rest very wet, almost lost a welly again. Vegetation getting quite low.

Friday 15th September

8.30am Friday. The cows were near the gate. We put a handful.ofvcattle nuts in the basket and two of the blacks one, 876 and 909, came to it. They seem to be friends because 876 allowed 909 to have some. When another black one came near 876 head butted it away.

They allowed me to stand a few paces away from them. The white one was busy eating.

We went tomthe screens and returned tomthe gate to see if we could check the white one. It  came to the gate when attracted by a small handful of  more nuts. It scoffed the lot.  Then smelled my hand, which it did not like.

All seven were clean, if a bit damp, and seem in good health.

I checked the pump, but it produced only a small squirt of water. Three of the cows  went to the pump and operated it. They obviously wanted to drink. I doubt if they got much.

Richard and Elizabeth

Nick Butler: Thursday 14th Sept

The white cow came over to the gate to get some food. Unfortunately the other six didn't follow - perhaps they know that the white cow won't let them have any of it. The white cow looked well. I didn't try to get to the other six, as they were several hundred metres away and the light was going, but saw them all wandering around.

Peter Manning | Tues 12 Sept

Around 10:20 all 7 cattle looking well near the N fence of western Fen. They come to me if I have food, but the cream one bags it all! The cream one approached close enough to sniff and even lick my hand. They all followed me back to the gate because I was carrying the (empty) food tub. Pasture pump not working and they have now cleared quite a bit of the vegetation, Ashley Meadow seems to be prepared for their moving.

Friday 8th September

The cattle were all close together near the big bank of brambles at the north west end of the fen.

We initially  looked for them from the permissive path, but I had to go into the fen to check them.

All seven were eating and moving well. All were clean. 

Luckily the white one was too busy head down eating to notice me. The black ones were alert and noticed me but  decided I was harmless because I didn't go close.

The pump does not work, but the fen, even at the north end, is still very wet.

Richard and Elizabeth

Peter Manning | Tues 05 Sept

All 7 cattle present and correct around 8am, located from the gate. Went in with some cattle nuts in the tub. When the cream one saw me I just lifted the tub up so it could be seen, and up they all came to me. All knew what the tub contained, but the cream boss would not let others get near. All still quite nervous, but looked in fine health. Pasture pump just giving out a dribble of muddy water.

1st September

A warm but damp/wet morning around 8.30. The cattle were sheltering under the willow tree near the gate so we could see all 7. The white one stood guard eyeing us carefully.

They all look healthy and move easily.All 7 were clean, and their eyes seem fine viewing them with binoculars. They stayed closely together.

The white one stayed still watching us as long as we stayed by the gate, but moved slowly away when I took a couple of slow steps towards her.

The bucket of food near the gate looked untouched.

I checked the pump. The basin was full of water (rain?) but operating the lever seems to have no effect.

Richard

 I'm on the blog at last, after a good few years "lookering". Thanks Chris.

As everyone else has noticed, the white lady appears to be the driving force. Not sure about those horns.......
The others have been inquisitive as I have got nearer. All going well until the white one sees me and chases the others away. Hopefully the nuts will start to do the trick.

Still missing the British Whites - they eat a lot, too.

The pasture pump has been doing nothing for weeks. After a week of water, it became virtually silt, then nothing. Has anyone tried moving the hose/clearing it? I can't reach.

Last post mentioned the other pump we had in Ashley Meadows. Chris - is it still in there or available? Can we get the cows into Ashley Meadow, assuming it is simple to get the fence electrified again? It seems drier in there.

I have only found six animals so far - someone mentioned seven. How many are there supposed to be? Chris, when are the others coming that you mentioned? 

Peter Manning | Tues 29 Aug

Around 10:30 all 7 cattle eating in the centre of the Western Fen, in plenty of standing water. I tried the trick with a few handfuls of cow nuts in the bright flexy tub. Got within 50m and raised and shook the bucket. The cream one knew what it was, but was a bit reticent to approach. But she did in the end. I put the tub on the ground and she tucked in about 2m from me, but none of the others crowded around got a look in! And all this before I received the email from Chris. All still very nervous. But on my way there my welly got stuck in some mud and I fell. Good crop of stinky mud all over me! And plenty of horse flies to bite me. 

Pasture pump not working. Last year at Fishlake we had a second pasture pump in Ashley Meadow and that one worked well.

Friday 25th August

Cool, sunny, autumn morning. Luckily for us the cattle were near the gate so we could see them all without going into the fen. All were happily munching until the white one saw us and then they moved further down the field.

I checked the pasture pump out of curiosity. It does not work. Operating the lever produces a mere dribble of water.

Later saw the cattle again  from the permissive path .

Richard and Elizabeth 

Peter Manning | Tues 22 Aug

Around 10am cattle spotted from the gate, NW of Western Fen centre on dryish ground. Approached from the south so they may get driven nearer the gate and managed to get within 20m or so but scarpered west when the big cream one saw me. However an easy count to seven unlike other weeks! All looked in good health, but as usual not possible to get close enough. Fen very wet with standing water over much of the fen, slow going for humans with wellies! 

Pasture pump could no be considered working properly, 15 pumps to get a small amount of muddy water.

Friday 18th August

Opened gate just before 8 in very heavy rain, then walked to the western fen to check the cattle, hoping they would be near the gate.  Luckily for us, they were sheltering under the willow tree by the gate. All seven were there, crowded together.

Unsurprisingly, lots of big puddles on the paths. The stinging nettles were flopping over the path along the canal.

Walked back to the car park as the rain slackened. Stopped at the seat from where an Osprey was visible ( with binoculars) on top of a distant dead tree.

Met no-one the whole time. 

Rain stopped just long enough to shed wet waterproofs ( or rather not quite waterproofs) to get in the car before it bucketed down again.

Richard and Elizabeth 

 hi all,

thanks for all the updates.

i'm on leave now until monday. Any issues please contact the grazier directly. He will be down at the weekend to check as well.

thanks

chris

Peter Manning | Tues 15 Aug

Around 10:30 I spotted cattle in Western Fen from the gate, but approach closer than 100yds and they move on further into the undergrowth. Eventually managed to count to 7, the large cream one seems to be the boss! Disturbed what was probably a female Pheasant in the fen which flew off erratically. The fen is very wet especially in the centre where the cows generally are, some places nearly defeating my wellies. 

The pasture pump couldn't really be described as working properly, it took 15 or 20 pumps to get any water at all, and then it was very muddy. But there is plenty of standing water in the fen!

Richard and Elizabeth Friday 11th August 2023

Using binoculars at the gate, saw the white one and one of the black ones way down the fen near the eastern fence. Walked to  the pasture pump and checked it. Worked ok-ish. Lots of  water on the fen so the cows won't have a problem getting water.

Meanwhile the cows had disappeared. Followed the trampling and areas which  they had flattened, stopped and listened and could hear munching but could not see them. Eventually at first saw the white one and one of the black ones, then two more black ones.Could hear another one munching. After a little while they moved away quite quickly.

The vegetation is taller than the cows, and where they were the water was quite deep, so it was not possible to check them properly.

The white one is standing up in the photo and there should black one somewhere in it too.

Robin Findlay | Thursday 10th August

 Counted 7 cows ( 6 black and 1 white) at 5pm.  They were located at the north west corner of the field

I checked the pasture pump - it seemed to be functioning ok and the drinking basin was full of water

Robin Findlay | Wednesday 9th August

 I checked the Western Fen about 3pm as part of my normal walk round but did not see any of the 7 cows. Since Chris reported them earlier today ( and seen on previous 2 looks) I don't think this is an issue - I wasn't sure which field to look in so didn't do an exhaustive search.  Reading the other blog entries, it seems that they are proving hard to locate so not surprising I didn't see them.  Given the warmth of the afternoon they were probably lying down soewhere in the meadow.  Next time I'll walk round the fen and shake the tin of cattle nuts

Hi All,

I have updated the contacts on the right hand side of the page. Robins is on there now in case you can't get me.

Cows seem a bit skittish at the moment but should calm down. I'll get some cattle nuts and a bin and leave them in the corral area. That way you can shake a bucket at them and hopefully, checking will become easier. 

Thanks

chris

Peter Manning | Tues 08 Aug

Around 11am. The first cow hunt of the year! Wellies needed to go in parts of Western Fen, little chance of finding the relatively small cattle if all lying down! Luckily one stood up. But very timid, cannot get much closer than 100yds, so all you can do is count up to seven before they run off, legs are obviously working well! One cream one with big horns, rest black and one has a white face, 7 in all. Not possible to check ear tags, eyes etc. 

Pasture pump is working, but not very efficiently, I suspect air in the pipe to the water source. This seemed to be the same last year. Maybe there is a leak in the pump diaphragm or in the water pipe, and air is getting in. However plenty of standing water over large areas of the fen.

Sunday 6th August. Richard and Elizabeth

The cattle arrived this afternoon around 3.15 pm. The two men delivering them said there are 7 cattle.

We were at the bridge by pure chance when the truck arrived.

Richard and Elizabeth