Friday 29th August. Richard

On my own today.

Ashley Meadows  Both cattle alert- they saw me stumbling through the meadow from a long way away from them. Both standing and eating. Looked clean. The pump works ok. The fence just about works. I had to touch it to find out: got only a small shock.

They were on the Western side about 3/4 of the way from the fence.

Western Fen The three cattle were together all standing and eating a long way south of the gate. All three  clean and alert. Pump works ok.

Richard 

David's Non-Check Thurs 28th August. Important observations & public comments for Managers -nothing to do with cows!

 Sorry All, but I twisted by ankle yesterday, and still hobbling today.

I decided to try, and walked up to both enclosures.

However, no cows were visible from the gates. I decided that the ankle would not hold up, nor do me any favours, by struggling around in the undergrowth to find the cows. So, I returned without finding them.

Again, I have to report a lot of dog poo in very many places on the canal path. I bumped into quite a number of walkers, some with dogs, who were all complaining about the amount of poo being left on the path. there were also a lot of dogs running around, a long way from owners, too.

I was asked by a few people to try and get something done about the poo, and some signage that is significantly more evident ie much larger specific signage, to instruct dog owners to:

a) keep dogs on a lead - I did point out the tiny print on the new signs, which raised a few laughs as to whether anyone would notice.....

b) to pick up the poo and put it in bins. Comment was also made about bags pf poo being left around too.

These are all things that I have raised in the past, along with other complaints from people - and me too, about cyclists using the Reserve/Canal Footpath. It is not a cycle=path and signage must be erected, that is large enough to see. maybe they will not read it, but it gives us something to refer them to, as well as members of the public being able to, as well. If the signs are not put up, then there is zero chance of people actually being aware that it is not a cycle path.
two other users of the path also said that the poo bin by the car park is extremely smelly and unpleasant o use. One mentioned finding another method of opening for the bin/another bin, that did not involve having to lift a lid to deposit poo. Not my field.

I said to all that I would report these issues, again, as I had raised them before. 

In summary, we have a lovely area that is being trashed and made unpleasant/ dangerous to use, by a few irresponsible people. The area is also becoming very overgrown, and viewing both the canal and the Meadows from the Canal Path is becoming very difficult.

I am hoping that someone reading this blog, in authority, can take on board these public comments, have a discussion with me, and let's draw up some plans to deal with all the issues. It needs to be done.

Friday August 22nd

Arrived before 8 am.

The two in Ashley Meadows were at the south west corner quietly eating. Both clean and well with only a few flies on them. Pump.and fence both working well.

Heavy dew on the grass. I got quite wet from the knees down.

For the western Fen, I put on my overtrousers. In the Fen, the cattle were not visible from the gate but once by the pasture pump we saw one standing over to the west.  Walked over: it was alone there.  Found another one alone behind the north end of the bramble bank. Then found the third one at the south end of the bramble bank. All quietly eating, clean and untroubled by flies.

Elizabeth checked the pump which  works ok. Standing on the platform gives a useful higher view of the fen.

I needed the overtrousers. They were running with dew from the thighs down by the time I got back to the gate.

Richard 

David's "They know it's Thursday" Check

 A pleasant sunny evening and temperature. Nice new pedestrian gate coming off the canal path into the central path toward Ashley Meadow. Let's hope the vandals don't trash this too!

Ashley Meadow.
Yep, they know it's Thursday evening. Right up the north eastern end. Both appeared well. Pump and fence all working OK.

Western Fen.
The message hadn't got through on timing. One was actually at the pump, trying to get water out. The other two were a bit further up the eastern side, doing what the Whites do. All seemed OK, although the one by the pump had a lot of flies on him. We appreciated less of a safari through the fen, to find them today.

The pump was flowing some water, but the boy was having to repeatedly push it to get much up to suck out of the reservoir. I moved the pipe a bit and gave it about 8 full pumps and it seemed to flow a bit more, before he had another go. Quite a bit of air in it, although the other end of the pipe did seem to be in the water.

Do these things have non-return valves on them at the reservoir end of pipe??

My larger shirt has not appeared......

Robin Findlay | 20th August

 Ashley Meadows  2 cows near the pasture pump at 9:15am this morning.  Checked electric fence and the pasture pump

Western Fen 3 cows along the eastern side of the fence close to the gate at the south east end about 10am this morning.    All 3 cows were lying down which made them tricky to spot until I was very close.  Fresh cow pats close to the pasture pump.  There seemed to be an air lock in the pump as it wasn't pumping at all  well.  However, I left it for a while then had another go - seemed to pump better then and I could fill the resevoir

All 3 cows look healthy :-)

Jo 20th august

 Checked cows, all well with working pasture pumps and fences and either munching away or sitting. 

Monday 18th August

 Keith checked cattle, all well, update is in the wardens blog.