Sunday 31st May - All 4 seen

At 17:30 this afternoon, the cattle were grazing near ///choice.staked.flaunting at the far northern end of the site. They were enjoying the long grass and browsing on the leaves of nearby bushes. Steer 208 was initially grazing by the fence line, but soon wandered over to join the others. They seem to be getting used to my visits, taking it in turns to step forward, say hello, and give me an inquisitive sniff. Even the normally shy cow 201 came straight over to greet me.

After a while, steer 207 wandered off to graze in the thicket to the northeast, while steers 200 and 208, along with cow 201, formed a loose circle around me and began to relax and chew their cud in the late-afternoon sun.

All four were happy, relaxed, and in good condition, and were clearly enjoying the cooler conditions and refreshing breeze. As they stood quietly together, chewing their cud, they looked completely at ease and content. I said my goodbyes at 18:00, leaving them peacefully grazing in the evening sunshine.

Before leaving, I wandered round to check that there was still plenty of drinking water in the ditch.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday

 All found at 8.30 in the small area to the right of the entrance gate. All looking fine. 

Friday 29th - Staff Check

 All four cattle were chewing the cud and looking like they were enjoying a respite from blazing sun! All looking well, water levels still good in ditch

All 4 cattle well, water level in ditch good, open at weekends...

 I checked the 4 early this morning and all were looking well - grazing to the east of the pasture pumps.

The water level in the ditch is good, comparing it to a photo i took in mid- April, it hasn't dropped. Checking the sluice there's still a small amount of water coming through from the silt reservoir. The troughs of the pasture pumps were half full, so I filled them.

I've now heard back from the MoD and Test Track is open this coming weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and every weekend in June. It's not open to the public during the week. If you're willing to ring the MoD Operations Room on arrival and departure from site, just to say that you're checking the cows, that can be helpful. The number is: 07484 516900 and give them the military code for test track, which is B4d. 

The pre-arranged MoD opening/closure times are usually accurate but in case things change if the pedestrian gate is locked and the red sign is showing No Access, then please don't go onto Test Track.

Many thanks. 

8am, Monday 25th May, unfortunately gate locked

.

Sunday 24th May - All 4 seen

Shortly after 17:00 this afternoon, the cattle were gathered in the cool shade of the bushes near ///scored.yourself.reef at the northern end of the site. I suspect they had all been lying down and resting, but steer 200 got up to greet me as soon as he heard me approaching, while cow 201 stood peacefully in the bushes to the south. Before long, they had all got to their feet and started grazing in the surrounding area, enjoying a mix of long grass and leaves from the bushes. The boys all stepped forward to say hello as I made my way around checking on them, with cow 201 initially being a little more hesitant.

All four were content, relaxed, and in good condition, showing no signs of distress despite the intense heat. I said my goodbyes shortly before 17:30.

Before leaving, I wandered round to make sure there was still plenty of drinking water in the ditch.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday

 Couldn’t find them today and ran out of time after an hour at9am. 

Thurs 21st May - staff check

All 4 seen seen well grazing along the southeastern fenceline. Still plenty of water in the ditch.

Mon 19 May, forgot to say I did try and see the cows but was locked out again

.

All 4 seen & well Tue 19th May

Saw all 4 in the middle of the site today and all looked well. 

I checked the water level in the ditch - it's still full of water, and is particularly deep at the far end, by the stone culvert, c. 1 foot deep and a small amount of water is still coming into the ditch from the reservoir sluice. No cattle hoof prints by the pasture pumps unfortunately! but plenty of water in those too.

I have tried to obtain more info on when test track is open to the public from my MoD contacts, but no luck so far! But the usual access always used to be every other weekend, so I agree that it's not worth trying on Friday's.  

Many thanks.

Sunday 17th May - All 4 seen

Shortly after 17:00 this afternoon, the cattle were grazing in the thicket near ///reinstate.riches.punt, about 100 metres southeast of the Test Track. Light rain was falling, and they were all browsing deep among the bushes, but they soon emerged to greet me. Steers 200 and 208 approached cautiously at first, before settling beside me to relax and chew their cud. Cow 201 soon wandered over as well. Steer 207 was the last to appear and, after coming over to say hello, he rested briefly before returning to graze on the heather nearby. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

I said my goodbyes at 17:40 as the rain intensified once more, leaving steers 200 and 208, along with cow 201, huddled together resting and chewing their cud, while steer 207 continued browsing the leaves from the nearby bushes.

The cattle were all good today.

Note: I did attempt to check on the cattle on Friday 15th May at 18:00, but the gate was locked and the red danger signs were displayed. As this seems to happen every Friday, it’s probably best that I stop trying to check the cattle on Fridays.

 

Saturday

 All found at 8.30 just off the path near the pasture pumps although there was no sign that the cows had been using them. All looked good. 

Thursday 14th - STAFF CHECK

Found the 4 relaxing un a cleared area in the centre of the sote. All looked well.

Checked the new drinking troughs and both were ful and working. No idea if the cows are using them though.

Sean

2.30pm, Mon 11 May, gate was locked so couldn’t check on the cows

.

Sunday 10th May - All 4 seen

Shortly after 15:00 this afternoon, the cattle were gathered to the east of the reservoir, near ///elevates.destiny.shining. Steer 207 was lying down, relaxing and chewing his cud, while the other three stood under the trees. They occasionally rubbed themselves against the branches for a good scratch. After a short while, they slowly began edging forward one by one to say hello and give me a few sniffs. Afterwards, they drifted over to the area east of the trees to stand and chew their cud. About fifteen minutes later, steer 207 also got up, had a big stretch, and joined the others. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

The cattle continued to rest peacefully and chew their cud, occasionally wandering off to graze on the grass growing around the gorse. Around 15:25, steer 200 wandered over to where I was standing and seemed content to simply stand beside me while relaxing and chewing his cud. I said my goodbyes at 15:45, leaving them all resting.

As I was leaving, I checked the pasture pumps. While there were no signs that the cattle had been drinking from them, there was some debris floating on the surface of the water, so I gave both pumps a bit of a clean. There was also plenty of drinking water available in the ditch.

The cattle were all good today.

Note: I did attempt to check on the cattle on Friday 8th May at 18:00, but the gate was locked, and the red danger signs were being displayed.

Saturday 9th May - Pony Update - Betty Boo has had her foal

Nicky let me know that Betty Boo gave birth to a beautiful filly foal this morning, and I’m happy to report that both mum and her little one are doing well.

The foal looks absolutely gorgeous. ❤️

Saturday

 Gate was padlocked and red sign was up at 9am so I didn’t enter the site. No sign of them from the gate. 

All 4 looking fine

 Checked on the 4 today - they were near the gate into Test Track from Brock's Hill.

I checked the water situation: the ditch still has plenty of water in it and signs that they have been drinking from there. No obvious signs they're using the pasture pumps but of course they were no where near them at the time!

Thanks

11am, Mon 4th May, All 4 found easily with help of the No fence tracking,

Actually in the same place as Saturday along the fence line near to Miles Hill

W3W I|/class.reserved.reputable

They seemed to be resting amongst the trees, sitting down and looking dozy

Sunday 3rd May - All 4 seen

At 14:00 this afternoon, the cattle were grazing in the thicket just off the main path, around 130 metres southeast of the Test Track gate, near ///delusions.tunnel.lousy. They were enjoying a mix of long grass, gorse, and fresh silver birch leaves. After a short while, they drifted north into a more open area, where they stood to relax and chew their cud. Steer 207 soon lay down to rest.

The other three were more curious and slowly stepped around steer 207, making their way towards where I was standing. They initially kept their distance before cautiously stepping forward, one by one, to stand fairly close and chew their cud. I sat down on a patch of grass, and they gradually began to relax fully. After a while, all three settled down to rest.

I said my goodbyes at 14:50, leaving them all resting peacefully. They were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Before leaving, I took a walk to check the water levels in the ditch, and there was still plenty of drinking water available. There was no sign that they had used the pasture pumps, though.

The cows were all good today.