Aberdeen Angus Cattle on Portsdown Hill, Spring 2004
On February 6th, 2004, we released 6 Aberdeen Angus cattle, firstly onto the compartment above the Portsdown chalk quarry.
The cattle belong to a local farmer, who is trading the service of grazing for the feeding of his stock.
It is a perfect match, and we hope it will be a long-term solution to grazing management on the hill.
The cattle stayed until April 1st. All the cattle and ponies were moved off the hill on that day, before Easter holidays began.
Having been enclosed for the winter months, the cattle did not stay around for their photos to be taken
Evening Sun
Morning Sun
Having set out early to break overnight ice from their water trough, I wondered over to find the morning cattle - who are now getting used to me :-)
March 3rd
Having spent the past 10 years (since 1994) fencing the area east of Porchester Common, and dividing it into 10 'compartments', March 3rd was a major event.
Richard and Tim finished the last gate of compartment 5, then we herded the Aberdeen Angus through from 'compartment 4'.
Today was the first day that cattle had grazed in compartment 5 since Richard's grazing program began. He was inordinately excited about it :-)
Only 2 compartments now remain, being 6 and 7, before the whole of the hill has been fenced to allow grazing.
Finishing the last gate
Herding cattle from 4 to 5
hmmmmmmmmmm
cattle entering compartment 5
new territory
the grass is greener this side
March 4th, 6 more Aberdeen Angus were put on the Hill.
