Volunteers required
- 6 August 2012 17:55186267don't all rush at once, w.c.c.p are looking for volunteers in dover particularly aycliffe to check on the dexter cattle currently grazing there.
been doing a bit myself over the past year and enjoy it thoroughly, can be a little tiring with the hills but the exhilaration gained from the fresh air and wonderful views more than makes up for it.
as we all know the grazing cattle and ponies are integral to ensuring that plants, butterflies etc thrive.
"lookering" entails checking all the cattle are there, seem to have no obvious problems, reporting damage to gates and fences to w,c.c.p. fly tipping to our esteemed district council, dogs bothering the animals to the police/dog warden and checking that water troughs are not empty.
if anyone looking in is interested or knows someone that would be interested please ring 01304 241806 and everything will be explained in more detail.
- 6 August 2012 20:12186302i forgot to add photo courtesy of paul sampson of w.c.c.p.
thanks yet again paul. - 7 August 2012 08:00186325Oh..that is a 'blindin' picture. Love that one bigtime.
Paul if you are looking in, send that one over to me with a bit of info and I will put it on the frontpage. It might take a week or so..so dont make any info too time sensitive as have a few guys waiting re frontpage...
But well done Howard..showing us that pic. Love that one. And well done the man with the camera himself.
email: dover7@msn.com - 7 August 2012 11:32186352i was told that the new arrivals were very nervous.
this chap looks me up and down and decides whether to trust me or not.
apparently not.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 August 2012 16:04186359must be your carizzma howard.
- 7 August 2012 19:25186380saw a bloke up there today looked very much like you brian, had a family size jar of horse radish with him.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 August 2012 19:33186381couldn't of been me howie,run out of horse radish sause.will have to get industrial size jar next time. - 9 August 2012 00:22186504Hi Howard. We took my grandaughter up today and the cattle were there but hiding in a group of trees half way down. We didn't go down to them in case it frightened them but they had been up to the fence because they left their calling cards there! We will go up again though so she can photograph them on her new phone to show her friends.
PS Love your photos above - they're lovely!There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok". - 9 August 2012 08:30186526thanks jacqui they were hiding in a bush when i saw them yesterday.
- 10 August 2012 15:44186736a benefit to volunteering is the spectacular views, these were taken from st martins battery on a misty day.
the fields over at aycliffe offer outstanding views of the shakespeare cliff on one side and the port on the other.
- 22 August 2012 11:38188101you would think on a lovely sunny day they would be out in the open, not this anti social bunch though.
- 22 August 2012 15:44188113Ah the poor things, they are probably not quite acclimatised to local conditions yet...and are clearly enjoying the shade above. Grand pictures as ever Howard. Wonder if Jacqui managed to get up for a better look.
email: dover7@msn.com - 22 August 2012 15:49188114Dexters are highland cattle PaulB - probably hiding from our heat down south Been nice knowing you :)
- 22 August 2012 16:02188118i don't think the weather is a problem, they normally seem to enjoy it. in my view the reason that these are so shy is that there are only 3 of them, normally at least double that.
- 22 August 2012 16:10188124Great photos Howard - well done.
Maybe they heard Brian was on his way up there and are hiding.
Roger - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
22 August 2012 17:39188132roger,chainsaw has gone in for a m.o.t,and besides they are nice animals.i used to get dexter from a farm shop out alkham vally way. - 22 August 2012 17:41188134i knew at some juncture we would discover that you had eaten some of our local animals brian.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
22 August 2012 17:44188135howard,it did come from a farm shop,so not so local as the ones in my backyard so to speak.
ps.very nice meat if you like it. - 6 September 2012 19:13190361still looking for volunteers, aycliffe and maxton especially.
i got a reminder a few minutes ago when i put the milk bottle out and spotted this group in the field at the top of my road, earlier they were the other side of clarendon field. they may be short and on the chubby side but they can move when they want to.
- 7 September 2012 06:31190397I had a phone call from a chap (won't disclose his identity of course) who thought the Konig ponies and Dexter cattle were dangerous to children - especially when spooked or frightened by them.
I agree that some yobbish behaviour towards the horses and cattle could provoke them, but common-sense should surely prevail and everyone will continue to enjoy their presence up there.
Roger
