Saturday 30th March

At last a gorgeous dry day on the hill with the views looking amazing framed by the bright blue sky and little fluffy white clouds. The ponies were resting by the corral and were startled when I arrived but quickly settled down. They were all in good condition, everything as should be, with Kat being first to say hello followed by the cheekiness that is Flam. 

Went for a wander around the site, and it looks lovely in the sunshine and even saw quite a few butterflies (mostly Brimstones) and heard lots of frantic birdsong. 

Wednesday 27th

Ponies were on the main track, about a hundred yards down from the clump of big trees. They were lying down and looked fine. Troughs full. Got home before the rain.

Tuesday 26th March

So it looks like no welfare check on the ponies for 2 days now so was glad to see them munching away in the tufted grass area close to the main entrance water trough. I'm sure Fiona would remind us all that, if a day is missed then it's vitally important that the ponies are checked the following day, and if that's not possible to please call the main office (the number is on gates). Anyway enough of putting words in Fiona's mouth, it was quite humid on the hill, but it was forecast to rain in a bit. The ponies were looking good, very relaxed and seemingly fit as a fiddle. Wandered up to the top end of the site, checked the Elm enclosures for nibbling (none thank goodness), then followed a part of the Butterfly transect. To my surprise spotted 2 butterflies on my stroll, although they took me by surprise as I wasn't expecting to see any. Finished my short walk just as it was starting to spit. 

Monday 25 March

 Water troughs full, muntjac seen but I did not see the ponies today. I did not have time to scour the site today. 

Saturday 23rd March

Changeable weather this morning, one minute gale conditions, then gorgeous spring sun and finally blooming hail shower! Ponies were towards the entrance end, trying to make the most of what sun there was. Flam and Doune were having a relaxing Saturday morning lie in. They all looked good, eyes, ears and all other bits looking healthy and well. Troughs also okay. 

Flam with her lovely locks waving in the breeze!

Checked on the new trees and protective fences, and looks like they are holding up nicely so far. There was evidence of pony presence, but additional damage. 

Walked around the boundary (during the sunny time) and my Merlin bird app was telling me there were loads of Common Chiff-Chaffs, with the odd Wren, Robin and Bull Finch thrown in for good measure. It even detected Pheasant, although I had worked that one out for myself. 

Friday 22nd March

Work party day on the Hill today, so before I started went to say hello to the ponies. They were looking well, grazing nicely and looking pretty relaxed. We were working nearby so they hung around for a bit, keeping an eye open for opportunities for mischief probably. 

Today we were building protective fences for some new Elm trees, to stop the ponies nibbling at them before they have a chance to thrive and grow. And amazingly (and frustratingly) once finished, Flam managed to stretch her neck over the top and chew off the top of the tree! She literally waited only 5 minutes before attacking. This prompted much hair tearing out and lots of head scratching and a solution was implemented which will hopefully stop them being nibbled again. Watch this space!

Flam supervising the work.

Thursday 21st March

 The ponies were trotting towards the corral when I arrived, and they stopped briefly to check I was OK. I was, and they were too.  Good to see them looking dry rather than bedraggled after rain.  The western trough was full and OK.  I didn't check the other trough.

Wednesday 20th

The 3 ponies were  by the fence, a bit up from the clump towards the east gate. looking well, calm. Both troughs full. Saw about 4 or 5 partridges taking off from the shrubs near the bottom trough.

Tuesday 19th March

Another dismal day on the hill with drizzle and stiff breeze. Flam and the Gang were at the eastern end of the hill once again, indulging in picking leaves off the bramble bushes and neck rubbing on the newly installed posts. Despite the nagging drizzle they were well and in good health and condition.

 

Monday 18 March

 A slightly misty day but not cold. The ponies were near the top of the site and seemed well. The troughs were full. 

Saturday 16th March

A late visit today, due other Trust commitments, so tried to find the girls before things got too dark. In the end it was a lovely early evening, with the ponies up the far east end for a Saturday night. They were looking good, but a bit surprised to see me. Flam came over for her usual salt lick (my sweaty hand). No issues though they were moving well, no signs of any injuries or anything and were very happily grazing away. On the way back spotted the muntjac again, tried to stay low, but must have been upwind as he (or she) trotted off pretty sharply. 

Fri 15th March

Ponies were up by the eastern entrance when we arrived for the task today. Managed to spot Kat taking a poo which was great timing as we have wanted to get her poo tested for worms (she is a little skinnier than Doune and Flam), so her poo was bagged and then taken off for testing by Lottie today! Anyway, other than that they all seemed in great spirits today, inquisitive and head in the tea kit and volunteer bags as usual. They'd been having a grand time bark stripping the chestnut posts we had left on site, but that's fine! By the end of the day they'd fully lost interest and gone back to grazing on the grass up by the top fence, lovely bunch! Can see evidence of their bark stripping all over the site now..

Thursday 14th March

 A damp start this morning, but the ponies were fine, and using the posts around the water tank at the eastern end of the reserve as scratching posts.  Otherwise, they were not doing much.  Water levels in troughs also fine.

Wednesday 13th March

 All 3 were up by the top gate, looking ok. Both troughs were full and there's still some lick on the corral fence. 

Tuesday 12th March

Dull but warm on the hill today. Spotted the rapidly disappearing back end of the Muntjac, as it nipped back into the scrub. And half way up the main path were signs of a major kafuffle, which then seemed to result in running, judging by the deeper hoof prints. 

Kept going and the ponies were grazing up by the fence on the Morestead Road at the top end of the site. They seemed happy, slightly bedraggled again, but not too bad. 

I was contemplating their bare elbows (?) on the back of their front legs, when a really large lorry came through causing the ponies to panic a bit. Kat was too busy watching the lorry whilst also heading straight at me at high speed, but luckily disaster was averted at the last moment as she spotted me and initiated a sliding swerve around me (it wasn't that close really, but for artistic impact...). 

They soon settled and returned to munching away. 

I also noticed there was a lot of wood by the fence line, not sure where it's all come from, but looks like it's been nibbled to pieces. 

Monday 11 March

 The ponies were grazing happily near the top of the site. All appeared well. The troughs were full. A very dark fox with an almost white brush was hunting and rabbits made off. 12 hen and 2 cock pheasants plus a partridge were running around. It clearly is a healthy location. 

Saturday 9th March

Another lovely day on the hill, the ponies were up along the main path near the eastern trough. They were cheekily licking and nibbling at the posts left from yesterday. Flam and Kat stopped when I arrived, but Doune kept on bark stripping. Doune has been a bit defensive of late, so not sure if something has happened. Is she okay with everyone else? 

But they all looked good, no signs of any concerns with ears, eyes, nose, etc. 

Walked the hill today, down the steep bit and around the bottom path, all the work that's been done this year has made such a difference, so much more light and space and created some really nice little glades. Stopped at one of these and watched the lake, saw a fox in the Southern Water field, lots of gulls, coots and other kinds of ducks. Think there was a Shelduck down there, but it could have been a Shoveler. I think the morale of this tale is the longer and harder you look the more different things you see 😁.

Friday 8th March

Was on the hill with one of Fiona's work parties so checked in on the ponies on the way. They were on the tussocky area quite near to the main trough (which was full). They were looking lovely in the early (?) morning sunshine and their coats were totally gleaming. They were all good, a bit standoff-ish, with Doune definitely not interested in any form of interaction. 

Thursday 7th March

 Lovely morning, but the ponies had decided to hide.  After scouring the entire site (as I thought), I finally located them lying down between the main top track and the Morestead Rd, roughly level with the beech copse, but completely invisible from the track.

Kat got up to say hallo, but the others looked very drowsy.  All well, and both troughs full.

In my lengthy walk round the site, the yellowhammer was singing nicely. I found a roe deer long before I was able to locate the ponies.  And 3 raptors overhead - a vociferous buzzard, a silent sparrowhawk, and a calling kestrel which then perched on the Dongas side of the road.

Wednesday 6th

 3 ponies were by the top trough, all fine, both troughs full.

Tuesday 5th March

Soggy day, but as luck would have it the rain stopped just as I arrived. For reference they only had the road closed from just above the motorway end layby, so I probably think it would be possible to park there. 

No sign of the ponies initially, but as I started traipsing up the path they came galloping towards me, then past me and onwards, in a blur of brown and tan. I kept going up to the eastern trough to check if there was anything up there that might have spooked them, but all was quiet and no sign of any vans or workers, so maybe they were just stretching their legs. Not sure if that's normal behaviour?

Wandered back down the main gate and found them walking back up from the lower path. Flam stopped for a quick sniff and then they started eating the hedging around the recently chopped clump of trees. But they seemed well, soggy, but obvious negative effects of their run.

Southern Water were out in the fields below, looks like either clearing or extending their filtration channels, so hopefully the lake is aquifer water rather than....

Monday 4 March

I managed to get through before they closed the road. The ponies were half way up track and were bright and moving freely. I saw 6 pheasant hens on way up. The troughs were full and gates all in good order. 

Saturday 2nd March

A bit chilly this morning with the ponies milling around the corral and Flam up by the trough eating bush. Kat was enjoying the salt lick whilst Dounce was having a very satisfying scratch on the nearby sheep hurdles. Their coats were still a little damp, but they were drying off nicely. 

I also thinks it's kind of Doune to keep the briars in her hair as it makes identification much more certain and quick, she's pretty determined to keep them despite no ends of persuasion. 

They all looked in good shape, moving freely, alert and attentive. No cuts or abrasions, bare patches or anything. Rears were nice and clean (ish) and ears and eyes quick to respond to movement and my constant chattering to them (which for some reason they showed very little interest, rude).