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The Chase closed after dozen cows guided there while roaming free through Woolton Hill




Are you missing 14 cows?

The Chase in Woolton Hill is currently closed after more than a dozen cows roaming free in Woolton Hill and Highclere were guided there.

A local resident shared images on social media of a herd of cows standing in front of a property nearby, looking thoroughly out of place.

Cows on the moove having escaped their field (Pic: Emma Weston-Green) (56972024)
Cows on the moove having escaped their field (Pic: Emma Weston-Green) (56972024)

It is understood the cows were then directed to The Chase to keep them off the roads.

The nature reserve has now been closed by the Vyne Estate team, which manages the site on behalf of the National Trust, until the situation is resolved.

Concerns were also raised on social media that the new cows in were "quite aggressive and skittish", and in the time that the reserve remained open, several people were chased.

It took hours to clean up the mess (Pic: Emma Weston-Green) (56972022)
It took hours to clean up the mess (Pic: Emma Weston-Green) (56972022)

A spokesperson said: "These cattle are not National Trust or Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT).

"A local resident was trying to help two farmers unknown to us and found a way of putting them in to The Chase without our knowledge.

"It was not something we would agree to had we been informed.

There were already a handful of cows in The Chase
There were already a handful of cows in The Chase

"As soon as we were made aware this morning (Sunday), both the National Trust and HIWWT rangers have been working together to resolve the unknown ownership of the livestock.

"Our NT volunteers acted swiftly to shut the site last night on our behalf.

"Our ranger is on her way over to ensure the site is closed with correct signage until we can remove the livestock that do not belong to us.

The site has been temporarily closed
The site has been temporarily closed

"Sadly, we will have to close The Chase for public safety until the livestock have been reunited with their owner."

The spokesperson added if anyone "knows someone who is missing 14 cows, please do let us know."



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