‘Moove over’ – cows are back on the commons

Photographer Simon Pizzey rustled up these pictures of cattle back on Minchinhampton Common yesterday – Marking Day.

Marking Day is so called because it’s traditionally the day when farmers would bring their cattle to the common to be ‘marked’.

Once they could be identified, the cattle were set loose to roam as they pleased across the commons, after spending winter in the safety of the farm.

These days, the cows are marked elsewhere, but Marking Day has kept its name – and its importance in our rural calendar.

Pictures by Simon Pizzey

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