Are you a horse owner?

If you own, ride or work with horses, you may well be aware of the life-threatening condition, Atypical Myopathy (AM). With the wet and windy weather this season brings, the chance of outbreaks of this condition is heightened. Atypical Myopathy is caused by a toxin (Hypoglycin A) which is found in sycamore seeds, and has a high mortality rate of 75-90%. Wind and rain mean that these seeds can travel far distances, and put even horses who don't graze particularly near sycamore trees at risk. A message is being sent out to all horse owners to ask them to check their fields for sycamore seeds, even if there are no sycamore trees within the field. If any are found in fields with horses in, they need to be moved immediately and then the seeds cleared.

Symptoms of AM include: sudden stiffness, muscle tremors, collapse, colic-like symptoms, low temperature, increased heart rate and dark urine. For more information, click here to read the british Horse Society's advice leaflet.

Mr Fothergill's Nation of Gardeners Campaign

In the last issue of the Phonebox Magazine you'll have noticed a feature about the Mr Fothergill's Nation of Gardeners campaign, with an interview with the local representative for Buckinghamshire, Diana Herniman. 

We found out about the campaign and what it requires of it's 12 gardeners across the country, with the aim of discovering more about the way in which plants grow in different locations around the country, and how, where and when they grow the best. Diana had been discovering that many of her plants were the first to bloom and quickest to grow compared to the others, an interesting point if you're a gardener in the Olney area.

We've grown quite interested in the campaign, and have been following it's progress on the official blog. If you're a keen (or budding) gardener it's well worth keeping an eye on the progress, as you're more than likely to pick up some interesting tips. One of the most interesting and useful things being studied during the experiment, is the differences in growing certain plants in the autumn compared to in the spring, letting you learn from the experiment rather than having to risk your own plants.

Having seen how well plants have grown in Diana's local garden, it's pretty inspiring to try at home for yourself. Knowing that you can grow your own beans, garlic, fruit etc. and grow them in abundance, makes it seem well worth it! Think of how much you'll be saving from not having to buy certain things in the supermarket, not forgetting how much better home-grown foods are bound to taste. Why not keep track of the Mr Fothergill's Nation of Gardeners campaign while planting your own seeds? It's time to go green!