Sycamore-deadly poison alert

[Catherine]

There are a number of trees called a sycamore.

The tree that is causing the problem is a European species called Acer Pseudoplatanus. It is also called Sycamore Maple and it is in the maple family. That makes sense. The winged seeds are very much a maple family trademark.

The North American Sycamore is called Platanus Occidentalis and it is a different family of trees. I am guessing that this is not a poisonous species.

There are studies being done that link the sycamore to the horse illness.
http://www.beva.org.uk/news-and-events/news/view/438

It seems you have got it right when you suggest that the illness was not linked to the tree before. Some years there must be more seeds than other years. How would you ever hope to remove the seeds from a horse pasture. Better to be careful of the trees themselves. After all they were introduced and so do not belong in England. I understand that Australia and New Zealand have problems with the tree spreading as a "weed " tree.

I hope warning horse owners will at least help protect their horses.