On 16/10/05 14:44, in article ,
"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
snip
Is it likely to be poisonous to horses, though? I simply don't know if
horses take a nibble at laurel, though I do know people won't use yew
hedging round horses. And a friend of mine's horse died after eating
acorns. ;-(
--
~~~~~~~~~~
Interestingly, the New Forest permits pigs to roam during the acorn
season to keep them from the ponies.
Yew foliage is exceptionally poisonous to all herbivores hence it being
planted in graveyards~away from animals. Yew trimmings thrown over a hedge
are tempting, and fatal, to horses and cattle. The seeds are even more
poisonous but the surrounding bright red aril is very edible~~ but do spit
out the seed!!
A few Pyracanthas will quickly deter any unwanted guests. Very sharp
thorns but will remain 'see-through'.
Have never had horses interested in laurel~just ignored it~ but a very
hungry horse will eat anything!!

I think the other thing the OP could consider is hawthorn. That could make
a nice dense, prickly, hedge.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)