Sycamore seeds

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AWinter

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Has anyone else had a nightmare with these awful winds? Our closest tree is way down the end of the drive, I walk the horse’s area twice a day and maybe find 5/6 seeds a week. Well last night we had 50mph winds and I must’ve picked up 300 seeds this morning 😩 so stressful, keeping a close eye on the horses. How do people cope with them closer than this in their paddocks? I see people penning the tress off but surely that does nothing if you get strong winds.
 
I have a sycamore tree nearby. I spend hours in the autumn picking the damn things up. It has yet to start shedding. Went out after the storms at the weekend but only found 5. Praying for a north wind so that it sheds all over the garden of the people who own it. About half an acre of the field I rent at great expense is fenced off and unusable because of it.
 
Depends how potent the seeds are. They can travel a long way and can also sometimes be found in hay. One seed can kill a horse.
 
Kaylum said:
Depends how potent the seeds are. They can travel a long way and can also sometimes be found in hay. One seed can kill a horse.
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That is very scary if one seed can kill a horse. I would be genuinely interested in seeing the research that shows this so that I know how worried to be about the seeds.
 
Kaylum said:
Depends how potent the seeds are. They can travel a long way and can also sometimes be found in hay. One seed can kill a horse.
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Most horses won't eat the helicopter seeds but some will eat the seedlings that grow in the ground.

I've watched mine in the field they won't touch either I've taped my field off and pick up what i can but being opposite a wood that is full of them, it's a battle and I've been here 12 years luckily without problems but it is a worry.
 
Is it your tree? If so I would cut it down and replace with a native species. It's amazing how far the seeds can travel in high winds!
 
Miss_Millie said:
Is it your tree? If so I would cut it down and replace with a native species. It's amazing how far the seeds can travel in high winds!
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They’re unfortunately not my trees, they’re at the other side of our house/driveway and then a 9 acre field, and still they’re blowing up the hill. I’ve picked up 12 more this morning.

We’ve only been here since spring but the other horses have been here for years with “no issues”, their owners don’t give a crap about the sycamore it’s all left to me.

I’m not sure on the “one seed can kill a horse” thing because how could we ever know that without doing extremely unethical testing.

My horses have adlib hay in nets and don’t seem to be munching any of the leaves on the ground so I’m really hoping they won’t ingest any that blow down while I’m not there. This is so stressful.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Most horses won't eat the helicopter seeds but some will eat the seedlings that grow in the ground.

I've watched mine in the field they won't touch either I've taped my field off and pick up what i can but being opposite a wood that is full of them, it's a battle and I've been here 12 years luckily without problems but it is a worry.
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This is somewhat reassuring, I’ve been to peoples yards where they’re all over the place and they don’t seem to worry, but it’ll be just my luck that mine eats one and dies. My horses have only been here since spring, the other horses have been here for years with nobody paying any attention to the sycamore and have been “fine”.
 
Marigold4 said:
That is very scary if one seed can kill a horse. I would be genuinely interested in seeing the research that shows this so that I know how worried to be about the seeds.
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One toxic seed / seedling can kill a horse. And their are reports of eating leaves being similar (lower level of toxin).

HOWEVER not all seeds / seedling / leaves have enough toxin in to kill a horse.

The amount of toxin is a lottery.

Testing seeds / seedling / leaves (RVC do this for a fee) doesnt provide much comfort, as different seeds / seedling / leaves on or from same tree can have totally different toxin levels.

You'd be unlucky if horse ate ONE seeds / seedling / leaf and it was enough to kill it. But it is possible. Even if no harm has ever come to horses grazing under same trees for decades.

Equally horses can eat seeds / seedling / leaves with low levels of toxin and come to know harm.
But you cannot know all your seeds / seedling / leaves are low toxin, some might not be.

It is a bit of a lottery.

I am surrounded by sycamore trees. Though we have less on the floor this year than last year.
 
Marigold4 said:
That is very scary if one seed can kill a horse. I would be genuinely interested in seeing the research that shows this so that I know how worried to be about the seeds.
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My friend's horse died and had no tress near her the vet said it was probably in the hay x
 
I have a couple near one of my fields and J just don’t use that field at this time of year. I have found that it’s more of an issue in the spring when seedlings emerge but I collect them up and mow the area until no more are coming through and then let the horses in that part. They always have plenty of grass but I am still careful.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Most horses won't eat the helicopter seeds but some will eat the seedlings that grow in the ground.

I've watched mine in the field they won't touch either I've taped my field off and pick up what i can but being opposite a wood that is full of them, it's a battle and I've been here 12 years luckily without problems but it is a worry.
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I think some horses must eat the seedlings as vets see cases of sycamore poisoning in the autumn? Good that yours don't though.
 
Miss_Millie said:
Is it your tree? If so I would cut it down and replace with a native species. It's amazing how far the seeds can travel in high winds!
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I would love to cut down the tree that spreads sycamore over my field, but it's in someone's garden that borders on to the field. They don't want to cut it down as it's so pretty!
 
Marigold4 said:
I think some horses must eat the seedlings as vets see cases of sycamore poisoning in the autumn? Good that yours don't though.
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I agree they probably do and I am surrounded by them but I closely observe my horses grazing every year because I do get seedlings in my fields.

I do make sure mine get ad lib hay all winter.
 
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