Contaminated Manure Hits Local Allotments and Gardens

6.19.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Local allotment holders have been hit by the impact of horse manure contaminated by an herbicide. The problem has occurred all over Britain and was recently discussed on the BBC radio programme Gardeners Question Time. Allotments in Hampton are amongst those reported to be hit.

Essentially what has happened is that horses have eaten grass contaminated with an herbicide, aminopyralid. The weed killer has passed through the horses gut into manure and then into the gardens and allotments. It is killing crops when manure is used as a fertilizer.

Vincent Cable, MP, has written to the agriculture minister alerting him to the problem and suggesting the herbicide is withdrawn while the problem is sorted out: "some local allotment holders are seriously worried about this problem and have alerted me to it. It is a good illustration of how careless use of chemicals can spread through the food chain in unintended ways. Although cultivators are aware of the problem I don't think the government is and it will need to ban the chemical temporarily while the problem is assessed, then sorted out".