Laurel leaves

[dave45]

Hacking down overgrown laurel hedge.. chuck the branches and leaves thru a gruncher... if you sniff the shreddies it smells of ....marzipan !

Do some googling and it turns out its cyanide! can I use these lovely shreddies safely as mulch? does the cyanide break down into useful C's and N's ?

[trinder]

I am not entirely sure but I think you have to be careful around livestock. In as much as when it's growing the smell or tiny nibble taste will put animals off but like ragwort once it is cut it looses it's bitter taste and animals will eat it.
Hope someone comes on soon to confirm this ......