Eco soundings' thoughts turn to the National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology at Brickley in Somerset which has been quietly - no, secretly - testing a GM maize crop called Sheridan.

If eventually passed and placed on the national seed list, Sheridan would be fed to cattle.

But has anyone asked the cows?  Somerset's finest are not waiting for a referendum.  The institute has had to write to the Ministry of Agriculture explaining that certain cattle got into the field and, er, 
trampled down the crop rendering the test useless.

So did the protesting cows like their new grub?  No question about that.  The institute reported that none of the maize was eaten.