A nationwide equine grass sickness (EGS) vaccine trial has begun, following the success of a small pilot trial last year. Animal Health Trust (AHT) is now enrolling horses and ponies onto the ground-breaking vaccine trial, which aims to determine the effectiveness of a Clostridium botulinum type C vaccination. The trust will recruit 1,100 horses for a trial over a two-year period. Horses must be from premises previously affected by a high incidence of EGS. The research team will compare the incidence of EGS between groups of horses receiving the vaccination and those receiving a placebo. For more information, see the EGS vaccine trial website.

To mark the centenary of World War One, ZSL London Zoo will be launching guided tours, to provide an insight into the history of the world's oldest scientific zoo. The tour will take guests on a trip from the beginnings of the Zoological Gardens in 1826, through its 188-year history, featuring figures such as Charles Darwin and Winnie the Pooh, to the modern day.

The 45 minute tours will be open to the public and take place from April to November 2014, on the last Friday and Saturday of every month. To book a tour visit www.zsl.org or call 0844 414 5728.

Image courtesy of London Zoo

A 12-year-old girl who relies on the help of an assistance dog for her day to day life, is preparing to compete in a mini wheelchair marathon.

Lottie Wilcocks, who love in West Yorkshire, underwent nine hours of major surgery after she was born and has since had brain surgery as well as orthopaedic,bowel and bladder operations.

She has spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and cannot feel her knees, shins or feet, and so she uses a wheelchair.

Her assistance dog Velvet from Dogs for the Disabled helps open doors, draws, switch on lights, pick up dropped items and puts Lottie's catheter in the bin.

Now Lottie, who hopes to emulate paralympic gold medalist Hannah Cockcroft, is taking part on the London Virgin Money Giving Mini Marathon on Sunday (13) for the charity.

"Velvet is my best friend. She comes everywhere with me and gives me confidence to do things couldn't do without her", said Lottie.

Velvet accompanies Lottie when training for road and track wheelchair races. Lottie came second in the Great North Run in 2013 and trains with Rochdale Harriers and Manchester Kestrels. Sponsor her here.

A hedgehog friendly garden has been been selected for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, the People's Trust for Endangered Species, and award-winning garden designer Tracy Foster are behind the summer garden, called Hedgehog Street, that will be at the show in July.

Hedgehog populations in the UK have plummeted by more than a third in the last ten years. One of the factors contributing to this is tidy, fenced-in gardens preventing them from finding shelter, food and mates.

One of the simplest steps gardeners can take to help hedgehogs is to team up with their neighbours to make a small hole in shared boundaries so that the creatures can roam freely.

Have you been qualified and working in practice for less than five years? If so, we would like to hear from you on how you adapted from vet school to working in practice and how you coped with managing difficult client situations, difficult clinical decisions and how you cope with the emotional issues of euthanasia - not just the clients but your own.

Email us on editor@mrcvs.co.uk

It is 23 years since Brighton's dolphinarium closed and its last two dolphins were released back into the wild. Marking the occasion, the world's largest whale-saving event begins in the town today.

During the event, which runs from today until March 16, a life-sized orca will tour Sussex and Surrey before being released into the sea, to promote the issues surrounding whales and dolphins kept in captivity.

The festival will be attended by co-founder of the Born Free Foundation Virginia McKenna OBE, as well as the charity's president Will Travers OBE, who are calling for an end to the keeping of whales and dolphins in captivity.

Captivity spokesperson for Born Free, Daniel Turner, said: "Brighton's emblem is the dolphin and where better to speak out for their greater protection. I know the people of Brighton will join us in calling for a dolphinaria-free world."