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Charity tea party begins!
Image: Arlene Phillips CBE
Credit: Blue Cross Tea Party
Celebrities design pet teapots for Blue Cross

The Blue Cross Tea Party 2013 has been launched by Made in Chelsea's Cheska Hull and TV star Arlene Phillips CBE.

The charity is holding its annual tea party on 10 May to raise funds for the sick, injured and homeless pets in its care.

Arlene and Cheska are two of many celebrities to get involved by designing their own pet-themed teapots, which will be auctioned online from 2-12 May.

Cheska said: "Ollie [Locke] and I had a brilliant time decorating our teapots and now I can't wait for the auction to start."

Arlene added: "My cat Romeo and dog Polly mean the world to me, so I'm lending my support to the Blue Cross Tea Party to help other pets that aren't as lucky."

The charity is encouraging people to join in the fun by bidding on the celebrity teapots on the Blue Cross website, and hosting their own tea parties to raise money.

Click here to find out more.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.