Gorse Ulex spp.
Ulex europaeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Genisteae
Genus:	Ulex L.
Species
Ulex argenteus Ulex boivinii Ulex borgiae Ulex cantabricus Ulex densus Ulex europaeus - Common Gorse Ulex gallii - Western Gorse or Western Furze Ulex genistoides Ulex micranthus Ulex minor - Dwarf Furze or Dwarf Gorse Ulex parviflorus
Ref: ILDIS Version 6.05

Gorse, furze, furse or whin (Ulex) is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.

Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green stems and very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However it differs in its extreme thorniness, with the shoots being modified into branched thorns 1–4 centimetres (0.39–1.6 in) long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning photosynthetic organs. The leaves of young plants are trifoliate, but are later reduced to scales or small spines.^[1] All the species have yellow flowers, some with a very long flowering season.

Species[link]

The most widely familiar species is Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), the only species native to much of western Europe, where it grows in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils. It is also the largest species, reaching 2–3 metres (7–10 ft) in height; this compares with typically 20–40 centimetres (7.9–16 in) for Western Gorse (Ulex gallii). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposed Atlantic coastal heathland and montane habitats. Western gorse is replaced in the eastern part of Great Britain by Dwarf Furze (Ulex minor), a plant about 30 centimetres (12 in) tall, characteristic of sandy lowland heathland.

In full flower at Dalgarven Mill in Scotland.

Common gorse flowers a little in late autumn and through the winter, coming into flower most strongly in spring. Western Gorse and Dwarf Furze flower in late summer (August-September in Ireland and Britain). Between the different species, some gorse is almost always in flower, hence the old country phrase: "When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion". Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals, but weakly by others.^[2][3]

Ecology[link]

Gorse may grow as a fire-climax plant, well adapted to encourage and withstand fires, being highly flammable,^[4] and having seed pods that are to a large extent opened by fire, thus allowing rapid regeneration after fire. The burnt stumps also readily sprout new growth from the roots. Where fire is excluded, gorse soon tends to be shaded out by taller-growing trees, unless other factors like exposure also apply. Typical fire recurrence periods in gorse stands are 5–20 years.

Gorse thrives in poor growing areas and conditions including drought;^[5] it is sometimes found on very rocky soils,^[6] where many species cannot thrive. Moreover, it is widely used for land reclamation (e.g., mine tailings), where its nitrogen-fixing capacity helps other plants establish better.

Gorse is a valuable plant for wildlife, providing dense thorny cover ideal for protecting bird nests. In Britain, France and Ireland, it is particularly noted for supporting Dartford Warblers (Sylvia undata) and European Stonechats (Saxicola rubicola); the common name of the Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) attests to its close association with Ulex. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the caterpillars of the Double-striped Pug moth (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), while those of the case-bearer moth Coleophora albicosta feed exclusively on Ulex. The dry wood of dead gorse stems provides food for the caterpillars of the concealer moth Batia lambdella.

Invasive plant[link]

In many areas of North America (notably California), southern South America, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaiʻi, the Common Gorse, introduced as an ornamental plant or hedge, has become naturalised and is a weed and invasive species due to its aggressive seed dispersal; it has proved very difficult to eradicate and detrimental in native habitats.

Controlled burning of gorse in Devon, England

Management[link]

Gorse readily becomes dominant in suitable conditions, and where this is undesirable for agricultural or ecological reasons control is required, either to remove gorse completely, or to limit its extent. Gorse stands are often managed by regular burning or flailing, allowing them to regrow from stumps or seed. Denser areas of gorse may be bulldozed.

A whin-stone at Dalgarven Mill, Scotland, used to crush Whin for use as winter feed for cattle.

Uses[link]

Foods[link]

Gorse flowers are edible and can be used in salads, tea and to make a non-grape-based fruit wine.

Gorse is high in protein^{[citation needed]} and may be used as feed for livestock, particularly in winter when other greenstuff is not available. Traditionally it was used as fodder for cattle, being made palatable by being "bruised" (crushed) by hand-held mallets, ground to a moss-like consistency using hand- or water-driven mills, or finely chopped and mixed with straw chaff.^{[citation needed]} Gorse is also eaten as forage by some livestock, such as feral ponies, who may eat little else in winter. Ponies may also eat the thinner stems of burnt gorse.

Fuel[link]

Gorse bushes are highly flammable, and in many areas bundles of gorse were used to fire traditional bread ovens.^[7]

Common Gorse flowers

Gorse-based symbols[link]

The furze is the badge of the Sinclair and MacLennan clans of Scotland. Compare this with the broom (Planta genista) as the emblem and basis of the name of the Plantagenet kings of England.

Gorse in popular culture[link]

In Thomas Hardy's classic novel The Return of the Native, when Clym is partially blinded through excessive reading, he becomes a furze-cutter on Egdon Heath, to the dismay of his wife, Eustacia. In the book, the timeless, gorse-covered heath is described in each season of the novel's year-and-a-day timeline and becomes symbolic of the greater nature of mankind.

Its flammability rendered gorse symbolic as quickly flammable and quickly burning out; for example, Doyle, in his book "Sir Nigel" has Sir John Chandos say: "...They flare up like a furzebush in the flames, but if for a short space you may abide the heat of it, then there is a chance that it may be cooler... If the Welsh be like the furze fire, then, pardieu! the Scotch are the peat, for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of them."^[8]

Winnie-the-Pooh fell into a gorse bush while trying to get honey in the first chapter of the book of the same name.^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

• 'A Modern Herbal' (Grieves 1931)

The Furze are a British indie band from Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. The members of the band have been recording together for more than ten years, and the same line-up have previously performed under the name Kid Galahad. The band’s current name is a reference to Furze Platt, the suburb of Maidenhead where all the members hail from. Their eclectic music style has been compared to that of Beck and Jane's Addiction.^[1] The band have supported a number of prominent bands and artists at concerts around the world, including Kaiser Chiefs, Supergrass, Oasis, Kings of Leon and Elliott Smith.^[2] The band have bemoaned the lack of live music venues and outlets for local talent in the Maidenhead area, and as a result have invested in Denmark Studios in the town.^[3]

Kid Galahad[link]

The four band members met in 1997, whilst they all attended Furze Platt School in Maidenhead.^[4] The band honed their skills in live performances and homemade recordings. One of their early demos was given to long-time friend and DJ, James Lavelle, who championed the band to, amongst others, the independent, Ignition record label, whom the band signed to in 2000.^[5] Their recordings for the label were produced by Jim Abbiss (who had previously worked with The Music, DJ Shadow and UNKLE amongst others), and the band’s first studio release was the Stealin’ Beats EP in May 2001. As well as Abbiss’ work on the title track, this EP also contained two live tracks and an original demo recorded in lead singer Ash’s back garden. This EP was critically acclaimed and was made "single of the week" by NME magazine and BBC Radio 1.^[2]

Kid Galahad’s second release was the Where’s my Gold? EP in July 2001. Like its predecessor, this EP showed off the band’s eclectic style and mixed studio and live recordings, and was also given a single of the week stamp of approval, this time by MTV.^[2] Finally, a trio of limited edition EP releases was completed in November 2001, with the release of the Runaway Train EP. These releases also coincided with the band touring with bands such as Vex Red, Tetra Splendour and The Electric Soft Parade.

Kid Galahad’s debut album Gold Dust Noise was released on 20 May 2002. The album was critically well received, though some journalists regarded the album with a little disappointment given the strength of the EPs previously released.^[1][6] A further single “Swimming to Shore” was released on 10 June 2002 to promote the album, however the album failed to make the Top 100 on the UK album chart.

Spitting from Ignition records, the band took some time off to work on some new songs and the soundtrack to the film Happily Even After. These two albums were both released in 2006 on the Three-Sixty record label. The first album, The Bedroom Tapes, was released on 20th Feb 2006, and was described as "experiments in stereo recording".^[7] The film soundtrack was released later in June the same year.^[8]

These albums were released without any publicity from the members of the band, only a tongue-in-cheek statement on the record label website stating that the band had gone missing in Cornwall, “All that was found in the car was a pair of Wallace and Gromit Boxer shorts and a tape in the player of their Triumph Herald.”^[9] This story facilitated the transformation and relaunch of the band as The Furze.

The Furze[link]

To mark this re-branding of the band, just a month after the final Kid Galahad release, the first single by The Furze, "Carry me Home" was released on Three-Sixty records. This was followed in March 2007 by the single "I'm on Fire" and then the album Subterranean Kicks in May 2007. The press release suggesting the band had gone missing in Cornwall may have also have been a reference to the fact that the bend went to the Sawmills Studios on the banks of the River Fowey to record Subterranean Kicks.^[10]

Music use in other media[link]

• "Stealin' Beats" was used in the Konami PS2 game Dancing Stage MegaMix,^[11] that sold more than 500,000 copies world-wide.
• A number of Kid Galahad tracks were used in the UK comedy drama Teachers, including "Stealin Beats" (series two, episode two), "Distant Sunshine" and "Pack it In" (series two, episode five), "Runaway Train" (series two, episode eight), "I Don't Wanna Play" (series three, episode one), "Distant Sunshine" (series three, episode two) and "Swimming to Shore" (series three, episode four).^[12]

Current projects[link]

• In 2007 the band decided to put proceedings on hold to pursue new projects. Dave Ody released a solo album through Line Out Records called Geen and in 2008 formed the band Mothboxer with Phil Davies and Jon Hawes - ex Mother Black Cap and Robbie Burley - ex Pearl Kites. The band played a few select gigs in London and the South East in 2008 and 2009
• The Mothboxer debut album is currently in production.
• Singer Ash Bull, as well as running a successful Recording and rehearsal studio in Maidenhead, Berkshire, formed a new band - Me And The Beast, featuring Wooky on drums as well as singer Carly Cunningham and Damien Bidmead on Bass. The band are currently gigging around London on a regular basis and are working on their debut album.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

As Kid Galahad

• 2002 - Gold Dust Noise
• 2006 - Happily Even After
• 2006 - The Bedroom Tapes

As The Furze

• 2007 - Subterranean Kicks

Singles/EPs[link]

As Kid Galahad

• 2001 - "Stealin' Beats EP"
• 2001 - "Where's my Gold? EP"
• 2001 - "Runaway Train EP"
• 2002 - "Swimming to Shore"

As The Furze

• 2006 - "Carry me Home"
• 2007 - "I'm on Fire"

References[link]

Colin Furze - photo by Richard Insall

Colin Furze is a plumber, stuntman and filmmaker from Stamford, England. He is currently the Guinness World Record holder for the World's Largest Bonfire^[1] and World's Longest Motorbike.

^[2]

On 13 March 2010, Furze uploaded a video to YouTube of his converted scooter. This had a flame thrower on the back which could shoot flames up to 15 ft in the air.^[3] On 25 March 2010, Furze was arrested by Lincolnshire Police, for possessing an object converted into a firearm, however, was released on bail without charge until 6 May 2010. This was Furze's third attempt, as the first did not ignite and the second burst into flames.^[4]

On 14 October 2010, it was announced that Furze had converted a mobility scooter which can reach 71 mph to try to enter the Guinness Book of Records. It took him nearly three months to build and has a 125cc motorcycle engine.^[5]

He appears as one of the experts on Gadget Geeks, the Sky1 series that focuses on technology and gadgets, that aired in January 2012. ^[6]

Notes[link]

• WORLDS FASTEST MOBILITY SCOOTER

References[link]

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Marsden, Liam (October 24, 2008). "Friday funny: World's longest motorcycle record broken". Motorcycle News.
3. ^ Direct Bikes Scooter Flame Thrower Colin Furze. DirectBikes. March 13, 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UNr1XClnec. 
4. ^ The Daily Telegraph (March 27, 2010). "Flame-thrower scooter owner arrested". The Daily Telegraph.
5. ^ The Daily Telegraph (October 14, 2010). "Man builds world's fastest mobility scooter". The Daily Telegraph.
6. ^ "Gadget Geeks - Our Inventors". BSkyB. 2012. http://sky1.sky.com/gadget-geeks-our-inventors. Retrieved March 18, 2012. 

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Mark Furze
Mark Furze
Born	Mark Furze (1986-05-07) 7 May 1986 (age 26) Orange, New South Wales, Australia
Height	5ft-11
Website
http://www.myspace.com/charger_

Mark Furze (born 7 May 1986) is an Australian actor and singer who is best known for his role as Eric "Ric" Dalby on the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away. Mark played the role of Ric from September 2004 to July 2008.

Career[link]

Furze has starred in several productions by the Orange Theatre Company, including Oliver!, where he played the lead role at the age of ten.^[1] His first TV appearance was in the children's television program Outriders^[1] followed by a role in the film "Balmain Boys". At the age of 14 Furze had found himself an agent and landed a role in Water Rats.^[1] He took part in It Takes Two, a celebrity singing challenge, and was partnered with Rachael Beck. The two came 3rd overall. Furze participated in Soapstar Superstar, filmed in Manchester, England. He appeared also in the movie 'Jessica' as the son of the main character. He was listed in the annual Cleo's Most Eligible Bachelors list in 2006, but failed to win. In his free time he likes skateboarding and playing soccer.^[1] Apart from acting Furze also has a passion for music. Currently(Jul '09), he is the rhythm guitarist and lead singer in the band "Falcon Road", following the collapse of his previous band, Charger; he writes most of the band's songs.^[1] He was also seen in the video clip of Guy Sebastian's single 'Elevator Love' in 2006 playing Bass guitar.

Mark left Home and Away on 24 July 2008 to pursue his music career, though his character was not killed off, keeping fans' hopes of seeing him in the show again, alive.

Mark will appear in Underbelly 3: The Golden Mile as Trent.

Soapstar Superstar[link]

Furze appeared as a contestant on the UK TV show Soapstar Superstar.^[2] The series aired on 5 January 2007.

The fourth performance of the series was Supreme by Robbie Williams. Judge comments were somewhat mixed. Chris Cowey thought that Mark was "onto a sticky wicket" with his song as people would compare it to Robbie Williams' version. Michael said Mark had a great voice and a great look, but agreed with Cowey that the song need Williams' showmanship to pull it off. Martine told Mark that he sang the song better than she thought he would, and told him that he "looked gorgeous". Billy commented to Mark that his performance was "great" and "the competition is in your hands".

The fifth performance was Tom Jones's It's Not Unusual. Cowey commented that the performance was "mega", Martine said Mark had taken the competition to a whole new level. Billy said that Mark reminded him of young Elvis Presley, and that the future was bright for Mark.

Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi was Mark's sixth song of the series, Judges Billy Sammeth and Chris Cowey said that the performance was on par with Bon Jovi's and that they would be proud of that performance. Michael felt that the key was too low, but that overall the performance was good.

On the seventh night of the competition Mark was given Luck Be a Lady, from the musical Guys and Dolls to sing. All of the judges agreed that this genre is not Mark's forte, but said his performance was good.

Mark's next performance was Jamiroquai's Canned Heat, a song which he chose himself. Martine said there are loads of good looking guys, singers and actors, but if you put them all together you get Mark Furze. Guest judge David Gest said Mark was simply great. Billy said Mark looks like a pop star. Cowey told Mark that if he continued with his past form then he would be in the final. After the end of the performances on the seventh show the judges told the remaining contestant that they would be singing three songs and would also need to learn a dance routine for one of the songs.

The three songs Mark had to perform were Kiss from a Rose by Seal, Billy Joel's Tell Her About It, and I Can Make You Feel Good by Shalamar. The judges comment varied but on the whole the comments were really positive, but they did comment that Mark's dancing could have been better, Billy Sammeth told him that he knows Mark can dance, as he did when he performed It's Not Unusual.

Furze finished third in the competition, after being beaten for a place in the final by Emmerdale's Hayley Tamaddon and Coronation Street's Antony Cotton.

Mark joined rock band "Shotgun Alley in Feb 2011. His 2nd performance with the band was as support to ZZ Top playing to a crowd of 20,000. His first single with the band "Eventually" re-recorded after the parting of the original singer was released in June 2011.

Falcon Road[link]

Following the unsuccess of Mark's previous band name Charger, his next career move resulted in the formation of a new band, Falcon Road, fronted by Mark with Kyle Manning on bass guitar. The band have released a music video for their debut single "Favourite Habit", which is available on YouTube. The genre is rock. Reports claim Mark wrote many of the songs' lyrics, whilst singing and playing guitar. The music video also features a cameo appearance from Todd Lasance, Mark's co-star from Home and Away. Falcon Road have a MySpace and a Bebo account for fans to leave messages on, along with upcoming tour dates and song tasters etc. Currently(July '09) no official website for the band exists. Mark has currently joined New Zealand's glam-rock band Shotgun Alley.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mark Furze at the Internet Movie Database

Kate Ritchie
Born	Katherine Ritchie (1978-08-14) 14 August 1978 (age 33) Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Years active	1986–present
Spouse	Stuart Webb (2010–present)

Katherine "Kate" Ritchie (born 14 August 1978 in Goulburn, New South Wales^[1]) is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away. She played the character for 20 years from 1988–2008. Prior to her retirement from the role, she shared the record (recognised by Guinness World Records) for the longest continuous role in an Australian drama series, with fellow original cast member Ray Meagher.^[2]

In addition to 20 years on Home and Away, Ritchie has also hosted various television events, appeared in commercials, a mini-series and an Australian film. She has also been involved with the Campbelltown Musical Society.^[3]

Early life[link]

Ritchie's parents are Heather and Steve, and she has three younger siblings – Rebecca, Stuart and Susan.^[4] Ritchie attended Campbelltown North Public School and Hurlstone Agricultural High School – the latter a New South Wales agricultural and selective school.^[5]

Career[link]

1986–2007[link]

Richie was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine Network–PBL mini-series Cyclone Tracy, starring Chris Haywood and Tracy Mann.^[6] Ritchie started working with Home and Away in 1987, at age 8. Production began in July 1987 (shortly before her ninth birthday) and it premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, Ritchie played "Nicole" in the ABC film Stepfather of the Bride.^[7] Whilst promoting Home and Away in the United Kingdom in 2006 with Mark Furze and Jodi Gordon, Ritchie appeared on The Friday Night Project and Loose Women, and appeared on interviews for Five and Five life.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, Richie was also a contestant on the celebrity singing competition It Takes Two, partnered with Troy Cassar-Daley. The pair placed fourth in the competition.^[8] She went on to co-host the second series of It Takes Two with Grant Denyer in 2007.^[9] In 2007 Ritchie joined Nova radio to co-host the drive show with comedian Akmal Saleh, replacing Matthew Newton.^[10] She was replaced in May by New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson.^[11]

In September 2007, Ritchie announced that she would be leaving Home and Away in mid-December.^[12] Her final scenes were filmed on 13 December 2007,^[13] and she last appeared on Australian screens as Sally Fletcher on 3 April 2008. Her UK demise with the same episode, was not long after the Australian with her departure being screened on UK terrestrial television on 12 May 2008.^[14]

2008–present[link]

On 14 January 2008, Ritchie began work on the Nova 96.9 breakfast show with Merrick and Rosso.^[15] Shortly after the 2008 Logie Awards Ritchie did an interview with Rove McManus on Network Ten, her first interview with another network since leaving Home and Away, thus making it her first television appearance since leaving the show. On 16 October Ritchie appeared on pay-TV, on the Merrick & Rosso Show.

In November, it was revealed that Ritchie would appear in the second series of Underbelly, as Judi Kane, the wife of slain 1970s standover man Les Kane.^[16] The series screened in 2009. This was her first TV drama role since leaving Home and Away. Throughout 2009, Ritchie continued her radio role on the "Merrick & Rosso and Kate Ritchie Show", and also starred in Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities as Judi Kane.

In 2009 Ritchie also became the face of Vaseline.^[17] It was announced on 7 November 2009 that Ritchie would host The 2009 ARIA Awards on 26 November, alongside actor and fellow "Underbelly" cast member Gyton Grantley.^{[citation needed]}

On 10 November 2009, Ritchie announced she would be leaving Nova 96.9's breakfast team and returning to acting.^[18] In January 2010 it was announced that Ritchie had been cast with a lead role in Nine's new police drama Cops L.A.C.. The series did not rate well and was cancelled after the season finale.

Personal life[link]

Ritchie started dating St George Illawara Dragons player Stuart Webb in 2008.^{[citation needed]} On 9 September 2009, it was announced that Ritchie had become engaged to Webb.^[19] On 25 September 2010 Ritchie married Webb in a countryside outdoor wedding in Tasmania.

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kate Ritchie at the Internet Movie Database
• Charena Media – Kate's Management
• Kate Ritchie Online