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Peter - I have consulted that great oracle of our age, Wikkipedia.com, and it informs me that, quote, 'The leaves, twigs, branches, seeds and roots contain a cyanide inducing glycoside (a glycoside being something which gives rise to cyanide as the metabolism processes it). Ingestion can cause a toxic build up of cyanide in the body'! It goes on to state that 'herbal teas made from an infusion of leaves should be treated with great caution as it can also cause a build up of cyanide'. Maybe that's where I got my notion of an insecticide from but it has nothing to say on that matter. The flowers and the berries seem to be okay although I do remember being warned not to eat too many of the latter as a child, probably becasue they were considered a laxative! Anyway, I hope the flowers and berries are okay as I am very fond of the odd glass of cordial myself!

Sadly, Wikkipedia also advises that kids should be discouraged from making whistles or peashooters from the stems for the reasons mentioned. Bit late for me I'm afraid. If that is true then I should have died from cyanide poisoning at an early age!