Am I right to report them to Defra???

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SecretSquirrell379

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I drive past this field every day and I've been trying to find the people who own the land but without any results. There were only 3 horses in the field today but there are normally at least 6 in there. I have printed off the form to send to Defra and printed off the pics. Am I right and do you think they will do anything?

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gosh n i thought one of our fields was bad ?(we are picking it daily) thats just a field of ragwort!!!!!!! lets hope they do do something it needed reporting to someone
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What???!!! Yes report them, I couldn't bear knowing that was going on. What are they thinking, or not thinking.....
 
I am amazed that they have not been reported already to be honest and I should of done it a couple of weeks ago
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I just kept thinking that someone would clear the field or report them. When I saw only 3 horses there today rather than the minimum of 6 I felt really bad, luckily had my camera in my bag and snapped away. I then downloaded the form from Defra's website and thought that I had better do it before one of the horses dies
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That is bad!We had three lumps in our field which was removed by my friend,that field is a minefield and will effect any surrounding fields, and how horses can be left in there to graze, beggers belief......I could not sleep at night! Yes, I would have reported it!
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Yes, report them to as many different authorities as possible.
That is an absolute disgrace. While you're about it, you could also lobby your MP,(which I have done in my area) to get the law changed. This is a copy of the e-mail which I sent to various bodies.

Sir - Re. widespread growth of ragwort:-

I thought I would do some research on the subject. Every summer I feel so angry, exasperated and helpless when I see acres of ragwort growing along our highways and on Highways Authority land. It also appears to be growing well on old airfields and army bases, in particulary the site used for the TV programme about re-training dogs and their owners. What is the point of the Ragwort Control Act, which came into force on 20th February, 2004, when those responsible for bringing it into force, are in fact breaking the law themselves. Surely the Government is directly responsible for breaking this Law, but no,

The New Act states: 'The Act does not make it an offence to permit injurious weeds (e.g.common ragwort) to grow on land.' But, 'Priority is given to complaints where: Weeds (e.g.common ragwort), are threatening land used for
keeping or grazing horses, and other livestock,
farmland used to produce conserved forage,
other agricultural activities.
I didn't realise until now, that the Act seems to have little, if any, power. The complaints form, available on the Defra website, is a forbidding four pages long. Enough to put but the keenest complainant off. And anyway, does anyone know of a conviction, yet?

It seems that as far as Government owned land is concerned, this new Law doesn't apply. After all, there are not likely to be horses grazed there, nor hay produced from it. The fact that the seeds can be airborne for quite some distance doesn't seem to be their concern.

As with Hunting, people need to be educated. On the BHS website there is a report on the Ragwort Awareness Conference, in which top vet Professor Knottenbelt stated that he was quite certain that 'Ragwort poses a threat to people as well as horses, sheep and cattle.' He said he could 'scientifically prove that ragwort was poisoning humans' - and still it sits there, a bright yellow glow, mocking us.

We caring horse owners, who nearly break our backs and sprain our wrists every summer pulling the ********* stuff up, seem to be fighting a losing battle. Whilst as long as the general public, from top government official, or railway commuter to countryside rambler, believe that it's a very pretty wild flower, then the new Act is a complete waste of time. It is not working.

One suggestion I would like to make to help pin-point offenders:
Defra used to use satellites to determine which crops were being grown by farmers, to make sure they tallied with their IACS returns. How about using them to recognise vast areas of ragwort? Just a thought!

I intend to send a similar copy of this letter to everyone who is in the position to do something about it, from my local MP, (a keen hunt supporter) to DEFRA and the like.
I hope it isn't a waste of time - but I feel that it is worth the effort. Perhaps your other readers could lobby their MPs etc. John Greenway's Private Members Bill was a good start but now it needs to be seen to be effective.. Sorry this is so long winded but we must do something positive - now!

We should all send a copy of this to every MP and Minister, the RSPCA, RCVS and BHS. Then perhaps they might take notice. It's worth a try.
 
Yes. And I had the same thoughts as we drove to & from Colchester on Friday, I could not believe the fields that were full of ragwort. But one of the worst culprits is the Highways, I cant believe they have not cut the verges, especially now that it is in flower.
 
I would contact ILPH as well. I think Defra are more interested in the spread of ragwort to neighbouring fields than the fact there are horses in there, but I could be wrong.
 
I have sent the complaint to Defra and I have emailed the IPLH as well. I feel really bad and a bit embarrassed that I did not report it last week, or even the week before but I did try and find out who owns the land (as Defra say you should) but it appears to of been sold on and no one is sure who too. I am going to ring the coucil this morning as well and report it.

I am in Colchester, Essex and your right there is a lot of Ragwort about, I will be speaking to the Highways people about that today as well.
 
Yes report them to DEFRA but dont hold your breath for a reply. you can find out who owns the land by getting hold of the land registry, it costs a few pounds but they will have all the details of the owners, past and presant.
 
The Defra stuff is already in the post but if they/IPLH don't do anything soon then I will find out who owns it from the land registry. I have just rung the Council, got transfered 5 times before we got to the right department and reported it there too as there is Ragwort on the roadside.
 
The best way to deal with the management of this field would be to take all the animals off it and spray the Ragwort three times over a period of 3 dry days. Let the Ragwort die off including the main stems and then either pull it up (using heavy duty rubber gloves and putting it in to a container or plastic bag to avoid the seeds falling on to the ground) or mechanically cut and collect it.

As Ragwort only flowers every second year and there will also be seeds in the ground from this and previous years then the same procedure will need to be carried out next year and probably for a further 3 years until most the ragwort has been destroyed.

From then on Rawort will still appear be it from seeds in the ground from the many years Ragwort has been allowed to grow in this field, airbourne by the wind or dropped by birds.
 
OMG i can't belive how bad it is don't feel bad about not reporting it sooner at least you are tring to do something now and that is the main thing i hope someone takes notice!!!
 
ha, thats about the condition of a field i rang to complain about and the misery guts guy that was on the phone was snotty and asked me what i wanted HIM to do about it?!
not bothered again
 
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