How do I go about getting something done about ragwort

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teasle

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There is a field near to where I keep my horse that has not had a crop growing on it for 8 years or more. It is now infested with ragwort. I am cross about the amount of ragwort on my horses field this year, and we work hard to clear it every year and I think that we are getting the ragwort from that field. The trouble is I have no idea who owns the land, it does not seem to be part of any farm ,its just like wastland that people walk dogs on nowdays. What can I get done about it and how do I go about it. Thanks in anticipation of your replies.
 
Your local council would be the first step i think , they would probably know ( or could find out through land registry ) who owns the plot , then it would be up to them to get it cleared , i'm pretty sure it ( rag ) is a DEFRA banned weed so the sooner it gets dealt with the better. I too have had the same prob and i've already fulled two large buckets with rag rosettes already this month...good luck
 
Thanks Paddy Irish ,but do I just walk into the council offices or does anyone know which dept i should ring, or should i ring defra, and how do I describe where the field is? 3 and 4 years ago the field I use was infested with ragwort, we worked like crazy to clear it and were rewarded by only a little ragwort 1 and 2 years ago, so I am not best pleased about the amount I have to clear this year, I make myself dig up a bag of rosettes every day before I take my horse out of the field to ride.
 
Contact Natural England who are the enforcing agents. Make you sure you do it soon though as it is a long and tedious process before anything actually gets done. They have to give the land owner sufficient time to clear the land so don't let the ragwort get anywhere near to flowering stage before reporting it as it would have gone to seed before any action is taken.

Be prepared to take lots of photos and plot the land onto maps showing where your land is in relation to it.

There a lot of forms to fill in so don't be put off. If you don't know who owns the land it may take longer but contact Natural England and they will talk you through the process.
 
As far as I know there aren't any control enforcements. I think this one's a myth
unless there's new laws.
 
The Weeds Act was amended in 2003 to allow for the enforcement of ragwort control. It is classed as a pernious weed.

If the field is owned by the council the have to ensure effective control of the ragwort. If it is privately owned then it will be more difficult.

I would get in touch with your local MP and DEFRA and possibly ask the local paper if they would consider running a story about the risks it poses to both human health and animals, not everyone is aware that it is toxic to humans aswell.

Good luck.
 
Natural England followed up a complaint I made against a neighbouring landowner. The owners were made to clear up their ragwort and thistles.
The system does work but it is a laborious process.
 
The Weeds Act 1959 empowers the Secretary of State to take action to prevent the spread of Common Ragwort and the other four injurious weeds covered by the Act (Creeping or Field Thistle, Spear Thistle, Curled Dock and Broad-Leaved Dock). Common Ragwort is the only one of the five specified weeds which is harmful to equines and other animals.

Natural England, on Defra’s behalf, investigates complaints about ragwort and the other injurious weeds where there is a threat to land used for keeping or grazing of horses and other animals, land used for the production of conserved forage and other agricultural activities. In all cases, Natural England would expect the complainant to have made contact with the owner/occupier of the land on which the weeds are growing to resolve the matter informally, before making a complaint to Natural England. Complaints can be made to the following Natural England offices:

•Reading Office: 0300 060 4994/4995
•Cambridge Office: 01233 533588
•Worcester Office: 0300 060 1278/1631
•Leeds Office: 0300 060 4180
 
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