Ragwort at the roadside - who do I moan at?

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Eceni

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Drove up the A49 to SHrewsbury yesterday and saw a pretty good crop of ragwort flourishing along the verge, which was fairly depressing.

Anybody know who I should target and what's the best method to persuade them to do something before it all sets seed?

ta

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We had some growing on the central reservation of the motorway a couple of years back. Infact, it was covered in it.

We mentioned it to the local councillor who to her credit organised the Highways Agency to come and "sort it".

It's an offence for us, as farmers (and indeed anyone I assume) to allow Ragwort to grow within 100m of grazing animals. This is why we could get action on the motorway as our fields border the M6.

On areas where no animals graze closely, I'm not sure how easy it is to get a response.

If it was me, I'd contact DEFRA or the local council and advise where you've seen the Ragwort growing un-checked.
 
Ragwort isnt out yet - it will have been rape - looks very similar at speed
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I thought Ragwort was out because of the recent warmish weather we've been having. I'm sure I saw some ragwort the other day driving down a road.
 
It doesnt flower until June - I dont think it has even started growing yet. Rape seeds get everywhere and they are flowering - look very much like ragwort when zooming past at speed. It would be embarrassing to report Rape by mistake thats all.
 
I've noticed a couple of florets of ragwort in my fields (which of course I removed and burned). I am always checking at this time of year to get it before it properly grows, of course seeds.

Doesn't stand any higher than the grass in my fields at present but I have actually seen some ragwort growing on the playing fields at school. Properly grown and in flower. I was amazed.
 
I'm amazed too - perhaps it is milder down south (presuming you are down south) or maybe the mild winter didnt kill it off. I do think it is worth a closer inspection though because it isnt the norm.
 
I report to the local council last year regarding some ragwort, they kept me updated and it was removed very quickly........... Found an email address on the website for just reporting sightings of ragwort...
 
I was stood about two feet from the ragwort and as a farmer I'm very up on what Ragwort looks like and can distinguish it easily from Rape.
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I'm not down South. I live on the Cheshire Border close to Crewe. I was also shocked, because it's still at the little rosette stage in my own fields. I've not had any for two years (after clearing the handful of plants from the paddocks) and this year I've pulled up five little bits of it.
 
I didnt mean you silly - unless you were travelling at 70mph on the playing field
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Crewe is still a 'little' bit down South from me
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, but not really what I had in mind.
 
Now I have you on a playing field, on a pony at 70mph brandishing a ragwort fork like a jousting pole.
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Jar of home made chutney in the other hand (farmers wife!)
 
You can report ragwort to DEFRA, as stated and also to the landowner. If it is on a verge or central reservation it needs to be reported to the highwyas authority at the County Council - not to be confused with your district council (AKA local Authority). The only time the local authority would take action is as landowner if the ragwort is on their land.

I work for a local authority and spend loads of time directing people to the relevant authority. Also bear in mind that action would only be taken if there was a risk of the ragwort spreading to grazing land. Those of you who have had to deal with ragwort know that this could happen virtualy anywhere.

I ensure that no ragwort is allowed to seeed anywhere near my fields. The village must think |I am mad as I stop my car, hop out and pull up ragwort on the verges and I still found some on my lawn last weekend!
 
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Isnt it up to the local council to deal with this?

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You do realise I was only joking? I don't go around armed with a Ragfork on other people's land. Just my own.
 
Was chuckling to myself on the way home today as Benjy shouted "RAGWORT" as she saw some stray rape on the side of the road - deffo isn't ragwort time yet (as in grown with yellow flower).
 
Our council never do anything about it other than cut it with the grass and so spread the seeds...

TBH am getting sick of complaining to them about dog poo all over the pavements, recycling schemes being crap, yada yada yada...

It seems they couldn't care less...
 
I drove down A49 towards Ludlow last week, there are quite a lot of stray rape plants along there. However, in the summer A49 does have a lot of ragwort, they do send teams out to pull it but usually after it has flowered which is a bit late. I think the best people to contact are the council or highways agency, but could be wrong - I usually am!
 
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Isnt it up to the local council to deal with this?

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Not if you live in Hartlepool. Ours are crap. I couldn't even get a response from them about it.
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