To whom & how should I report a field full of seeding ragwort?

T_K

T_K

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I have just walked passed a field on a footpath with quite a lot of ragwort in. It was all ready to seed and there were ponies in the field next door, only separated by a fence. I've been told that up until recently the ponies were in the field with the ragwort!

I have just spent 10 mins on the DEFRA site and could not find any information on how to report the landowner(the field is quite close to a farm).

Does anyone know the best organisation and the best way to get something done ASAP?
 
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You shouldn't, no offence but none of your business!

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Seriously???? How would you like it if your neighbour had a field full of ragwort that seeded into yours and then cost you hundreds of pounds to get rid? Or how would you like to lose a horse to liver disease? A slow and painful death.

Do you not realise the seriousness of ragwort? As a horseowner it is something you should ALWAYS be aware of....it is deadly to horses and can also affect humans long term.....maybe you should read up on it.....
http://www.natural-animal-health.co.uk/ragwort.htm

I'm shocked that anyone who has anything to do with horses would say something like that.
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The word 'clueless' comes to mind.
 
As far as I am aware, you can't complain on behalf of other landowners. The only way they will follow up the complaint is if you are the landowner that is affected.
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As far as I am aware, you can't complain on behalf of other landowners. The only way they will follow up the complaint is if you are the landowner that is affected.
frown.gif


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Well, my OH knows someone who has land a few acres over. I will see if he would like to lodge the complaint.

There are a few plants in the field the ponies are in...would this constitute a welfare issue and have more influence with the authorities?
 
T_K, by the time you fill in the paperwork, send it off and if you're very lucky, get a site vist by one of NE's field officers, there will be no evidence of there ever being ragwort in the field other than a few shrivelled stalks!
Basically they are not interested, too slow to take action and you'll need to badger them HARD at the first sighting of ragwort growth.
You'll also have a problem making a case unless you actually own, rent, lease or otherwise use land within close proximity to where the infestation is.
One of the biggest mistakes DEFRA did in my mind was to hand weed control issues over to Natural England. From my experience, the field officers may have brains to obtain their university degrees, but they certainly don't possess common sense and field experience!
Best of luck!
 
I had this query last year, when I kept driving past a field full of horses with ragwort in abundance. I rang the ILPH (as it was then) to ask for guidance and they sent me some leaflets and posters that I attached to the field gate. The horses were moved next time I went past but the ragwort was still there.
There is still a lot of ignorance about the dangers of ragwort so why not try this subtle approach?!
PS I know that there are various ways to 'rid' the fields of ragwort but I think that the only reliable way is to literally dig it up. Hard work but a lot cheaper.
 
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I had this query last year, when I kept driving past a field full of horses with ragwort in abundance. I rang the ILPH (as it was then) to ask for guidance and they sent me some leaflets and posters that I attached to the field gate. The horses were moved next time I went past but the ragwort was still there.
There is still a lot of ignorance about the dangers of ragwort so why not try this subtle approach?!


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Sounds like a good idea, I might print out some fact sheets and attach them to the gate. Thanks
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You shouldn't, no offence but none of your business!

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you not realise the seriousness of ragwort? As a horseowner it is something you should ALWAYS be aware of....it is deadly to horses and can also affect humans long term.....maybe you should read up on it.....
http://www.natural-animal-health.co.uk/ragwort.htm

I'm shocked that anyone who has anything to do with horses would say something like that.
confused.gif
confused.gif
The word 'clueless' comes to mind.

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I'm not clueless, i've just read a little more widely than you have.

Were you aware that the BHS have collaborated with SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) to produce a leaflet on the biodiversity value of ragwort, explaining that whilst we shouldn't have it in grazing fields for the sake of the health risk to the animals, total eradication is not necessarily appropriate/desirable.

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/uploads/Ragwort%20friend%20or%20foe%20FINAL%20July%2009.pdf


Personally, from an economic perspective I think total eradication would be nice, and the above leaflet is absolutely crackers - but you need the government to kick this off - look at all the seeding ragwort on our road verges and railways.

By all means if the field next to yours is heaving with the stuff and you're out every weekend pulling yours then TALK to your neighbour (maybe you could share spraying or something?).

IMO there are actually two separate issues. First is the welfare issue, which I would suggest might have some mileage, though i'm not sure i'd want that particular genie out of the bottle (once we start legislating against all risks to animals' health where does it stop?). The second is the old noxious-weed-spreading argument, but currently there's not much government support and I don't see how we can have a ragwort-offender witchhunt without it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You shouldn't, no offence but none of your business!

[/ QUOTE ]

Seriously???? How would you like it if your neighbour had a field full of ragwort that seeded into yours and then cost you hundreds of pounds to get rid? Or how would you like to lose a horse to liver disease? A slow and painful death.

Do you not realise the seriousness of ragwort? As a horseowner it is something you should ALWAYS be aware of....it is deadly to horses and can also affect humans long term.....maybe you should read up on it.....
http://www.natural-animal-health.co.uk/ragwort.htm

I'm shocked that anyone who has anything to do with horses would say something like that.
confused.gif
confused.gif
The word 'clueless' comes to mind.

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Of course the poster would know the dangers.

I think they were meaning that as it's not your horses in the neighbouring field, or who were in the field with the ragwort, that the authorities won't be overly interested in you complaining about it.

Education if often the main issue. My husband and in-laws had no idea what ragwort was or it's effects until I pointed it out to them....and they're farmers!

There is ragwort growing along the embankment to the motorway that cuts through our farm. No one does anything about it. All I can do is deal with any plants that come up in my field to protect my horses the best I can.

It's my responsibility to prevent my own horses having access to it, although it would be nice if the Highways Agency cleared it from along the embankment and central reservation.
 
I have to say that whenever I have seen it on verges and council land I have reported it to the appropriate council or authority and it is usually dealt with within a few days. I don't see the point in sitting idly by and then sitting by while the pony in the field dies a few months later - I'm just not that kind of person.

I myself have spent money, time & energy to keep my horses away from this risk and I think it is far from pointless.

Plus the welfare of an animal in need is the business of any animal lover when it is not being met by the owner..IMO.
 
[ QUOTE ]
You shouldn't, no offence but none of your business!

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This response flabberghasts me. Your follow up post was better, could have done with the whole thingin the first, TBH.

I think this attitude underligns exactly what is wrong with the system. IMO Ragwort should be everybody's business.
 
Pissing in the wind comes to mind, more laws and regulations than you can shake a stick at and still nothing gets done, of course when "horse tax" comes in this will all be sorted, won't it, won't it, won't it, won't it, won't it, won't it...............................................nobody listening, well suprise fekin suprise
 
Have to say think it should have been reported weeks ago long before it starts to seed but if no-one reports how do we know if the system works or not

I am in Scotland so system different but ''nagging'' over a few years has been taken notice of and some bad areas are much improved--still a long way to go though.
 
I can see why horse owners don't want ragwort in their fields - obviously - we spend days picking it out each year
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But, WE were the ones who decided it was a weed, the plant is not inherently evil!! It is very good for native wildlife and the cinnabar moth caterpillar.

The problem with ragwort is that it colonises very well, and grows competitivly on disturbed ground (like our other listed 'weeds' in england, spear thistle and docks) the problem being that it then tends to dominate areas (like roadsides) and not much else is able to grow.

Maybe some education is needed, but tbh, as its the end of the season so to speak, I don't know if NE would treat the case that urgently. Still might be worth a ring though, they might be very efficient in your area
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Your local County Council is responsible for prosecuting people who have Ragwort on their land. However, as the Council where I live (Powys) seems, yet again, to be growing it in bulk on the side of the roads (for a market which no-one else seems to be aware of!) it is a little difficult. Write to the Council - with a copy to your local newspaper, asking them if they are aware of this Law. Physician, heal thyself!!
As for the half-wit who says that "it is none of your business". I would like to see just how they would react if one of their equines died from Ragwort poisoning - it is not a pretty sight I can assure you.
 
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