Where to report Ragwort - Scotland

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Biscuit

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Following on from the Ragwort thread, I have noticed a lot of Ragwort this year along public roads as well as in fields used for horses and hay, and along footpaths. Is it possible to report this anywhere for it to be removed from a) public and b) private land?

It does not in any way affect me or my horse personally since she is on broodmare loan in a different part of the country - but I cringe every time we drive past these fields, looking at the horses nearby & thinking of some poor unsuspecting person who may end up with the hay. Also, ragwort along popular public walking routes is a bad idea also if a small child were to pick some?

This is in Scotland if it makes any difference.
 
The BHS survey doesn't ask if the ragwort is growing alongside hayfields, only fields containing grazing animals. Think they missed a big one there... And what about straw which may contain these horrid plants?
 
I think you'll find that DEFRA (Scottish Government -- Payments and Inspections) will only take action if (a) the ragwort is in danger of spreading to the land you occupy where you keep livestock and/or horses (Weeds (Scotland) Act, or (b) it is likely to be grazed by livestock (animal welfare).

Other than the above, they will claim that "it is providing valuable habitat for insects such as the Cinnabar moth".:rolleyes:
 
Who to report to in Scotland:

Land--privately owned --nearest SGRPID Office
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/AOcontacts/contacts

Roads--Trunk Roads and Motorways Highways Dept--Transport Scotland

Country roads and non-trunk roads local council

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/03104249/0

''Enforcement
25 The Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate can take enforcement action under the Weeds Act where ragwort poses a high risk to horses, livestock, the production of conserved forage or other agricultural activities. Where a potential problem is identified contact should first be made with the owner/occupier or relevant body responsible for the land on which the ragwort is growing to attempt to resolve the matter informally, before contacting the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate. Organisations that control or own land are listed in Table 2.''
 
Thank you for posting this helpful advice.

We drove past the fields again today and it is heartbreaking, one field with horses is absolutely full of ragwort, perhaps a 100 plants in a small field. I have never seen that many in one place. I honestly cannot understand why these people have horses, if they don't bother.

Another field close by which also has horses is covered in buttercups plus a fair few ragwort plants on top.

And a third field with is a little better but still has at least 10-20 plant clusters.

I am thinking I might go out there tomorrow, take a few photos and find the exact location on a map so I can better describe it, and then start reporting it. I have no idea who the owners may be but I'm less than impressed :-(
 
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