|
|
Post by dalesponyrider on Oct 11, 2012 19:46:23 GMT -1
My Dad showed me this letter in his Times:- Sir, The claim by G. Smithers (letter, Oct 8) that the public and grazing animals are being let down by councils and landowners who are indifferent to the spread of common ragwort was typical of the hyperbole surrounding this native flower. The Ragwort Control Act of 2003 does not force landowners to control the spread of common ragwort; this can only be done via a specific order served on a landowner. Ragwort is only dangerously toxic if eaten in very large quantities. We are unaware of nay properly confirmed livestock death from ragwort in the past decade. A few plants of this native species along public rights of way cause no harm and help to support our declining populations of bees and other pollinators. MATT SHARDLOW Chief Executive Buglife (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust)  Perhaps we could concoct a reply? ;D |
|
|
|
Post by maggie on Oct 11, 2012 21:54:17 GMT -1
 It's outrageous Linda, and there's more and more of this opinion about - much like the explosion of blurdi ragwort!  Yes, the letter does deserve a strong response, I'll give it some thought after I've calmed down a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by valerie n scout on Oct 11, 2012 23:00:20 GMT -1
sadly the landowner at the back of us falls into this catagory..the field is overun by ragwort ! he simply cut the edges this year and left the middle as this was where the worst of the ragwort is !!!
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Oct 12, 2012 4:57:48 GMT -1
Yes, Maggie's right, there seems to be more and more of this sort of dangerous, wooly thinking around. And yes, lets get a good reply together.
|
|
|
|
Post by zeldalithgow on Oct 12, 2012 5:39:19 GMT -1
What a fool I'm sure I've read a report about how even a small amount of skin contact (pulling up a few plants) with ragwort and the toxins can be found in our liver - it's too early in the morning for proper brain work ;D |
|
|
|
Post by greydales on Oct 12, 2012 8:14:08 GMT -1
'A few plants growing along public rights of way' - I've never seen so much ragwort ever as I have this year - fields and fields of it and all along the verges . I pulled more than 20 plants out of my winter field this year and I've never had any before in the time we've lived here (more than 8 years) so that indicates to me it's a growing problem which seems to be ignored. |
|
|
|
Post by harleydales on Oct 12, 2012 10:01:57 GMT -1
If the plant is threatening Agricultural land, or causing an infestation on agricultural land, then DEFRA or SGRPID (the dept of Ag) can step in IF they recieve a formal complaint, and if the landowner doesn't comply, they can send in contractors to control the weeds and reclaim the moeny.
However, weeds on council land inc roadsides and railways, derelict land and other non-agricultural land are not covered by the Weeds Act.
|
|
|
|
Post by Debbie on Oct 12, 2012 14:31:54 GMT -1
everyone should be doing their part to get rid of it. They won't actually mobilize fully until a kid drops dead from the stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fi on Oct 12, 2012 17:40:51 GMT -1
what fools. the ragwort problem is getting worse and worse each year. I agree, a response would be very appropriate. Most people probably have no idea how nasty ragwort is.
|
|
|
|
Post by DalesLady on Oct 13, 2012 3:47:29 GMT -1
The stuff is lethal and all too common. I went for walk in Peak Naional Park last Summer and was horrified to find the yellow hill we were climbing towards was in fact acres of ragwort. Buttercups would have been bad enough but so sad to see this plant so out of control.
And I don't believe this plant should be described as native. Its not indigenous to these shores. Some Victorian collector brought it back from Asia to somewhere like Kew I think. Can't remember exactly but it was on a gardening programme a few years ago.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2012 12:53:54 GMT -1
Yes, Maggie's right, there seems to be more and more of this sort of dangerous, wooly thinking around. And yes, lets get a good reply together. How do you know it is woolly thinking? What do you really know about ragwort? What technical literature have you read about ragwort toxicology? ( I have read plenty. )I suspect like a lot of people that from what you say, supporting as it seems to do the rather uninformed beliefs here, that it is based solely on what is written in the horsey press. I am afraid to say the quality of the jouranlism there is often lamentably bad. The postings on this forum illustrate excellently the number of myths that are in circulation. I suggest looking at a few websites for better information. Ragwort FactsHow many of the myths from this page did you believe? Common myths about ragwortWe have seen several repeated here. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2012 12:57:56 GMT -1
What a fool I'm sure I've read a report about how even a small amount of skin contact (pulling up a few plants) with ragwort and the toxins can be found in our liver - it's too early in the morning for proper brain work ;D This is a well-known urban myth. If you look here it is thoroughly debunked by two experts including one with a PhD on ragwort Ragwort poisoning through skin absorption. Fact or Fiction? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2012 13:01:50 GMT -1
The stuff is lethal and all too common. I went for walk in Peak Naional Park last Summer and was horrified to find the yellow hill we were climbing towards was in fact acres of ragwort. Buttercups would have been bad enough but so sad to see this plant so out of control. Actually it has been properly and scientifically surveyed by the government. Ragwort is DECREASING in the Uk. It isn't a good idea just to believe experts but do you believe that the Chief Executive of a large nature organisation would make such an elementary mistake as to not know the status of the plant he is discussing when he writes to the Times? The fact is that Common ragwortm the plant under discussion is a NATIVE PLANT! If you believed this one myth, which is commonly distributed on the net, how many other things that you believe about ragwort are wrong? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2012 13:03:50 GMT -1
what fools. the ragwort problem is getting worse and worse each year. I agree, a response would be very appropriate. Most people probably have no idea how nasty ragwort is. How do you know that is it sa nasty as you believe? What proper scientific information have you read on this issue as opposed to just reading magazines and newspapers? |
|
|
|
Post by NFK Dumpling on Oct 13, 2012 13:30:13 GMT -1
If it isn't nasty why does The Ragwort Control Act of 2003 exist?
Which of our native bees or other pollinators are reliant on Ragwort as opposed to other wild flowers which are not toxic to livestock?
|
|
