Increase in butterfly and insects

[aland]

When we were recently ragwort pulling around the outside of wheat fields we noticed a huge population of butterfly's, bee,s and other creatures, farmers are now encouraged with money of course, to leave a uncultivated strip around the outside of planted fields, this is a really good idea as with no doubt there is more wild flowers for these insects and they are on the increase this will mean in turn the birds even seed eaters such as gold finches etc these love the large thistle heads, how long this will be kept up i do not know but for now this is working, aland,

[Jason Green]

Hi Alan,

Excellent. I'm glad these areas are allowed to remain! As untidy or overgrown as it may look to some, these areas have huge insect populations. Often, the longer they remain the higher the insect density I find. I often find Ragwort to be a huge attractant.

Have a look around at what insects are there - you may find those that are particularly beneficial; then tell the landowner how important the area then is, and how they will obviously benefit him/her.

[aland]

Hi jason, we have to pull the ragwort it is a illegal plant and it kills animals such as horses, you can be prosecuted if caught with it on your land although councils let it grow on verges, any way i love bees and it is nice to see that there is more food for them and the other insects, we are in an age that is very anti weed and i have in the past asked our local council to defer cutting small corners of over grown weeds in seed just for the sake of goldfinch and green finch etc, they did just this, it was nice to stand and watch these birds feeding, aland.

[Jason Green]

I agree Ragwort shouldn't be left to remain in fields occupied by horses as it is poisonous to them once it is in the intestine. However, I believe it's a common misconception that the plant is illegal - it isn't as simple as that! The Weeds Act 1959 says:

Where the minister of Agriculture fish and food (in this act referred to as ' the Minister') is satisfied that there are injurious weeds to which this act applies growing upon any land he may serve upon the occupier of the land a notice, to take such action as may be necessary to prevent the weeds from spreading.

I don't think it would land a landowner or Council in court if they allowed it to grow where it isn't a problem! I think it's saying that if it is pretty invasive then you can be asked to control it - but if not then it should be OK, from what I've read. Maybe an interesting subject of a new thread

[Jason Green]

Read this... Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort: Yellow Peril or Precious Flower?

[Jenny W]

Originally Posted by aland

When we were recently ragwort pulling around the outside of wheat fields we noticed a huge population of butterfly's, bee,s and other creatures, farmers are now encouraged with money of course, to leave a uncultivated strip around the outside of planted fields, this is a really good idea as with no doubt there is more wild flowers for these insects and they are on the increase this will mean in turn the birds even seed eaters such as gold finches etc these love the large thistle heads, how long this will be kept up i do not know but for now this is working, aland,

Going back to your original post - it's so encouraging to see so many farmers these days taking an interest in wildlife and conservation. I've had the great pleasure in the past of working with many such farmers and the potential for wildlife friendly farms is immense. I hope it's only going to expand as well, as more and more farmers enter such stewardship schemes as ELS/HLS and others.

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by aland

Hi jason, we have to pull the ragwort it is a illegal plant and it kills animals such as horses, you can be prosecuted if caught with it on your land

Ragwort is not illegal and you can not be prosecuted if it is present on your land - it only kills horses if they can't recognize it - i.e. it's in a bale of hay.

From DEFRA:

Secretary of State may serve an enforcement notice on the occupier of land on which injurious weeds are growing, requiring the occupier to take action to prevent the spread of injurious weeds

I suggest you read this from DEFRA:Defra, UK - Farming - Wildlife and plants - Ragwort and injurious weeds and this from Buglife: Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort Fact File

[aland]

Hello jason, this was interesting reading on ragwort and i had guessed that it was robbing bees etc pulling it, But when you have six ponies to protect or if you have had to have a horse put down because it could not be saved then you have no options but to make sure that it is removed before it seeds, the seeds can travel a long way in the wind, bumble bee,s are the one insect that i love to have about and i would not want to limit them for food, aland,

[Jason Green]

Of course you wouldn't, totally understandable

Given the importance of the species though and the various dependancies, I just didn't want someone without horses to come across this page then tear theirs up thinking they'd go to court over it! More reading... Ragwort - Is it as bad as you think?

That said, I am in agreement with Jenny over farmers - they have so much land it must be great what they get to see if they're into it like us!

[Beekeeper]

Certain insects depend on different species of flowers, i have a ragwort growing in my garden right now, i do try to cut off the flowers before they seed but even so they come back every year in the same spot but at least the Cinnabar Moth is happy.

BK