An excess of ragwort?

[Paul mabbott]

Travelling around the country, I've been struck by the amount of ragwort Senecio jacobaea around this year - in fields and roadsides. This in a piece of rough grassland near Clay Cross.


It doesn't seem so bad in the north but everywhere else it seems rather excessive - or is it just me? Could it be due to the weather or is it just becoming more abundant?

[paulchandler6]

Good point, I have noticed far more Ragwort around this year than previous. Hope someone can shed some light. Cheers

[aeshna5]

I've noticed a lot more fields like that this year than previously- a sign of more fields taken out of cultivation + where there is no active management to control this species.

[m1.carson]

Hi people,

Oh dear, I hope this isn't going to turn into another thread about ragwort, and.... never mind, check a locked thread.

Max.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I've noticed a lot more fields like that this year than previously- a sign of more fields taken out of cultivation + where there is no active management to control this species.

I don't know about cultivation - the roadsides are not cultivated and my impression, in the past, had always been that overgrowth relates to horse grazing. Now, as in the picture, it seems to be popping up everywhere ....

[Jez]

I have been clearing a 5acre fileld full of raggy this last couple of weeks with me bare hands. All most done! Theres some left hidden inbetween Christmas trees but i think i might just leave those for the cinnabar Moths!

[naturallandscapes]

Anybody pulling ragwort, should always where gloves for handling it. the best way to remove it is to use a tool called a lazy dog. Cutting it just encourages stronger growth the following year.

[Dan Salter]

Most of us know about pulling ragwort and how to handle it etc...i think the point here is why is it in such abundance this year? it has to be something to do with the strang weather we have had...
Jez watch those plants you leave for the cinnebars...id have them out just before they seed mate otherwise youll be back to square one next year.

I too recently read a report ( after plenty of summer days out pulling ragwort with the wildlife trust) that you should indeed wear gloves and probably dust masks as the poisons can get through skin and be breathed in...im probably too late and the damage is done but worth putting into practice for anyone who runs a volunteer group.

Paul im confused by your comment " Horse grazing causes overgrowth"? how do you eman?...obviosuly ideally you wouldnt graze horses in a field with ragwort present or do you mean that if a field is grazed by horses and not sheep...the horses leave it alone so it goes wild while the sheep graze it away controlling it ?

Dan

[Paul mabbott]

Don't know and don't have any statistical evidence but had noticed that ragwort did tend to grow best in horse pastures .... but that's anecdotal not scientific ... and certainly doesn't seem to apply this year.
I suppose that my casual observations would suggest that horse grazing encourages ragwort growth either by selectively destroying competitors of ragwort or by partially eating it while totally consuming competitors? Should be fairly easy to run some scientific studies ....
Cheers, Paul

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Paul im confused by your comment " Horse grazing causes overgrowth"? how do you eman?...obviosuly ideally you wouldnt graze horses in a field with ragwort present or do you mean that if a field is grazed by horses and not sheep...the horses leave it alone so it goes wild while the sheep graze it away controlling it ?
Dan

[Jez]

The pasture was grazed by sheep until we took the over the land and the sheep had to go! There were also to pigmy ponies that also had a paddock. since there leave i couldn't believe how fast the forna rocketed. maybe the sheep keep the grass down ideal for light to get to ragwort seed and free space for it to grow? Will crack on after your advice Dan. Fortunately since i'm asthmatic and long grass trigger's it off at times i have been wearing a mask regardless to any toxins-relief! Plenty of rain fall this year and a very hot summer last year indeed may have caused far more seed dispersal?