Some more Yellow Flower/Plants

[Pippa]

I am speaking regarding the experience we had in our village that's all and as i have said there was an abundance of it left too.I suggest you take your concerns to the councils who pass out all the red tape regarding this plant and not individuals who simply obey the law.You could start with Sunderland in the North East.

[watsthat]

Originally Posted by Pippa

I am speaking regarding the experience we had in our village that's all and as i have said there was an abundance of it left too.I suggest you take your concerns to the councils who pass out all the red tape regarding this plant and not individuals who simply obey the law.You could start with Sunderland in the North East.

Hi Pippa,

Its not Neil`s responsibility to contact anyone. It seems he is doing everything possible to bring the true facts into the public domain. We all share the responsibilty and as concerned naturalists and wild life enthusiasts, we should all make it our business to find out the true facts.

Cheers

Pete

[Pippa]

I am quite happy with the information supplied by Defra.

The Defra Code of Practice issued by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on how to prevent the spread of common ragwort aims to define the situations where there is a likelihood of common ragwort spreading to neighbouring land where it will present an identifiable risk of ingestion by vulnerable grazing animals.

Under the Weeds Act 1959 the occupier of land should take action to prevent the spread of common ragwort.

The Code does not seek to eradicate ragwort as it very important plant for wildlife in the UK as it supports a wide variety of invertebrates and is also a major source of nectar for many insects , but to prevent its spread to areas that pose a high risk of poisoning to livestock in fields or areas used for the production of forage.

If things have changed then fine.

That's all i have to say regarding ragwort.

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by leifus

soo...its dangerous to have ragwort in a field that gets cut for hay

Wasn't sure on my earlier post but yes extremely so.

[Neil Jones]

Originally Posted by Pippa

I am speaking regarding the experience we had in our village that's all and as i have said there was an abundance of it left too.I suggest you take your concerns to the councils who pass out all the red tape regarding this plant and not individuals who simply obey the law.You could start with Sunderland in the North East.

Sunderland council have got it wrong! On their website after mentioning Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed they say.

Other noxious weeds include creeping thistle, spear thistle, ragwort
and Himalayan balsam. Please note it is an offence to knowingly allow
or encourage the spread of these species.

This is simply not true. There is no law that says that landowners automatically must control ragwort. It is totally mixed up and muddled.

This is not uncommon. Councils and even government bodies repeatedly get their facts wrong.

[Neil Jones]

Originally Posted by Pippa

I am quite happy with the information supplied by Defra.

The Defra Code of Practice issued by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on how to prevent the spread of common ragwort aims to define the situations where there is a likelihood of common ragwort spreading to neighbouring land where it will present an identifiable risk of ingestion by vulnerable grazing animals.

Under the Weeds Act 1959 the occupier of land should take action to prevent the spread of common ragwort.

The Code does not seek to eradicate ragwort as it very important plant for wildlife in the UK as it supports a wide variety of invertebrates and is also a major source of nectar for many insects , but to prevent its spread to areas that pose a high risk of poisoning to livestock in fields or areas used for the production of forage.

If things have changed then fine.

That's all i have to say regarding ragwort.

Actually it seems you didn't get this directly from DEFRA. It matches exactly text on the Kirklees council website. Again it is misleading.
There is no automatic obligation to control ragwort placed on landowners under the Weeds Act, so it is incorrect to say that under it landowners should control ragwort.

Under extreme circumstances landowners may be ordered to control it but in the absence of an order there is no legal obligation. This legislation was ignored until recently when the campaign of misinformation started.

DEFRA's guidance contains a number of things which do not fit the science.
They grossly over estimate the rate of seed spread and they repeat the myth that you can be poisoned by handling the plant.
When the Scottish Government distributed a draft of th3eir advice. It too was full of errors some of which are still uncorrected.

A basic rule of science is don't look at what some authority says but at what the facts tell you.


For chapter and verse on the law see:

Ragwort and the Law The Weeds Act 1959

[Neil Jones]

And I forgot to say
Buglife - The invertebrate Conservation Trust has some information
Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort: Yellow Peril or Precious Flower?

[jdoherty]

Originally Posted by Neil Jones

And I forgot to say
Buglife - The invertebrate Conservation Trust has some information
Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort: Yellow Peril or Precious Flower?

Hi Neil

Thanks very much for posting this very informative link.

John