Action needed against ragwort

You may recall that a few years ago you carried an article with photographic evidence which featured a picture of our prior MP '“ a Mr Barker '“ together with a local councillor and myself in a field infested with large ragwort plants in flower, which as you are aware, is perceived as a problem and is actually covered by a provision that an Order be made to eliminate this injurious weed from the land in question, which in this case refers to the field behind the High Street in Ninfield.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Aug 2016, 09:00 BST

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Despite your successful appeal at that time, I can imagine that if viewed from above today, it would be a field covered in custard but which is actually covered with tall, large ragwort weeds in full flower.

To assist, according to www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ragwort under the Weeds Act 1959 and The Ragwort Control Act 2003 (England and Wales only), the occupier of the land is responsible for controlling and removing ragwort.

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Apparently, if you are concerned about the risk of ragwort spreading onto your land, Defra advises that you first try to seek a solution with the occupier of the infested area.

However, it is expected that all individuals involved should take collective responsibility for ensuring a satisfactory outcome in which the control of ragwort is achieved.

Should you be unsuccessful, a Weed Act form would then need to be completed through Defra.

To be successful, one has to know who exactly owns the land and this has proved to be difficult as others have contacted Wealden Council who did not know who owned it but directed the enquirer by recommending a call to DEFRA and they supplied a telephone number but despite this, the field continues to sport large, large ragwort which when they seed (like dandelions) with the prevailing west/southwest winds, the seeds will be spread for miles which will cover many horse/donkey grazing lands.

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The problem is one that should be addressed before such random spreading of this injurious weed, as apparently once clinical signs are seen in horses/donkeys, it is too late for treatment in the vast majority of cases as the liver will be irreparably damaged.

A blood sample can be taken to confirm liver failure, although there is no diagnostic test available to confirm the causal factor.

It is easy to say there is nothing really to recommend the weed but strangely it appears to be difficult to control which is a dichotomy of enormous proportion.

Richard Gosset

High Street

Ninfield

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Related topics:DEFRAEnglandWales