Too few have really read the Ragwort Act

HAVING read the numerous letters relating to ragwort over the past few weeks, I am amazed how few of your correspondents appear to have actually read the Ragwort Act or the guidance notes relating to it.

If they had, they would have found them to state that “the code does not seek to eradicate ragwort but only seeks to control it where there is a threat to the health and welfare of animals” and “the code aims to define situations where there is a likelihood of ragwort spreading to neighbouring land where it will then present an identifiable risk of ingestion”.

The notes go on to define three levels of risk – high where ragwort grows within 50m of land used for grazing or forage production; medium where it grows between 50 and 100m from such land and low beyond 100m. High risk areas require immediate action to control the plant.

In medium risk areas, control may be required to prevent it becoming a high risk. Beyond that, in low risk areas, no action is required other than to monitor the spread. Yes, ragwort is a poisonous plant (as are many others), but if people apply the code with sense, then it can be managed sympathetically for the needs of our biodiversity as a whole without creating any risk to grazing animals.