Why ragwort deserves its Yellow Peril title

From: David L Lyle, Hillside Farm, Owmby, Barnetby,

I refer to Howard Frost’s article regarding common ragwort (Country Week, August 13). There should be no “re-thinking the ragwort threat” as your headline suggests.

There are very good reasons why it was included in the 1959 Injurious Weeds Act requiring all land occupiers to control this poisonous weed – its toxins can be absorbed and permanently retained in the body of any animal, including humans.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Horses succumb to the toxins more easily and more noticeably than other species partly because they are kept on to their more “senior” years where others are slaughtered much younger.

Sheep can become unthrifty and “poor doers” after winter grazing of land where ragwort has died down naturally.

This would also apply to wild animals if they resort to eating ragwort in severe circumstances.

The death of animals is not the whole issue. Ragwort “poisoning” is a slow build up of toxins that affect the liver – not necessarily causing death.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It cannot be diagnosed nor treated in the live animal – so most are probably culled because they become unproductive or poor doers.

Only a post mortem will confirm if the liver has been aff ected by the ragwort toxins.

Thirty species of insects may feed on ragwort but only the Cinnabar moth is entirely dependent on it.

Yes, the Cinnabar moth and its caterpillar are very attractive to the human eye but not to anything else and it will always be around as ragwort is now so abundant.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Being a biannual and sometimes a perennial, ragwort is very prolific and spreads very rapidly.

Yes, most seeds may well drop close to the plant. But some will be spread by the wind, air currents, birds, either through ingestion of seeds passing through them or on their feathers, on rabbits and small mammals on their fur.

How else can it spread to land not previously infected?

One single flower stem this year will be multi stemmed next year- especially if cut – producing a cluster of plants, which in turn produces an infestation in three to four years.

It is so important to root out that first single stem. In fertile conditions I have found plants with over 30 stems, each stem having a multitude of flowers on its several branches producing in excess of 250,000 seeds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ragwort knows no boundaries. I suggest it is or it could become a public health issue as young children will pick the attractive looking flower while unsuspecting adults might use the ‘wild yellow daisy’ in a flower arrangement.

The toxins can be absorbed through the skin and who can say how that minute trace will affect a person’s health.

It is commendable that some local authorities and wildlife trusts have recognised the importance of ragwort control – it will never be eradicated as there is now too much seed in the ground where it will survive up to 20 years.

It is the bug life people who are publicising misleading information and not recognising the fuller picture.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The rampant spread has been in part caused by the presence huge areas of uncropped land and abandoned “brown field” sites.

Defra should be acting on the legislation provided by government in issuing orders to land occupiers to control ragwort.

There are many good reasons why ragwort is known as the Yellow Peril.

Note: We have had a strong response to Howard Frost’s article and will try to publish as many of the letters as possible.

From: Phil Hanson, Beechmount Close, Baildon

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

RL Lofthouse’s letter last week in Country Week on the destruction of ground nesting birds by red kites is evidence of how the balance of nature is being manipulated and the consequences.

Just like cormorants that are a serious pest and a threat to inland fish stocks and to people trying to earn a living from fisheries, the red kite is a predator.

Though nice to see, the population density in the region around Harewood is now getting to the point where one must ask what or who is sustaining them?

The RSPB does a lot of good work. It is also a very wealthy and politically influential organisation which resists efforts to balance predator numbers with the needs of gamekeepers and anglers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I find it amazing that these same people, usually university educated theorists, end up coming to the conclusion that too many predators eventually need controlling, as has been reported in the press recently.

Alas, many jobs and wild birds will have gone before these academics wake up.

If people want to make a real difference to the RSPB, start getting involved in its activities to ensure that the policies are at least both logical and sustaining, rather than short sighted.