Battle of killer ragwort in East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Battle of killer ragwort in East Lancashire
4:30pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News
By Emma Cruces, Reporter
RAGWORT is posing a danger to animals across East Lancashire after perfect growing conditions this summer.
Landowners, local authrorities and farmers are facing a battle to eracidate the bright yellow toxic weed which has become a familiar sight on waste land, railways and roadsides.
If eaten by horses, ponies or cattle the effects can have serious health implications and can be fatal in some circumstances. The plant is regularly monitored and kept under control each year, but this year is thought to present an extra challenge.
The Highways Agency has rolled out a programme of controlling the weed, which has seen an explosion in recent summer months.
The National Farmer’s Union say the problem is significant this year.
Andrew Rothwell, Clitheroe NFU group secretary, said: “It’s just everywhere at the moment. The rain has seen the plant spread out to a great degree and it doesn’t help that it’s happened at this time of year, when it’s in flower. Anyone can visibily see the plant growing on railway lines, near river banks – anywhere it can. It’s a nightmare for farmers, because if it’s near grazing animals the results are very serious indeed.”
The Highways Agency says it has identified ‘hot spot’ high-risk areas where historically a large amount of the plant has been produced within 50 metres of horses and other grazing animals.
A spokesman said: “We treat these areas proactively and spray in an attempt to control the spread.
“New areas may appear each year as the seed can remain dormant for up to 20 years. Should these areas be adjacent to livestock, then we would treat reactively and carry out a hand pulling.
“We will never remove all the ragwort and this is not the intention.
“Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals.”
Comments(12)
RUinsane
says...
6:40pm Fri 31 Aug 12
RUinsane
says...
6:45pm Fri 31 Aug 12
accy lad and proud wrote:Too many people are falling into this " let them on job seekers allowance remove it for their benefits" trap. If there is a need for someone to remove it there is obviously a job vacancy that should pay above minimum wage.
"We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention"
"Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se
This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!
You are developing David Camerons Big Society idea for him. You would be the first to complain if the company you worked for, layed you off and used someone on jobseekers to do your job. Use your loaf man.
fabinribblevalley
says...
6:58pm Fri 31 Aug 12
RUinsane wrote:In all due respect I note your interpretation, but to employ someone to do the job they would be layed off 11 months of the year.
accy lad and proud wrote:Too many people are falling into this " let them on job seekers allowance remove it for their benefits" trap. If there is a need for someone to remove it there is obviously a job vacancy that should pay above minimum wage.
"We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention"
"Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se
This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!
You are developing David Camerons Big Society idea for him. You would be the first to complain if the company you worked for, layed you off and used someone on jobseekers to do your job. Use your loaf man.
fabinribblevalley
says...
6:58pm Fri 31 Aug 12
RUinsane wrote:In all due respect I note your interpretation, but to employ someone to do the job they would be layed off 11 months of the year.
accy lad and proud wrote:Too many people are falling into this " let them on job seekers allowance remove it for their benefits" trap. If there is a need for someone to remove it there is obviously a job vacancy that should pay above minimum wage.
"We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention"
"Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se
This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!
You are developing David Camerons Big Society idea for him. You would be the first to complain if the company you worked for, layed you off and used someone on jobseekers to do your job. Use your loaf man.
accy lad and proud
says...
7:20pm Fri 31 Aug 12
RUinsane wrote:I doubt it ! being laid off that is! I'm the one who does the laying off !!!
accy lad and proud wrote: "We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention" "Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!Too many people are falling into this " let them on job seekers allowance remove it for their benefits" trap. If there is a need for someone to remove it there is obviously a job vacancy that should pay above minimum wage. You are developing David Camerons Big Society idea for him. You would be the first to complain if the company you worked for, layed you off and used someone on jobseekers to do your job. Use your loaf man.
ste.g
says...
8:20pm Fri 31 Aug 12
RUinsane
says...
8:27pm Fri 31 Aug 12
fabinribblevalley wrote:Thats correct so they would use 12 people for free in a year when they could just employ someone to do the job.
RUinsane wrote:In all due respect I note your interpretation, but to employ someone to do the job they would be layed off 11 months of the year.
accy lad and proud wrote:Too many people are falling into this " let them on job seekers allowance remove it for their benefits" trap. If there is a need for someone to remove it there is obviously a job vacancy that should pay above minimum wage.
"We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention"
"Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se
This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!
You are developing David Camerons Big Society idea for him. You would be the first to complain if the company you worked for, layed you off and used someone on jobseekers to do your job. Use your loaf man.
Which way is chepaest. Option free.
RUinsane
says...
8:31pm Fri 31 Aug 12
accy lad and proud wrote:Still doesn't negate the fact that there is a job there that needs doing. So why not fill that vacancy. If every council in every borough did the same that would be 100 jobs created in one swoop. But instead just keep paying out the benefits and think you are getting it done for free. Nothing is free.
RUinsane wrote:I doubt it ! being laid off that is! I'm the one who does the laying off !!!
accy lad and proud wrote: "We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention" "Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!Too many people are falling into this " let them on job seekers allowance remove it for their benefits" trap. If there is a need for someone to remove it there is obviously a job vacancy that should pay above minimum wage. You are developing David Camerons Big Society idea for him. You would be the first to complain if the company you worked for, layed you off and used someone on jobseekers to do your job. Use your loaf man.
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
11:58pm Fri 31 Aug 12
accy lad and proud wrote:Your so Butch xxx
"We will never remove all ragwort and this is not our intention"
"Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se
This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!
davead188
says...
6:59am Sat 1 Sep 12
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Noiticer
says...
10:36am Sat 1 Sep 12
A far far worse potential problem to householders is the spread of Japanese Knotweed which can penetrate through concrete foundations. Banks won't give mortgages to properties with this plant in the vicinity. The railway embankments at/ near Gannow are absolutely covered as are many other locations. Eradication involves quite a bit of time and expense.
accy lad and proud says...
5:46pm Fri 31 Aug 12
"Ragwort is a native plant, and has an important role as a food source for a number of insects, which in turn support birds and mammals" ! My R'se
This is the biggest cop-out statement I've heard in a long time. Ragwort is a controlled weed whereby landowners have a duty to eradicate it. Stop shirking your duties as land owners LCC and deal with it. Its of epic proportions on the M65 and A56 embankments. In fact why don't they enlist labour from the jobseekers allowance crew and run it as a pilot scheme. Just a thought !!!