OF LATE I have been driving different routes back to Upton to escape the long queues of cars caused by roadworks leading up to the Blandford Road.

What I have discovered driving along the duel carriage way leading to the roundabout by the Bakers Arms, are cows grazing in fields with lots of ragwort.

Also ragwort on the road side, and even in peoples gardens it is being grown like flowers.
I was very shocked because I have seen documentaries about ragwort being poisonous.

On the Government environment web page it says the ragwort “presents a high risk of poisoning horses and livestock or spreading to fields used for the production of forage”.

The Government fines field owners if they don’t get rid of ragwort as they have a code of practice of how to stop its growth.

Animals most at risk are horses, ponies and grazing livestock, such as cattle and sheep.
If you own horses, ponies or livestock you must not allow them to graze on land where you know ragwort is present.

You can be prosecuted if you allow animals to suffer by eating harmful weeds.
The same website says that ‘humans’ may be at risk from ragwort poisoning through direct contact (eg hand pulling).

BCP and Dorset councils need to look at the ever growing amount of ragwort in their area, and people really need to learn what plants they should stay clear of in their gardens, ie harmful weeds such as common ragwort, spear thistle, broad-leaved dock, curled dock and creeping field thistle.

REVEREND ELAINE GLOVER
Upton