At 09:49:37 on 20.07.11, Dazzle wrote:
I dig up the dreaded weed, like every other owner and have been quite smug as I normally only have about 3 or 4 plants at most. However, this year my field is covered in the awful things. The local Council used to employ on a casual basis teams to pull it up but because of the 'cuts' these teams have now gone and the roadsides are all yellow. It seems we are drowning in the stuff. Wasn't there a law or something that said you HAD to eradicate it or have I made that up? Anyone else noticed more ragwart than normal?

At 16:09:53 on 20.07.11, Angelalain wrote:
Every roadside and every empty grass field is covered in it round here. All the fields alongside World horse Welfare too. I'm sure it was supposed to be a notifiable weed which owners were supposed to deal with, but if it was enforceable surely World Horse Welfare would have the teeth to do something about it, but it doesn't seem to be happening. Our new field (been here 4 weeks now) was sprayed, but we are having to dig the roots and the dead ones. Luckily there are not too many, and the horses are only on about 3 acres of the 20 at a time, so we are clearing as we go. You can spot spray with a product from Barrier Health care (the name of which deserts me at this moment) but we found it was so strong(started to work in 30 mins) that it also killed the grass round it, left a bare patch and room for more ragwort to establish!

At 16:13:01 on 20.07.11, Angelalain wrote:
Its called Barrier H. Duurrr!

At 15:32:28 on 23.07.11, Dazzle wrote:
What is Barrier H and where can I buy gallons of the stuff?

At 23:06:31 on 23.07.11, Angelalain wrote:
Made by a firm in Attleborough, Barrier Health Care, or Barrier Hygiene, not sure what they call themselves now.It comes in gallon cans (approx) with a fitted hand sprayer. You can walk the field and spot spray. In the sun it will start to work in 30 mins! You still need to make sure you remove it, but it kills the root instead of breaking it off.We kept ragwort under reasonable control for years. it only took over when the grazing got thin and the grass didn't grow back to choke the growing seeds. It doesn't kill the seeds, which apparently can lie dormant for 20 or 30 YEARS! If you google it you should find it. You used to be able to get it in tack shops, although I used to go direct since its in my town!

At 14:48:28 on 25.07.11, Flicka wrote:
After I read your posting I started to take note of how much is in our area and I was really shocked-not only is it in all the verges but I drove past a couple of empty fields that were full of it too:( Has anyone heard of the cinnabar moth-it was Trot ON member InHarness who mentioned seeing these stripy caterpillars on Ragwort last year and then I noticed that we had the hungry little critters on some ragwort plants near us and they were really having a good scoff!! I did a bit of research and found this link. Apparently they will send you some. Sounds like a good idea-I wonder why there isn't more publicity about them?
http://www.ragwort-uk.com/html/biological_control.html

At 16:05:17 on 25.07.11, Dazzle wrote:
We had some Cinnabar moth caterpillars last year, they munch the leaves, what is strange is that until a few years ago this was an endangered species because everyone destroyed their ragwart but now its making a comeback.

At 19:37:34 on 26.07.11, Flicka wrote:
The BHS had their ragwort awareness week recently and as part of this were asking people to fill in a survey-did anyone hear about it? If you want to find out more-click on the link below. You can also read about the results of last years survey- it seems Hampshire had the worst ragwort problem, closely followed by Surrey, Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. In Wales the worst area was Clwyd and in Scotland it was Strathclyde. A total of 13,189 horses were identified as grazing on ragwort infested pasture!!
http://https://www.bhs.org.uk/Press_Centre/BHS_News/Ragwort_2011.aspx

At 22:28:26 on 26.07.11, NMH wrote:
Yes I filled it in; roadsides are one of the worst areas round here. I like the idea of all the ragwort being eaten by cinnabar moth caterpillars, but fear that's not how their relationship works! They've co-existed for generations munching/being munched & for the plants losing a few leaves doesn't seem to hurt them! Pity. Like others i just relentlessly pull any plants that appear, & on adjacent land too, trespassing shamelessly - as the law ain't going to back me up & act before the wretched things seed! Does anyone know whether the law ever has made someone eliminate their ragwort?? And what about ragwort in hay? I believe in some ways that's the most dangerous, as cut, dry it loses its bitterness & becomes palatable.

At 21:19:59 on 28.07.11, redline wrote:
We have forests of the stuff growing here as well (North east scotland) , and it is an offence to have it growing on your property . Lots of it here is growing on roadsides which would be the responsibility of Aberdeenshire Council and Bear Scotland . NMH you are correct , when it is dried as in hay it becomes palatable but remains just as poisonous . If any of you is pulling it up wear gloves or better still use a rag fork or similar , avoid skin contact and breathing in the pollen , that is just as poisonous as well.