Charge D.E.F.R.A. with following up on all notifiable plant notifications
Suggested by JMVivian and tagged defra, himalayan balsam, livestock, notifiable plants, notification, ragwort. 1 Comment.
The big idea
It is important theat certain notifiable plants, such as ragwort and himalayan balsam are destroyed as early as possible in the growing cycle to avoid further reproduction. At the moment, the way the rules work it is down to any individual who notes these plants to ask the landowner to remove/kill them. It is required that the reporting individual asks the landowner twice and logs the action taken (or not) before D.E.F.R.A. will get involved and even then this department is reluctant.
The usual response from a landowner informed of the existence of these plants by a member of the public is nothing!
Why does this matter?
Ragwort in particular is dangerous to livestock and needs elimination. The biggest offenders are local government, highways agencies, railway track owners and, way down the list, farmers.
The idea is important because notification of a requirement to act from an official body with the ability to take follow up enforcement action is much more likely to be successful than any request from a member of the public.
https://www.govyou.co.uk/charge-d-e-f-r-a-with-following-up-on-all-notifiable-plant-notifications/
“It is important theat certain notifiable plants, such as ragwort and himalayan balsam are destroyed a …”
Ragwort is not a notifiable plant. In fact, I don’t think there is any such thing. If you disagree, find any reference to such on a central government website (not local council. they full of misinformation)
Although Common Ragwort (Senecio Jacobaea), not to be confused with other variants, can be a problem when close to livestock, it is an important native plant, and should be left alone where it is not close to susceptible animals or their forage/feed.