Councils ... I despair !

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Living in land that is horse sick (little agriculture, but horses) I would like to see a dimunition in the horse population, a population that makes footpaths impassible by doing more damage than the boys on their trail bikes or the 4x4s.

Didn't realise that Pember heath was in my valley!

 

[alldigging]

So basically that document says everything everyone "knows" about ragwort is utter spherical objects.

There is no such thing as a notifiable weed under UK law. But injurous weeds and Invasive plants are dealt with by laws.


http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/enforcement/injuriousweeds.aspx

Injurious weeds - five weeds are classified under the Weeds Act 1959: common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), .........
. It is not an offence to have these weeds growing on your land and species such as ragwort have significant conservation benefits. However they must not be allowed to spread to agricultural land, particularly grazing areas or land which is used to produce conserved forage.

Invasive - Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam - an offence under
Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any plant listed in Schedule nine, Part II to the Act.

I think its only knotweed that affects mortgages.

I first saw HB at Gullivers world - saw a strange curly flower, touched it and off it pinged a seed miles away. Clever.

 

[Ben90]

Took this photo in mid-May, around the corner from my house. Came back half an hour later and about 3 acres of verges had been destroyed within the immediate vicinity of my bees.

The previous week I'd seen honeybees which I suspect were mine foraging on the flowers on those verges, too.

And they cut the verges AGAIN a few days ago, and destroyed all of the clover that had started to come out.

Whoops, sorry about the orientation...

 

[Ely]

Haha. Nightmare trying to look at that photo on a phone. Turn my phone to look at it right way and then the screen flips. Role on post apocalypse. Our house used to be a pub. It has a carpark. It is interesting to watch nature gradually creep in and take over.View attachment 8945

You probably can't make out but there is a few bumbles on the creepers.

 

[Ben90]

Haha. Nightmare trying to look at that photo on a phone. Turn my phone to look at it right way and then the screen flips. Role on post apocalypse.

Yeah, it showed as being the right orientation on my phone, so I just went and uploaded it, then suddenly, 90 degree flip.

 

[coffin dodger]

Hi All,

Same sort of thing in my neck of the woods, our riverbank's usually covered in dandelions, butterburrs and marsh marigolds, followed by buttercups and clover, then along comes the local council who chop it all down, they seem to do this at least three times a year just when everythings growing and flowering nicely, perhaps with all the cutbacks they might dedide to leave it next year !
Regards
CD

 

[Chris Luck]

Same here in rural France, roadside verges hacked back to the soil, hedgerows either ripped out or flayed 6 times a year.

Chris

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Maybe now is the time for people everywhere to put pen to paper and hit the local press - point out why it's better to leave verges and hedgerows alone a bit longer, mention the pollinators (I've heard now that the central government is now revving up a pollinator action plan for England in the wake of the Welsh government initiative) and the birds in autumn.
Then hit them with the fact they could be saving loads of money from their rapidly shrinking budgets, surely there is the odd councillor (and believe me, most county councillors are a bit) who will catch on to this and see there is a buck to be saved - and nature benefits!

 

[Swarm]

The only way to change things is to complain to the right people, gather support, form a biodiversity action group, make alternative suggestions, advertise for volunteers for biodiversity projects and educate.
Ragwort aint been pulled up by council gangs for years and it's now probably the most common roadside plant we see. Any spare fields around here always seem to contain a horse or two. Been living here for over 30 years and watched all the green belt disappear to housing or suddenly fenced off with a horse in it!!
Thankfully, this year, the roadside verges have been mowed only a few feet back from the curb. I had hoped it was common sense at last but most probably it is deficit driven.

 

[Tabby15]

Isle of Wight may be moving in right direction http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-23013465

 

[For want of a better word]

Living in land that is horse sick (little agriculture, but horses) I would like to see a dimunition in the horse population, a population that makes footpaths impassible by doing more damage than the boys on their trail bikes or the 4x4s.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that horses are not allowed to use footpaths, neither are trail bikes or 4x4s or in fact any mechanically propelled vehicle even bicycles.

Horses can use bridleways, as can bicycles or electric bikes under 12mph capability.
Everything else is permitted on byways or highways, provided they are not restricted by a Traffic Regulation Order... that can limit the road to foot traffic only, or permit horses or 2 wheeled vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles.

As for ragwort... it is lethal when left to dry... I therefore often wonder why do gooders pull the dammed stuff up and toss it into a hedge ( usually where horses are grazing)

Townies it must be said are not often very countrywise..... like the dimwits who demanded I move some bumblebees in Urbane Plymouth last week!!!

 

[user 6228]

Living in land that is horse sick (little agriculture, but horses) I would like to see a dimunition in the horse population, a population that makes footpaths impassible by doing more damage than the boys on their trail bikes or the 4x4s.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that horses are not allowed to use footpaths, neither are trail bikes or 4x4s or in fact any mechanically propelled vehicle even bicycles.

Horses can use bridleways, as can bicycles or electric bikes under 12mph capability.
Everything else is permitted on byways or highways, provided they are not restricted by a Traffic Regulation Order... that can limit the road to foot traffic only, or permit horses or 2 wheeled vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles.

As for ragwort... it is lethal when left to dry... I therefore often wonder why do gooders pull the dammed stuff up and toss it into a hedge ( usually where horses are grazing)

Townies it must be said are not often very countrywise..... like the dimwits who demanded I move some bumblebees in Urbane Plymouth last week!!!

But then riding a horse doesnt automatically make you law abiding.and yes when its growing the beasts know to avoid it.

Derek ... not a townie

 

[Swarm]

Too many fields wasted on a few horses IMO.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

But then riding a horse doesnt automatically make you law abiding.and yes when its growing the beasts know to avoid it.

Derek ... not a townie

The local rugby pitch and the juniors pitch has been trashed at least half a dozen times now with equine louts who think it's fun to gallop accross it. (and before anyone asks, I like horses, we used to breed and show section C Welsh cobs.)