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Managing Ragwort alongside Motorways and Trunk Roads

Ragwort Control alongside Motorways and Trunk roads

Ragwort is a native biennial plant which has bright yellow daisy like flowers in mid-summer. The plant can be highly toxic if eaten by horses and other grazing animals. Its wind borne seeds enable it to quite quickly colonise roadside verges, unmanaged pasture and waste ground. It is one of five "injurious weeds" listed in the Weeds Act 1959 where occupiers of land can be required to take measures to control their Spread.

The Highways Agency takes a proactive approach to the control of the weed following the Defra Code of Practice on How to Prevent the spread of Ragwort which was introduced as a result of the Ragwort Act 2003. This requires control measures to be undertaken where infestations of the weed are found close to either grazing animals or land used for fodder production.

Further information and a copy of the Code of Practice can be found on the Defra website using the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/wildlife/management/weeds/index.htm