Ragwort warning

Maybe it is the wet summer weather, but I can't remember seeing as much ragwort as this year. The yellow weed is everywhere on scrub ground and road-side banks and verges. Ragwort is one of five dangerous weeds covered by the provisions of The Weeds Act 1959. According to the Defra website, under the Act, the Secretary of State may serve an enforcement notice on the occupier of land on which injurious weeds are growing, requiring the occupier to take action to prevent the spread of injurious weeds. It is important to control ragwort because it is poisonous to equines namely horses, ponies, donkeys as well as other livestock. Ragwort causes liver damage, which can in some cases be fatal. It is important to control the plant material properly during activities to control its growth and spread because all parts of the ragwort plant are toxic and harmful to animals even when treated or wilted.Further information can be found at:http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/horses/topics/ragwort.htm