Big landowners targeted by British Horse Society in campaign
to raise ragwort awareness
The British Horse Society today (Thursday, April 27) launched
its 2006 Ragwort Awareness Campaign at a Ragwort Awareness
Conference - featuring keynote Professor Derek Knottenbelt
- in London.
The conference, at Saddlers' Hall, in the City of London,
aimed to educate local authorities and other major owners
of land about the existing laws and the dangers that ragwort,
a poisonous weed, poses to grazing animals and human health.
The day is to feature informative presentations from leading
experts including the UK's leading ragwort expert Professor
Derek Knottenbelt.
The BHS was instrumental in the formation of the Ragwort
Act 2003 and the codes of practice introduced alongside the
legislation, which amended the existing Weeds Act.
However the number of calls from the public about the spread
of ragwort in their counties has made the BHS's Welfare Department
recognise the need for a conference on this issue for major
landowners.
BHS Chairman Patrick Print said: "Education is our main
weapon in fighting the scourge of ragwort. For this vital
conference to have maximum impact, we would like to encourage
members of the public to urge their local councillors, MPs
and major landowners in their counties to attend to learn
more about ragwort."
Professor Knottenbelt said: "The burgeoning of ragwort
across the UK is not only a hazard for horses and other grazing
animals. It has potentially serious human implications and
is an environmental disaster in the making."
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