The British Horse Society targets major landowners in campaign
to raise ragwort awareness
The British Horse Society is to launch its 2006 Ragwort Awareness
Campaign at a Ragwort Awareness Conference - featuring keynote
speakers Professor David Bellamy and Professor Derek Knottenbelt
- in London on Thursday 27 April.
The conference will aim 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 well-known botanist and conservationist
Professor David Bellamy and 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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