Ragwort spotted on the Trailway and reported

Toller Porcorum Village Hall Trustees noticed ragwort growing on a section of the Trailway and, fearing it could be dangerous to animals, it was reported to Dorset Council. A Senior Ranger supplied Parish Council with information about ragwort to set residents' minds at rest and Dorset Council's policy regarding the plant.

Dorset Council general policy guidelines relating to ragwort

Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a native species in the UK. While it poses a risk when dried and included in hay fed to livestock, the living plant is generally unpalatable and avoided by grazing animals. Importantly, ragwort supports a wide range of wildlife including 129 species of invertebrates which rely on it, including several that depend on it exclusively. For example, the cinnabar moth caterpillar feeds on ragwort and acts as a natural biological control. Additionally, 14 species of fungi use ragwort as a host.

A common misconception is that ragwort is a ‘notifiable weed’. Under current UK law, no plant species are classed as notifiable, meaning there is no legal requirement to report its presence. However, under the Weeds Act 1959, five species are classified as injurious weeds:

• Common Ragwort
• Spear Thistle
• Creeping Thistle
• Curled Dock
• Broad-leaved Dock

Landowners are permitted to have these species on their land but are responsible for preventing their spread onto agricultural land.

DEFRA’s 2003 Code of Practice focuses on preventing the spread of common ragwort rather than eradicating it entirely.

Where ragwort is found on land owned by Dorset Council, we assess the risk of spread using the following categories:

• High Risk: Ragwort is flowering/seeding within 50m of land used for grazing horses or forage production.
• Medium Risk: Ragwort is present within 50–100m.
• Low Risk: Ragwort is more than 100m away from such land.

These distances are guidelines only, as factors like wind and topography can influence the likelihood of spread.

Dorset Council will take action only where a high risk has been identified. Our Ragwort Control Policy considers vegetation management, conservation status, and biodiversity value before any intervention. Where control is necessary, we manage ragwort through cutting, pulling, or spraying. Much of the ragwort in the county is cut mechanically as part of our routine verge maintenance for highway safety. This typically occurs before the plant goes to seed.