(Neil Jones) wrote:

Hello Neil

NJ This is incorrect it is NOT illegal to allow ragwort to grow
NJ on your land.

Semantics, really, but according to;

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/re...act/weed2a.pdf

You are technically correct, but if you fail to comply with an order
from Defra to remove Ragwort from your land, you *are* guilty of an
offence.

"If an occupier has unreasonably failed to comply with the notice, he
or she shall be guilty of an offence and, on conviction, liable to a
fine."

You don't /usually/ get fined for doing things that are legal, so to
all intents and purposes, it is illegal to let ragwort grow on your
field once you've been issued with an order to act. So in effect, it's
both legal and illegal - which is a fine example of why we have so
many lawyers in this country.

Also note that a local council may have a bylaw that /does/ make it
illegal to allow it to grow under any circumstances.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/