In article , martin
writes
On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:28:14 +0100, Malcolm Ogilvie
wrote:


The scope of the ban is in
http://www.parliament.the-stationery...990/cmhansrd/1
990-10-25/Writtens-1.html
"Giant Hogweed
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and
Industry whether he will take steps to ban the import and sale of
seeds of Heracleum Mantegazzianum.

Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 22 October 1990] : No. There are
currently no plans to ban the import or sale of seeds of Heracleum
Mantegazzianum.

However, under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981,
it is an offence for any person to plant or to otherwise cause to grow
in the wild any plant which is included in part 2 of schedule 9 to the
Act. Giant hogweed (Heracleum Mantegazzianum) is listed in the
schedule."

Note the words "in the wild". Private gardens are not classed as "in
the wild".

Odd because it says quite clearly "garden" in
http://www.defra.gov.uk/paw/publications/law/5_1_7.htm

"NOTE: This offence is similar to the one relating to animals (section
14(1) though it only applies to plants on the list and not the
non-native plants generally. The latter would be impossible as
virtually every garden in the country is stocked with mainly
non-native plants"

So it does, but where does it say that a private garden is "in the wild"
or that growing giant hogweed in a garden is against the law, which is
what you appear to be claiming!

Note, too, the Defence for this clause: "It is a defence to a charge of
committing offences under section 14 for a person to prove that he took
all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing
the offence."

--
Malcolm Ogilvie