MP leads fight against ragwort

A CAMPAIGN group has been set up by Bexhill and Battle MP Gregory Barker to pressurise district councils into taking action to eliminate the weed ragwort in East Sussex.

The Ragwort Taskforce met for the first time on Friday at Kitchenham Farm in Ashburnham, where its members discussed what could be done about the poisonous weed.

Representatives from East Sussex County Council, Rother District Council, the National Farmers Union, the Highways Agency and the British Horse Society attended the meeting together with a number of local farmers.

Mr Barker said after the meeting: 'Many people see ragwort as an attractive and harmless plant I am afraid the reality is very different. It is a poisonous weed, which if eaten by animals, results in a slow lingering death.

'It is imperative that we educate the public about the dangers of ragwort. There is no room for complacency. This event has brought together all those working to tackle the menace locally and should improve our effectiveness in tackling the problem.'

The taskforce will now try to persuade authorities to implement an effective anti-ragwort strategy. The weed is lethal for most animals, including dogs, if eaten.