RCC MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Friday 13th June 2025

Ref: RCC-2526-31

Residents, landowners and occupiers of grazing land asked to report cases of Ragwort posing a risk

Rutland County Council is asking residents to report any ragwort on council verges that is posing a risk to livestock.

Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a native biennial which is a food source for a wide range of insects. It is not usually a significant problem in gardens, but its poisonous qualities can be a cause for concern when close to fields grazed by horses or cattle.

It is important that residents make the Council aware where ragwort may be causing a danger to livestock so that resources can then be targeted based on this information. Any cases that are reported will be looked at on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they don’t pose any risk to grazing livestock. Any ragwort that is deemed a risk will then be tackled.

Rutland County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, Environment and Communities, Cllr Christine Wise, said:

‘Ragwort is an important part of UK biodiversity and therefore we are following the Code of Practice to ensure that it is not eradicated but is prevented from spreading in areas that pose a high risk for grazing livestock. We therefore need residents, landowners and occupiers of grazing land to report any ragwort growing on verges via FixMyStreet.'

‘Livestock owners are responsible for the welfare of their animals and have their own duties in terms of ensuring that their animals are not exposed to ragwort. However, if we are notified of any high-risk areas then we can target resources to these verges.’

We are therefore asking that residents, landowners or occupiers of grazing land please report any concern of ragwort growing on verges to the council via https://rutland.fixmystreet.com/ and report under 'Trees or Vegetation: Overgrown or Overhanging'. This can include areas noted last year where we will monitor for this coming season wherever possible.