The British Horse Society's (BHS) Ragwort Action Week takes off on Monday (19 July), following hot on the heels of the first ever code of practice on how to prevent the spread of Ragwort, so deadly to horses and other grazing animals.

Quick off the mark was Radio 4's favourite farming programme, The Archers. Poor Alice has discovered that her pony, Chandler, has liver failure and the suspected cause is Ragwort poisoning. Alice has been advised to have Chandler put down to end his suffering, a story that echoes a report received by the BHS only this week of yet another horse dying from the consequences of ingesting Ragwort, one of five plants named in the Weeds Act 1959.

Responses to BHS enquiries with local authorities have revealed that all are fully aware of the need to control Ragwort where it poses a risk to grazing animals or the production of dried forage such as hay. All are making use of the code of practice to form their Ragwort control policies but say that often they have problems with adjoining property where Ragwort is allowed to spread. Horse owners and members of the public are asked to help by not only notifying local authorities, the highways agency and Network Rail of Ragwort that is posing a risk, but also to provide any information they may have on adjoining landowners. Hertfordshire Highways say they will report adjoining landowners who allow Ragwort to spread onto the council's land to the Defra Secretary of State, who has powers under the Weeds Act to serve a notice on irresponsible landowners.

Some authorities and highways contractors have actively campaigned in support of Ragwort Action Week; providing Ragwort hotlines, arranging Ragwort education and pulling days and supporting volunteer groups. BHS Oxfordshire County Committee are already out with a team of workers, their bright yellow signs adorning vehicles to advise other road users of their presence, and what they are doing. Organiser Dinah Harris says that several drivers stop and ask for information. "We keep a supply of our Ragwort information leaflets in the vehicles for just this purpose; it's a good way to educate people about Ragwort."

Across the UK other BHS County Committees are 'doing their bit'; in Yorkshire BHS volunteers have helped the local Riding for the Disabled Group to clear two fields, turning the occasion into a social event by holding a barbeque afterwards. North East Wales held a talk earlier in the year with Dr Derek Knottenbelt, the well known veterinary 'guru' of Ragwort, and Duncan Findlay of AgResource who advised on control methods while, just up the road in North West Wales, BHS volunteers plan to greet their local council with letters and advice leaflets to counteract the prolific growth of Ragwort in Anglesey.

BHS Chief Executive, Graham Cory, said, "The code of practice, initiated by The British Horse Society, has brought new life to our campaign. The code will be an enormous help to all landowners; by adopting the code, and targeting areas where horses and forage production is at risk, control policies will become effective and efficient. It will also mean that Ragwort can grow and continue to be a food source in conservation areas and on other land where it does not pose a risk."

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