Philip Trevelyan and Dr. John Zarb
Article taken from Conservation and Land Management - Volume 2, Number 4 - Winter 2004
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Removing ragwort
First- and second-year
ragwort
growth is usually visible in long
grass by mid May, and this is the
time to start single-pass
clearances. In June 2004, two
six-ton trailers were filled with
rosette-sized plants from a 25ha
site on Farthing Down, Surrey.
It took two weeks for an
inexperienced workforce of five
to remove practically all the
plants due to flower in July (both
the earlier-flowering common
ragwort and the later-flowering
hoary ragwort, which has a
greyer foliage and matures later),
together with a large percentage
of ragwort comprising the
following years' crop. If the
number of grazing cattle remains
similar in 2005, then the
incidence of ragwort should be
considerably reduced. On many
sites, ragwort rosettes can also be
usefully removed in the autumn.
growth is usually visible in long
grass by mid May, and this is the
time to start single-pass
clearances. In June 2004, two
six-ton trailers were filled with
rosette-sized plants from a 25ha
site on Farthing Down, Surrey.
It took two weeks for an
inexperienced workforce of five
to remove practically all the
plants due to flower in July (both
the earlier-flowering common
ragwort and the later-flowering
hoary ragwort, which has a
greyer foliage and matures later),
together with a large percentage
of ragwort comprising the
following years' crop. If the
number of grazing cattle remains
similar in 2005, then the
incidence of ragwort should be
considerably reduced. On many
sites, ragwort rosettes can also be
usefully removed in the autumn.
It is well known
that
permanent tight grazing favours
ragwort. Deer, sheep and horse
grazing need to be strictly
controlled during the winter in
order to restore the turf
following ragwort removal in
badly infested areas. But light
grazing is preferable to stock
exclusion, with regard to turf
recovery. The shorter, lighter
ragwort-specific tool is an asset
on large areas.
permanent tight grazing favours
ragwort. Deer, sheep and horse
grazing need to be strictly
controlled during the winter in
order to restore the turf
following ragwort removal in
badly infested areas. But light
grazing is preferable to stock
exclusion, with regard to turf
recovery. The shorter, lighter
ragwort-specific tool is an asset
on large areas.
Removing creeping
thistle
thistle
This plant
is chisel-hoed in April
and May, cutting the 15cm
rosettes just below the point of
leaf formation. This stimulates
the production of new shoots
from the rhizome. Many new
shoots will appear in any case
because they are produced at
different rates and will not have
been visible during initial
chiselling. Repeated chiselling
will weaken the plant, with re-
growth becoming softer and less
prickly. A topper is used on
some re-growth on pasture land,
but on many areas of the farm
chiselling has had a significant
effect. Rosettes emerging after
chiselling in late May rarely
reach full maturity.
and May, cutting the 15cm
rosettes just below the point of
leaf formation. This stimulates
the production of new shoots
from the rhizome. Many new
shoots will appear in any case
because they are produced at
different rates and will not have
been visible during initial
chiselling. Repeated chiselling
will weaken the plant, with re-
growth becoming softer and less
prickly. A topper is used on
some re-growth on pasture land,
but on many areas of the farm
chiselling has had a significant
effect. Rosettes emerging after
chiselling in late May rarely
reach full maturity.
The plant thrives
in moisture,
and produces phenomenal
growth in wet seasons. This
requires repeated cutting or
chiselling. Successful control is
far easier in dry areas, particularly
bank sides, where plants can be
cut at 30 per minute. Long grass
greatly hinders efficient
chiselling, and tends to allow
earlier emergence of the plant. As
stock farmers, we try to chisel our
pastures immediately after
moving sheep when the grass is
shorter. This invariably creates
good working conditions.
and produces phenomenal
growth in wet seasons. This
requires repeated cutting or
chiselling. Successful control is
far easier in dry areas, particularly
bank sides, where plants can be
cut at 30 per minute. Long grass
greatly hinders efficient
chiselling, and tends to allow
earlier emergence of the plant. As
stock farmers, we try to chisel our
pastures immediately after
moving sheep when the grass is
shorter. This invariably creates
good working conditions.
In spring 2004,
a group of 15
volunteers in Hertfordshire
formed a 30m-wide line across
grassland containing creeping
thistle. Individuals carrying a
chisel hoe and spaced 2m apart
proceeded to cover 4ha in an
hour.
volunteers in Hertfordshire
formed a 30m-wide line across
grassland containing creeping
thistle. Individuals carrying a
chisel hoe and spaced 2m apart
proceeded to cover 4ha in an
hour.
A sharpening
stone should
always be carried with the chisel
hoe.
always be carried with the chisel
hoe.
The
way forward
Experience confirms
that RIP
manual weeding using
ergonomically designed tools
can provide an efficient,
affordable and ecologically
sound approach to weed control
in pasture, arable and
conservation land. As well as
providing opportunities for
employment, the wider adoption
of this approach would reduce
herbicide and machinery
dependence, giving consequent
health, environmental and cost
benefits.
manual weeding using
ergonomically designed tools
can provide an efficient,
affordable and ecologically
sound approach to weed control
in pasture, arable and
conservation land. As well as
providing opportunities for
employment, the wider adoption
of this approach would reduce
herbicide and machinery
dependence, giving consequent
health, environmental and cost
benefits.
Lazy Dog
Tools
Tools
In 2003, Lazy
Dog Tools received
the bronze award in the Green
Apple Environmental Awards for
Commerce & Industry in recognition
of its contribution to sustainable
farming. The company is currently
developing a number of initiatives,
including supporting weeding teams
in various parts of the country, and
promoting the value of weeds as
composting crops. Also, since
October 2003, new patterns and
standards have eliminated any
occasional brittleness or bending in
the LD tools.
the bronze award in the Green
Apple Environmental Awards for
Commerce & Industry in recognition
of its contribution to sustainable
farming. The company is currently
developing a number of initiatives,
including supporting weeding teams
in various parts of the country, and
promoting the value of weeds as
composting crops. Also, since
October 2003, new patterns and
standards have eliminated any
occasional brittleness or bending in
the LD tools.
Contact: Philip
Trevelyan, Hill Top
Farm, Spaunton,
Appleton-le-Moors,
York YO62 6TR;
tel: 01751 417351;
website: www.lazydogtoolco.co.uk
John Zarb is
an agricultural researcher
based near York.
based near York.
Contact: tel:
01439 771494; e-mail:
jzarb@pcxinternet.com
jzarb@pcxinternet.com
Left Clearing
a heavy infestation of ten-year-old dock at Stanton Park, Swindon, in
December 1999. Philip Trevelyan
Left The
same area of Stanton Park in
May 2000. Note the minimal re-growth of
dock. Philip Trevelyan
May 2000. Note the minimal re-growth of
dock. Philip Trevelyan