Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is his Department's policy that all landowners, including those in the public sector, should remove all growths of ragwort.

Defra’s injurious weeds policy aims to balance a variety of different interests. Injurious weeds, which include common ragwort, form part of our native plant communities, supporting a wide variety of invertebrates and are a major nectar source for many insects.

The ‘Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort’ sets out guidance for all landowners, including those in the public sector, on when and how common ragwort should be removed.

The Code does not seek to eradicate common ragwort, but only seeks to control its spread where it poses a high risk of spreading to agricultural land, for example land used for grazing.