King Charles and his gardening staff

Apparently it was started with 30 different species and is now at over 150 which was interesting. And I suspect that ragwort is actually assiduously weeded out as the meadow is being cut snd bailed undoubtedly to feed to the cattle etc.

Ragwort is lethal to horses if eaten once it’s dead. They tend not to touch it when it’s growing in the field but are attracted to it’s hay like qualities if left to die off.

Ragwort is rarely included in wild flower mixes for this reason.

I tried a wildflower area but then the man who cuts our lawns mentioned we might have ragwort 😯

It wasn't, it was Cats ear

Undoubtedly but what has since grown in the meadows has arrived naturally not hand sown, so ragwort will probably have arrived at some point.

If the meadow is grown for hay then ragwort will be carefully weeded out.

OTOH, it is the food plant for the caterpillar of the cinnabar moth; conservationists like it.

I've never heard that it poisons watercourses...

friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/ragwort-poisonous-ragwort-mythbuster

Whitewavemark2

Undoubtedly but what has since grown in the meadows has arrived naturally not hand sown, so ragwort will probably have arrived at some point.

Absolutely. It’s the bain of any horse owner’s life. If the grazing is not in good heart it will be even more prolific and then the field is described as horse sick.
Pulling it out and making sure nothing remains is one option. Resting the field or paddock to prevent over grazing and give it time to recover is a better one.

We see it along the verges of several roads round here.

I take it you have horses, then, Allira?

MaizieD

I take it you have horses, then, Allira?

No, the garden might be a bit small for them!

Even so, we have a visiting dog, cats, a fox etc so I did check.

Mollygo since, when it suits the royal family, we are exposed to all sorts of propaganda promoting it, I can't see what is wrong in redressing the balance a bit. I think they can withstand being "got at", given the ever active PR team they have at their command.

Eloethan Sat 26-Jul-25 23:56:24
Mollygo since, when it suits the royal family, we are exposed to all sorts of propaganda promoting it, I can't see what is wrong in redressing the balance a bit. I think they can withstand being "got at", given the ever active PR team they have at their command.

They criticise and mock you ? And you v the Royal Family, what have they done to you which you seem to think needs addressing ?

I doubt their PR team read GransNet

Eloethan

Mollygo since, when it suits the royal family, we are exposed to all sorts of propaganda promoting it, I can't see what is wrong in redressing the balance a bit. I think they can withstand being "got at", given the ever active PR team they have at their command.

Redressing the balance?

Contrary to how it may seem, I am not a royalist, in fact I think most of them a waste of space, but I do think that Charles, within the constraints put upon him by his upbringing, position etc has done a good job with his life, and there are many young adults that can testify to the opportunities he has given them etc.

Most of all I admire his doggedness in pursuing his believes about the way we should work in harmony with nature etc.

That is reflected in his garden.

Thoughts about the RF are for another thread I think.

escaped

merlotgran

Ragwort is toxic to some animals and can cause liver damage in humans.

Yes, it's on my NO list for the dogs. Highly toxic. Charles has dogs.

I’m well aware how poisonous Ragwort is but most of our environmentalist councils let it grow on the roadsides without any attempt at control. I pull it up whenever I see is but birds spread seeds from areas neglected.

Despite that it’s not a threat to humans, grazing animals avoid it because it tastes very bitter what you must not do is top it off and let it dry or make hay that’s what poisons animals.

David49

escaped

merlotgran

Ragwort is toxic to some animals and can cause liver damage in humans.

Yes, it's on my NO list for the dogs. Highly toxic. Charles has dogs.

I’m well aware how poisonous Ragwort is but most of our environmentalist councils let it grow on the roadsides without any attempt at control. I pull it up whenever I see is but birds spread seeds from areas neglected.

Despite that it’s not a threat to humans, grazing animals avoid it because it tastes very bitter what you must not do is top it off and let it dry or make hay that’s what poisons animals.

I think that there is a bit of over dramatisation of the ‘dangers’ of ragwort happening on this thread. And I speak as one who has horses, dogs and ragwort (which we pull up year after year after year)

That's a fair comment Whitewavemark2. It's important to look for some goodness in such a person too, especially when lots of prominent figures are beyond any hope.
That's what I meant by Charles sometimes caring too much and blowing his top!

MaizieD

David49

escaped

merlotgran

Ragwort is toxic to some animals and can cause liver damage in humans.

Yes, it's on my NO list for the dogs. Highly toxic. Charles has dogs.

I’m well aware how poisonous Ragwort is but most of our environmentalist councils let it grow on the roadsides without any attempt at control. I pull it up whenever I see is but birds spread seeds from areas neglected.

Despite that it’s not a threat to humans, grazing animals avoid it because it tastes very bitter what you must not do is top it off and let it dry or make hay that’s what poisons animals.

I think that there is a bit of over dramatisation of the ‘dangers’ of ragwort happening on this thread. And I speak as one who has horses, dogs and ragwort (which we pull up year after year after year)

Neither the NFU or the RSPCA agree with you MaizieD, both recommend stringent control to prevent equine and livestock harm and death.

MaizieD

David49

escaped

merlotgran

Ragwort is toxic to some animals and can cause liver damage in humans.

Yes, it's on my NO list for the dogs. Highly toxic. Charles has dogs.

I’m well aware how poisonous Ragwort is but most of our environmentalist councils let it grow on the roadsides without any attempt at control. I pull it up whenever I see is but birds spread seeds from areas neglected.

Despite that it’s not a threat to humans, grazing animals avoid it because it tastes very bitter what you must not do is top it off and let it dry or make hay that’s what poisons animals.

I think that there is a bit of over dramatisation of the ‘dangers’ of ragwort happening on this thread. And I speak as one who has horses, dogs and ragwort (which we pull up year after year after year)

That's good to know.
My dog is currently eating my forsythia plants when roaming the garden. Luckily they are OK but I have now put metal guards round them. He's an eat everything type!

So why do you pull up the ragwort year after year, MaizieD? It isn't all that ugly, in comparison with some other weeds, and if your horses ate it, you would be saved the effort.

I've just checked my pet insurance, and it says that ragwort is toxic for the liver. It depends on the size of the dog how they cope, but treatment is needed.

Elegran

So why do you pull up the ragwort year after year, MaizieD? It isn't all that ugly, in comparison with some other weeds, and if your horses ate it, you would be saved the effort.

What on earth are you on about, Elegran?

MaizieD

If the meadow is grown for hay then ragwort will be carefully weeded out.

OTOH, it is the food plant for the caterpillar of the cinnabar moth; conservationists like it.

I've never heard that it poisons watercourses...

friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/ragwort-poisonous-ragwort-mythbuster

As a teenager I once had a holiday job employed to pull up ragwort by the owner of an estate. Horses and dogs were the priority.

A couple of weekends ago, on a visit, the now owner proudly showed me the same area devoted to ragwort. Preserving the cinnabar moth is what is important to him.

There’s a philosophical thought there somewhere……

For generations the Royal family have had a reputation for not paying their staff well. I presume they think that for someone to be able to put on their CV that they had worked for the RF, plus the social cachet it is imagined they get is enough compensation for the low pay rates.

Quote M0nica Sun 27-Jul-25 10:07:46
For generations the Royal family have had a reputation for not paying their staff well. I presume they think that for someone to be able to put on their CV that they had worked for the RF, plus the social cachet it is imagined they get is enough compensation for the low pay rates.

How many generations?

The staff salaries are based on the equivalent civil service salaries.

Perhaps we should pay the civil service more?