King Charles and his gardening staff

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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)

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

I take it you have horses, then, Allira?

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

I would habe thought that any wildflower meadows at Highgrove would have been very carefully managed.

If none of the gardeners recognised ragwort, perhaps it's just as well they left.

Perhaps it seeded from the wildflower meadow? But he was right, if you have ever dealt with ragwort, you will know blistering can occur.

merlotgran

Apparently he reprimanded one of the gardeners for allowing ragwort to grow near the outdoor swimming pool.
Any employer would have done exactly the same, wealthy or otherwise.
I suspect much of this has been blown out of proportion.

Yes, it’s a not to be missed “let’s get at the RF” opportunity.

I don't think there would be a shortage of applicants to fill the vacancies.

If the responsibility for employing the gardeners is in the hands of the Duchy organisers, then it is to them that these 11 gardeners have tendered their resignation, not to Charles. As others have said, as long as the garden looks fantastic, he has no say in the admin details - except when he sees something like poisonous plants near water and complains, of course!

I imagine the gardeners who left would be able to name their price in the next place they applied to - they have Highgrove on their CV. That is a good incentive to move on.