One of the great myths about ragwort that is spread about is that is is a foreign plant that has invaded Britain and is therefore causing problems. Ragwort is a native plant that is important to the ecology and biodiversity of the UK it supports a wealth of wildlife including a range of specialised ragwort invertebrates. It is possible that there is some confusion with Oxford Ragwort a small weed of roadsides and verges which originated on Mount Etna and escaped into the wild from a botanic Garden in Oxford.
We recently had to complain to Neath Port Talbot council that a document they had published on their website had it listed as a foreign alien for elimination with Japanese knotweed.
It is only one of a number of silly myths. Ragwort isn't a notifiable weed, there is no such thing in UK law. And the law on ragwort does not compel landowners to control it.
There are also the false stories about Ragwort causing large numbers of horse and cattle deaths .
And the stories about ragwort and humans full of exaggerated and false information.
This is not helped by supposed wildlife experts like David Bellamy the well-known climate change denier who is notorious for not checking his sources properly , making silly comments about ragwort in the Western Mail