Launch is perfectly timed.
Red Gorilla has introduced a Ragwort Fork, just in time for a fresh clamp-down on the poisonous weed.
From April, renewed enforcement measures to control the spread of ragwort come into effect.
There had been concerns when Natural England – the Government agency responsible for enforcing The Weeds Act in England – suspended its complaints procedure last year.
But now, from next month, the complaints procedure is to re-open, enabling action against landowners who allow ragwort to spread.
Claire Bell from Red Gorilla says the brand’s new Ragwort Fork arrives as “awareness around welfare, compliance and responsible land management increases.”
The tool has an aluminium shaft, D handle and four steel prongs to extract the complete plant and root.
“As ragwort is highly toxic to horses when ingested, effective and timely removal is critical to protecting horse welfare and safeguarding neighbouring grazing land,” adds Claire.
Complaints about ragwort can be made to Natural England between 1 April and 30 September.
If ragwort poses an immediate risk to horses, it should be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency which is part of DEFRA.
