News


downsmail.co.uk Ragwort ‘could kill horses’


HORSE owners are beingwarned of the deadly dangers of ragwort,which is about come into full bloomthis summer.


Ingestion of the weed – either


alive or dead – by horses can result in fatal liver failure. According to the British Horse


Society (BHS), many owners are unaware of how dangerous rag- wort can be. Spokesman Gemma Stanford


said: “Our focus is centred onmak- ing horse owners and landowners aware of the dangers of ragwort and its impact on equinewelfare. “We still see many owners who


are unaware of the dangers of leav- ing horses grazing among ragwort, and this is where we are concen- trating our resources. “The BHS has a network ofmore


than 200 volunteerwelfare officers who provide advice, support and education about ragwort, so if you are concerned, please get in touch with us.” Maidstone-based Kent Wildlife


Trust says that ragwort can be found in all habitats in Kent and is


Air show to mark RAF


centenary THE Battle of BritainAir Show returns to Headcorn Aero- drome this summer. Commemorating the 78th


anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the 100th year since the RAFwas formed, the event on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1 will be at- tended by cadets from across the county and serving officers and veterans. Flights will run throughout


the day, with the main dis- plays frommidday to 3.30pm. A spokesman said: “This


yearwill featuremore aircraft, with several Spitfires andHur- ricanes and attendance from the RAF Battle of Britain Me- morial Flight.” Other attractions will in-


clude a funfair, stalls, choreo- graphed air displays and flight experiences. On Saturday evening there


will also be a chance to dance to live music from the Clefhangers Big Band and the Patriot Girls. For details and tickets, visit


www.headcornevents.co.uk or call 0845 652 6263.


22 Maidstone Weald June 2018 Girls pull their weight in the tug-of-war at a previous Hunton fete The yellow-flowered ragwort can be deadly to horses and cattle


present fromJune untilNovember. A spokesman said: “The daisy-


like, yellow flower heads of com- mon ragwort may be pretty enough to the casual observer, but they belie the poisonous nature of this plant. “Renowned as a weed of pad-


harmful to livestock, it is not usu- ally such an issue in gardens or on waste grounds.” Common ragwort, which can


also be very hazardous to cattle, is one of five harmful plants specified in theWeedsAct 1959. The primary responsibility for


docks and pastures,where it can be weed control lieswith the occupier


of the land concerned, but govern- ment department Defra can take action should there be a risk of it spreading to neighbouring land. Defra guidance states: “Ragwort


is a potential killer. It is important to ensure that, before animals are allowed to graze, ragwort plants are removed or have completely disappeared after using control techniques.” Ragwort, once removed, should


be burned. Naturalist Theo Mccausland,


who lives near Langley, said: “Rag- wort is a favoured food of the cinnabar moth’s caterpillar, which totally strips its leaves off. “You’ll often see a farmer cutting


grass for hay, hop from the tractor and pull ragwort out by the roots if they find it. “Even dry, it can be fatal to live-


stock. In your garden, it is harmless enough and does have a purpose in the food chain.”


£10 rise in students’ bus pass


STUDENTS’ travel costs are set to rise, with news that the region’s Young Person’s Travel Pass is to go up by £10. The pass, which goes on sale


from June 4, will now cost £290 – the result of a general rise in bus fares, according to Kent County Council (KCC). The pass, which helps about


25,000 children, costs KCC £8.5 million a year in subsidies. The county council’s cabinet


member for transport Mike Whit- ing said the county council had been put in the “unenviable posi-


tion of having to put up the cost of the pass” because of increases in bus fares. He added: “KCC does not have


to provide the pass, but we do so because we want to promote sus- tainable school travel on the public bus network. “Parents have a choice to get the


pass or pay the operator the bus fare direct, which in some cases could cost up to £740.” The passwas introduced byKCC


in 2014, offering subsidised travel for students from Monday to Fri- day between 6am and 7pm, and


also on Arriva and Stagecoach buses at the weekend and in the school holidays. Kent Youth County Council


Transport Committee chairs Kyle Siwek and Freddy Waters say the scheme is good value formoney. Mr Siwek said: “The Young Per-


son’s Travel Pass allows students to travel to school for £1.50 a day, which provides better value than buying tickets on the bus. We are grateful to KCC for continuing to support the pass.” The cost of the pass for low-in- come familieswill remain at £100.


Traditional family fun at village fete


IF you’re looking for a traditional village fete, then Hunton could be the venue for you. The event, from2-5pmon Satur-


day, June 16, will be offering tradi- tional treats including a coconut shy, plant stall, WI bakes, tug-of- war contest, a fun dog show, jazz band and a barbecue. Froojamaflip, an 8ft stilted char-


acter,will join Fred the gardener to give away seeds, fruit and vegeta- bles. The event is at The Village Hall


and King George V Playing Field in West Street. Friends, family and pets arewelcome.


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