The Weeds Act 1959 (7 & 8 Eliz. II c. 54) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom regarding the control of several injurious weed species throughout the UK. It received Royal Assent on 16 July 1959,[1] and aims to prevent the spread of the Broad Leaved Dock, Common Ragwort, Creeping Thistle, Curled Dock and the Spear Thistle.[2] It allows the Secretary of State, or any person acting on their behalf or the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to use measures of enforcement to prevent the spread of weeds on private land,[3] which, if not adhered to by the owner of said land, can lead to a fine up to £1000.00 and further punishment.[1] This Act is amended by the Ragwort Control Act 2003.
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The Broad Leaved Dock is a resilient and common perennial plant found in grasslands throughout the United Kingdom. Unaffected by regular climatic variations and all but the most acidic soils, the Broad Leaved Dock can produce around 60,000 seeds a year and flowers from June to October. The seeds are capable of surviving for a maximum of 50 years in soil due to a 'chemical that inhibits microbial decay'.[4]
The Curled Dock is found mostly in meadowland, wasteland, sand dunes, and dry soils. The Curled Dock can be annual, biennial, or perennial, and can produce 3000 to 4000 seeds per plant.[5] Although said to contribute to animal wellbeing by providing nutrience which would otherwise be absent, it also contains high levels of oxalic acid which could be damaging to stock.[6]
The Creeping Thistle is a common resilient perennial plant found in grasslands throughout the United Kingdom. Characterised by spined, lobed leaves, it stands up to one metre high and blooms with light purple flowers between the months of July and September. Its root system is very deep, exteniding a maximum of three metres underground and six metres throughout its surrounding area;[7] as such, it is very hard to remove from an affected area. It is fiercely competitive with other plants or crops and can release a natural biocide into the soil to inhibit growth of other species. Transmitted by wind when pollinated, the downy white pappus can spread far and presents a fire hazard[8].
The Common Ragwort is a biennial yellow angiosperm which is capable of growing to 30–100 cm in height. Prolific in seed distribution, an individual Ragwort can produce a maximum of 30,000 to 150,000 seeds, which can survive for a maximum of 10 to 15 years in surrounding soil. Highly toxic to cattle, horses, pigs, deer, and goats, the Ragwort has a high alkaloid concentration which causes liver damage. Sheep are less affected but can suffer from consumption as the effect is 'cumulative'.[9][10]
The Spear Thistle is an annual or biennial plant which forms dark purple or reddish flowers above dark green, spiked leaves. A plant found in pastoral land and along roads, it is easily spread by vehicles as they pass by.[11] A severely competitive plant, it can eliminate pastoral crop and open crops to infestation by insects; the spikes can also dislodge from the plant and attach to wool, thereby presenting a problem for shearers.[12]