A summer grassland maintenance job is ragwort pulling. This is done throughout the grasslands over the summer at Saltholme and is a continuous job over each summer in order to control the amount of ragwort that is present.
When the ragwort grows and begins to disperse its seeds it will increase its range year on year as would many other plant species. The issue with allowing a species like ragwort to expand its range – it can become harmful for horses and cattle in the surrounding areas which shouldn’t eat the ragwort as it can be toxic to them as they feed amongst it and other plant species on the grasses.
Ragwort is noticeable on grasslands because of its yellow flowers and the plant that stands upright, in bunches from midsummer until the autumn.
Removing ragwort completely is not a good idea due to the plant providing a source of food for the cinnabar caterpillars, I saw the caterpillars only by being up close because the pattern of orange and black is a deterrent but also a form of camouflage. My image below shows the caterpillar feeding underneath the yellow foliage. The growing ragwort, tall and in full flower can reach above and outcompete the grasses in some areas that make the 'grassland' what it is where by cattle can continue to feed safely and make an increasingly diverse habitat.
My second picture from today was going against the sun glare but gives a good angle that shows the estate team volunteers working today.
- Josh McGowan
Love the stripy caterpillars - so different from the bright pink and black moths!
All the best,
Alyson