Random Thoughts

[Eoin McLove]

From the little I know of ragwort, it seems to dominate the landscape when it gets in and crowds out all other vegetation resulting in more of a monoculture than would be the aim of the rewilder. But it does pose an interesting dilemma when you factor in the hands off approach that is central to that project.

[son of the Morrigan]

Well, as I said, its illegal to allow it to grow on your land,it spreads voraciously and will become a problem for neighboring farms where there are ruminants, It also kills wild deer.
It grows at a very fast rate and will take over his land, stealing nutrients and sunlight from other plants and grasses and in fact destroying the biodiversity  there presently.
If he wants 300 hectares of ragwort in a few years time and to have the law and the neighbors on his back then by all means let it grow away.
If he wants to maintain the biodiversity of his rewilded land and stay within the law then he needs to pull the ragwort now, before it gets out of hand.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Well, apparently it's been seven years now "with no weeding", so maybe the ragwort is outperformed by other species in a situation of genuine rewilding, as opposed to short term neglect...? And is the danger to wild deer genuine? Will wild animals eat or avoid living ragwort plants? And if they don't avoid it, will that simply become part of population control, in a country where deer culls are still in force?

Either way, I'm guessing that the "rewilding" status gives him protection against certain laws that would otherwise apply to the land designated as such. Unsurprisingly though - given that apparently there's almost none of it happening on the island - there is essentially no information available on rewilding and the law in Ireland. Maybe, for example, he has to respect certain distances between his rewilded zones and neighbouring agricultural land...? Who knows, but clearly weeding and the concept of rewilding don't exactly go together.

[son of the Morrigan]

The funny thing about Ragwort is that when it's in bloom it isn't poisonous but animals find it unpalatable and won't eat it, when it dies off in autumn it becomes sweet and animals love eating it, unfortunately this is also the stage at which it is poisonous. this means it's dangerous if it gets into meadow that is then saved for hay of silage.
Re. the law, my understanding is that ragworth must be controlled regardless of whether the land is classed as rewilded or not. It is a listed plant.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Since we're in the random thoughts thread, you'll forgive me hopping straight to this one: "Tune!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbgKEjNBHqM

[son of the Morrigan]

You have bloom on the brain from reading fucking Ulysses lad.

[Giggles]

It grows at a very fast rate and will take over his land, stealing nutrients and sunlight from other plants and grasses and in fact destroying the biodiversity  there presently.
If he wants 300 hectares of ragwort in a few years time and to have the law and the neighbors on his back then by all means let it grow away.

If the entire island decided to start rewilding overnight, could we end up as an island of mostly ragwort many years down the line?

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

You have bloom on the brain from reading fucking Ulysses lad.

[son of the Morrigan]

It grows at a very fast rate and will take over his land, stealing nutrients and sunlight from other plants and grasses and in fact destroying the biodiversity  there presently.
If he wants 300 hectares of ragwort in a few years time and to have the law and the neighbors on his back then by all means let it grow away.

If the entire island decided to start rewilding overnight, could we end up as an island of mostly ragwort many years down the line?

No. What is presently grassland. would be overtaken by different invasive species such thistle,rush, broom, briar, ragwort etc. depending on its soil type, ph value, moisture level, etc. for a period of time until the trees finally take over and return the island to its natural state, that of a forest.

[Mr Barlow]

Just flicking through the TV channels and stumbled on The Sopranos. Meadow has an Ulver poster on her bedroom wall !

[91/30]

While I applaud his efforts re. rewilding, it should be pointed out that the yellow plant there in the photo in the middle of that article is ragwort, a noxious plant which is illegal to have growing on your land, It spreads seed like fuck and is poisonous if ingested by ruminants when it's dying off in autumn.
The good Baron would want to get pulling that fairly lively or he'll find the place covered in it.

Growing up any farmer who had a fair amount of these on his land was regarded as a bit of a fuckin eejit. 
Pulling them out is the only way to get rid of them.
I spent many the summer day trying to rip the bastards out, not easy when they get to around a metre in height.

[Carnage]

I hadn't realised until tonight how grey my hair is. Grand.

[Kunt 4 Life]

Do pubes go grey too?

[astfgyl]

Do pubes go grey too?

I'll be shaving all mine off as soon as that kicks in. Thus far my beard is gone fairly white, but the body hair has refused to join the party.

[ochoill]

Do pubes go grey too?

I'll be shaving all mine off as soon as that kicks in. Thus far my beard is gone fairly white, but the body hair has refused to join the party.

I'm dusted all over, it isn't too disappointing