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Stone calls for action over ‘stinking willie’ weed





Councillor Jamie Stone has called for action on the 'stinking willie' weed.
Councillor Jamie Stone has called for action on the 'stinking willie' weed.

A NORTH Holyrood hopeful has called on the Scottish Government to take action on a weed known as “stinking willie”.

Jamie Stone, who is hoping to become the Lib Dem contender for the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross seat in the Scottish Parliament elections next year, wants something to be done to deal with the problem.

The increasing occurrence of the poisonous weed ragwort, or “stinking willie”, has been drawn to the attention of Highland Council and Scottish Government roads officials.

Mr Stone, an Easter Ross Highland councillor, said: “Much of the Highlands are agriculturally livestock intensive and it is worrying that some stretches of Scottish Government roads passing through these areas show an increasing amount of ragweed growing on their verges.

“Ragweed is poisonous and if cut and dried with grass into hay, then it is deadly poisonous to livestock, particularly cattle and horses. The Scottish Government cannot be allowed to tolerate this weed growing on the verges of roads like the A9, and then seeding into next-door fields where animals graze or where hay is to be cut.”

Government representatives have agreed to review control measures for ragweed and to report back to Highland Council.


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