IN Response to your article regarding the ragwort problem at the plant centre in Buttercrambe, I also lease property and land from Aldby Park estate, where I keep my much-loved horses (The Press, September 19).

I have nothing but respect and admiration for Mr Winn-Darley and his efforts to protect his and surrounding land from ragwort. The ragwort’s yellow flower is enough to put panic in to the heart of any horse owner. I can only assume that Ms Lloyd is unaware of the agonising death that can result in horses eating this plant.

Ms Lloyd’s comment that the ragwort in her orchard “can do no harm to animals as animals do not go in the orchard” is ridiculous. I assume birds will frequent the orchard as will rabbits, whose scratching activity spreads the seeds as they drop. These factors, along with a nice windy day, means the seeds can be spread across a much wider area without any effort.

I sympathise with Ms Lloyd’s ill health and stress, but respectfully suggest that the stress levels could be greatly reduced were she to just dig up the offending plants by the roots, as requested.

Sue Norman, Scrayingham, York.

• PLEASE can I respond to the ragwort article. Firstly, the ragwort was not in the gardens but across the car park, tucked in a corner of the orchard. Over the railings to this is a large lawned garden, where no horses or cattle roam.

I contacted The Press myself because Mr Winn-Darley told me I had to leave because I wouldn’t pull the ragwort in front of him immediately. I took the trouble to explain why I had left it there, but he appeared not to be interested and told me cinnabar caterpillars are never seen in Yorkshire.

He has not ‘championed’ any conservation projects on the site whatsoever in the past two years, so far as I can see.

My response to the ragwort demand was the last and final issue I could deal with from Mr Winn-Darley. I am not an inconsiderate person and love all animals, insects and wildlife and the stems were cut as soon as the flowers died, before they had set seed.

Ann Lloyd, Address supplied.

• FOR Ann Lloyd to describe ragwort as a native species is inaccurate. It was introduced into Oxford from Sicily in the 18th century, from where it latterly escaped and spread far and wide during the Industrial Revolution, as its seeds were carried along the railways.

It does support a number of invertebrate species, notably the cinnabar moth. It’s a shame Ms Lloyd and her landlord cannot reach an amicable agreement, but like many of the non-native species, we can find that unless managed and in the right surroundings they can become prolific and cause mayhem.

Mick Phythian, York Natural Environment Trust, Monkton Road, York.