Author: FVCA

Giant Hogweed has been found growing on the verge of A491 on both sides of the entrance to Wildmoor Quarry.

One is already in bloom, two have buds and there are others currently in leaf. Potentially a public health issue if someone comes into contact with the plant, so PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH.

Worcestershire Highways have been notified.

Giant hogweed is an immensely tall umbellifer (can grow up to 5 metres tall) that displays large, white, umbrella-like clusters of flowers. Its hollow stem is ridged and purple-spotted, and its leaves are large and divided.

The plant produces phytotoxic sap. The sap contains photosensitizing furanocoumarins, which in contact with human skin and combined with UV radiation cause skin burnings. Damaged skin will heal very slowly. Contact can also develop into phytophotodermatitis. This is a type of skin condition that flares up in sunlight and for which there is no straightforward treatment. The intensity of the reaction depends on individual sensitivity. The danger to human health complicates eradication efforts.

If you come across Giant Hogweed elsewhere in Fairfield, Wildmoor or Stoneybridge, please contact us, admin@fvca.org.uk, so that we can monitor and report.

Thank you to everyone who came to our Community Challenge & AGM last night, Wednesday 20th March. 

Despite not many people attending, those present enjoyed the wine & nibbles, and the Community Challenge rounds, which were great fun, some people got carried away with the nursery rhymes.

The committee for the year ahead was elected.  We still have a few spaces if you would like to join us (it’s only 4 or 5 meetings a year).

To view the draft minutes for this year’s Community Association AGM visit https://fvca.org.uk/community-association/

Every year, it is disappointing that not many residents attend our AGMs, which celebrates us as a community and that shows its appreciation for all the volunteers who work hard to benefit Fairfield, Wildmoor & Stoneybridge.   If you don’t agree with what others in the community are doing to benefit where we all live, tell us, and if you appreciate what is being done, by attending this annual event, and occasionally others during the year, it will mean so much to the team.

Dog fouling is an issue that is often raised with the Community Association, and we keep asking that people pick up their dog’s mess from the footpath, verge, farmland and other people’s gardens.

Dog excrement, in addition to it being messy and smelly, can carry bacteria and worms that can be harmful to humans and livestock.

When it comes to the law relating to dog fouling, ignorance is NOT bliss.

Dog fouling in public places is included in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, introduced in 2014.

Public places covered by the law include:

• roads, pavements and public footpaths
• parks and green spaces
• town centres and shopping precincts
• car parks
• playing fields, playgrounds and school grounds

Dog fouling can be reported to Bromsgrove District Council https://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/residents/my-place/street-cleaning/dog-fouling/ . The penalty for not clearing up dog fouling can be up to £1,000 if taken to court, but there is also provision for a fixed penalty scheme.

Exceptions to the offence are:

• The person in charge of the dog has a reasonable excuse for not clearing up. (Being unaware of the fouling or not having the means to clean up is not an excuse.)
• The owner or occupier of the land has consented to the faeces being left
• The person puts the faeces in a bin on the land
• The person in charge of the dog has a registered visual impairment

There are some areas where picking up is not a legal requirement (unless a specific order or bylaw has been placed), and these are heathland, woodland, land used for the grazing of animals.  However, farmers/landowners can seek a private prosecution, using a relevant piece of legislation.  Remember, excrement in the grass and feed can kill livestock, abort unborn lams & calves and can end up on the food that you eat.

With regard the incident that mentioned.  Even though it is fitting that the dog mess should be picked up the legal bit is unclear and whether the mess should be legally picked up will depend on where the dog mess was, i.e. if the dog mess was adjacent to that part of Wood Lane that is a track between Wood Lane Farm and the entrance to Pepperwood that land is private, does not belong to Worcestershire County Council and is designated a bridle path, therefore, it is up to the landowner to say whether he permits dog fouling on his land.