BBC Gardeners' World star Frances Tophill issues plea over common weed and says 'legally speaking'

Gardeners' World presenter Frances Tophill has issued a plea over the Ragwort plant - which she revealed can be a legal issue for homeowners. The BBC gardening expert explained how the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs can issue a notice to land owners requiring them to remove the weed if it poses a risk, as it is poisonous to livestock.

But sharing a picture of a cinnabar moth on a Ragwort plant, Frances urged gardeners not to get rid of it straight away. She wrote: "Ragwort and cinnabar moth they go together like jam and cream. In fact the moth cannot live without the ragwort.

"I found these down my road. The world at large hates the ragwort because it is poisonous to livestock but only really a risk when it gets included in hay - so if growing in a hay meadow.

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"In the wild animals avoid eating it. Legally speaking DEFRA are able to issue notice requiring land owners to remove this weed if required and if it poses a risk, but you do not automatically have eradicate it. If you do, then what would the cinnabars eat?!! #wildlifeplanting #wildflowers #wasteland."

The post received many comments from interested gardeners. Katherine_waggywilma said: "Exactly, leave the ragwort, thrilled to see cinnabar moth caterpillars on a plant I'd let grow on my allotment...felt bad catching them with the cold water whilst watering, did say sorry..."

by_nicola's commented: "I love watching these little beasts devour Ragwort. They are an essential part of Summer. Like the sound of crickets in my front and back garden (meadow). Missing from so many. These sights and sounds are frickin’ amazing, fascinating, astounding. Love your post. I thank you."

laylarosheen added: "So glad you have posted this - we have a self seeded Ragwort in our back garden which is about 4ft x 3ft and just about to flower, we've actually seen cinnabar moths in our garden too"