h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought that this was poisonous? Shouldn't be be pleased that it's been crowded out?

Who's be? And why does her opinion count for so much?

I meant we!

If it's found on private property the owner has to remove it. I know this because I have some growing in my garden. The coucil told me that I had to tidy my garden up, but they shut up as soon as I told them they'd better come and clear out the ragwort.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/weedsact/weedscontrol.htm#ragwort

Hiya
Sorry it took me sometime to get around to this but I'm still having probs with the flu.
Ragwort is a very poisonous plant I agree but many poisonous plants are used in medicine.I'm not sure if ragwort has been used as yet but will endeavour to try and find out.
Wormwood,also known as Absinthe or green ginger is known to have poisonous effects especially when used over a prolonged period.Foxglove is a common garden plant but when taken in larger quantities is deadly and even the acurately named Deadly Nightshade is used in medicine today but the berries can kill if eaten.Yet these plants are not removed.I've found Deadly Nightshade easily while walking in the countryside and ragwort and many other deadly plants.
I was taught as a young child about what plants were safe and which were not.The same as we were taught about Adders and grass snakes.However as in the case of the rabbits if you remove one species from an area then things become unbalanced and the knock on effects can be devastating to say the least.
For one species has an affect on others and the same can be said for ALL life on this planet.No matter how large or small the organism you will find it affects other species if you follow its own chain from the producers to the consumers.Everything does affect everything else and to change one part could have an affect on the larger whole in the long run.