Ragwort a plant often the subject of overreaction due to it causing animal deaths on rare occasions is an important plant for wildlife. Specifically it is important for invertebrates, The cinnabar moth is well known, but it is much more important than that at least 30 species of invertebrates are completely reliant on ragwort as a source of food.
There are also many other species which use it as one of their food sources and because of its commonness it is a significant and important source for maintaining viable populations.
It is also important nectar course for invertebrates such as solitary bees , hoverflies, conopid flies , butterflies and wasps.
Populations of rare insects can be damaged by habitat damage on a metre scale so it is important that populations of ragwort on verges and similar places are not destroyed as a result of ignorant overreaction.
As such Swansea Friends of the earth is concerned like many other conservationists at the gross overreaction and hysteria which surrounds the plant an seeks through its work to educate the public to think in a rational and informed manner about the plant, taking account of the science.
We are concerned that much of what is said is uninformed incorrect and often driven by emotional responses rather than rational thinking.