Volunteers battled for years to remove the noxious plant which stands about 2ft high sporting bright yellow flowers.

All sorts of ideas were put forward to eradicate or at least control the weed without any great success.

One ingenious idea in 1965 was to put more than 1,000 cinnabar caterpillars on the meadow.

According to experts at the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists’ Trust, the only food they liked was ragwort.

Nearby allotment holders objected, arguing that the caterpillars would eat their cabbages and other vegetables, but were assured they would eat only ragwort.

Sadly, the experiment failed when the caterpillars grew fat on the weed, turned into chrysalises, became butterflies and flew away.

The experts scoured the meadow in vain for any sign of the insects, and the ragwort shot up next summer just as hardy.

One strain of the weed was called Oxford ragwort, which came originally from the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily.

It was brought to the Oxford Botanic Garden between 1670 and 1680 and the seeds apparently escaped over the garden wall to the outside world.

Former Botanic Garden superintendent Ken Burras told the Oxford Mail: “Once it had escaped, dispersed by its silky parachute-like wings, the seed was whisked through the city.”

Then, with the coming of the railways, the seeds were transported around the country.

At first, Oxford ragwort, with yellow flowers and 2ft high very similar to the original plant, could only be seen growing alongside railway tracks, but it later spread almost everywhere.

One expert said: “It particularly likes building sites and stone crevices.”

Roger Clarke, of the Naturalists’ Trust, watched by the Sheriff of Oxford, Olive Gibbs, puts caterpillars on the ragwort in 1965 (Image: Oxford Mail)

The most effective way of getting rid of ragwort was to pull it up by its roots and burn it, a job which could be back breaking.

The idea of spraying Port Meadow to kill it was ruled out for fears of killing other flora.

By 1980, another problem was rearing its head – thistles were taking over a large part of the meadow.

Oxford City Council’s answer was to use weedkiller, but that brought immediate protests from Wolvercote Commoners and eminent scientists.

They claimed that cutting the thistles would have “huge advantages” by being cheaper and less destructive.

Other voices were raised in defence of the meadow’s colony of goldfinches. It was claimed they were likely to be left homeless if all the thistles were removed.

With so many different views, beleaguered council officials wondered which way to turn next!

The top picture shows Fred Archer, a freeman of Oxford, examining the ragwort on Port Meadow in 1975 while in the lower picture, Roger Clarke, of the Naturalists’ Trust, watched by the Sheriff of Oxford, Olive Gibbs, puts caterpillars on the ragwort in 1965.

Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore tells the story of Bob and Barbara Jackson, a middle-aged couple living a peaceful life in 1960s Ruislip, until a Scotland Yard detective arrives and asks to use their house to observe a suspected Soviet spy ring.

The play is set to run at the Players Theatre in Thame from July 7 to July 11, with performances each evening at 7.45pm and an additional matinee at 2.30pm on July 11.

Based on the true events of the Portland spy ring in the early 1960s, the Jacksons face the ultimate test of loyalty when they discover the suspected spies are their close friends and neighbours, Peter and Helen Kroger.

The London West End production in 1983 starred Judi Dench and Michael Williams.

Dame Judi won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance.

This amateur production of Pack of Lies is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

Tickets are priced between £10 and £12.

They can be booked online at www.thameplayers.co.uk, through the Information Centre at Thame Town Hall, or by calling 01844 212833.

The Cotswold Home in Burford celebrated the special day on May 12 by giving gifts to its nurses, past and present.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

The date acknowledges the contribution nurses make to society, raises the profile of nursing, and recognises the increasing challenges in the everyday environment.

Michelle Francis, head of nursing at Elizabeth Finn Homes, visited The Cotswold Home with cards and gift hampers for the nurses to say thank you for their dedication.

This also included former nurses among the home’s current residents.

Ms Francis said: “It was an absolute pleasure to thank our nursing teams and a great opportunity for them to take time out from their busy day and know that they are much appreciated.

“Of equal importance are former nurses whose service is not forgotten.”

At the Cotswold Home, nursing is an integral part of the care on offer, with registered nurses on hand 24 hours a day as part of the staff team.

The Cotswold Home, built in traditional Cotswold style, is in Bradwell Village, just outside Burford.

The home is part of the Elizabeth Finn Homes group and provides 51 en-suite rooms, which include residential and nursing care.

The care home also has extensive, landscaped gardens and newly refurbished communal rooms.

Across care homes, hospitals, schools, and the community, there are more than 850,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates registered to practice in the UK according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.