Have you ever grown parsnips? These look like parsnips. Flowers indicate it could be from last year.

Hi Bathgate, I’m not sure, I’m asking for a friend. I’ll ask him.

They are not parsnips, I have just pulled one out that is going to seed. the leaf is less 'cut'

is it a self sown 'weed' or a cultivated plant that he cant remember?

Just be absolutely certain it's not wild parsnip because the sap can give you a nasty burn if you touch it. It looks strangely similar but it's not something I have here in NY.

The leaf is wrong for our native one Paul.
It is bugging me as I recognise it.

Is it Mizuna? Think the oak leaf type is called mizunara

Thank you all, he says he didn’t plant it and it’s growing through a lavender plant.

Could it be Hogweed? It's a white umbellifer, & a weed anyway, whichever one.