I think it's pot marigold, calendula officinalis. Phil J

its not a calendula, the leaf is wrong. I have seen it before but cant think of its name at the moment. how big is the flower? bigger or saller than a buttercup Janey?

No not calendula, I have them Phil. The leaf and growth reminds me of Phlox...the flower is larger than a buttercup Sbg..the size on the photo really. It must be a weed......

Janey, do the leaves spiral around the stem or are they held in pairs? I can't help thinking its an American daisy of some sort (leaves in pairs) such as Heliopsis?

Just checked them Fractal, and their held in pairs....the plant itself looks to be a wild one, whereas the flower could be more domesticated.....????

I suspect Heliopsis is the plant. Several have creeping roots and spread quickly. Not a native plant but could become naturalised.

No I'm sure it's not Fractal...it's about 12" tall and the flower is just over an inch in dia...also the stem and leaves are soft and fleshy.

I wonder if its the Dahlia relative Yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia).

Thanks Fractal and I thought you had it there...but the leaf is wrong...the flower is like the uvedalia, but not the leaf. The only way I think there was so much of it growing was that the seeds are used in wild bird food.

Found it Fractal....you'll never guess!! It's a Niger plant Guizotia abyssinica, sprouted from all the seeds we bought for the Goldfinches in the winter...fancy that!

New one to me. The Asteraceae is of course absolutely massively humongous!

Yes your right...there are so many under the Aster family, of course not a native plant...so it'll have to go....when you think of all the foreign plants that are thriving here now, and so many taking over....you would think foreign seeds in bird food wouldn't be available......if the birds are coming here it must be to our native species that they are attracted???

Its certainly preferable I would have thought Janey.