People in Scotland have been issued an urgent warning over giant hogweed as kids break up for the summer holidays.
This comes as giant hogweed is spreading rapidly around Scotland and in Glasgow. Experts are warning of the serious dangers it possesses as more people will be venturing outside.
With warm weather and no school, many will be out and about and NatureScot and Care of Burns in Scotland Managed Clinical Network (COBIS) are urging people to become familiar with what it looks like as the plant can cause serious burns. Every year children, gardeners, walkers and animals are hurt by giant hogweed.
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Burns can occur after being in contact with giant hogweed sap. It contains a toxic chemical, which sensitises the skin to sunlight and causes severe blisters, resulting in burns which can be serious and long lasting.
Although not native to Scotland, giant hogweed has been detected in the country, mostly found alongside river banks on waste ground and beside roads and train tracks. Giant hogweed looks like large cows parsnip with stems are green with purple blotches and covered with bristly hairs, and when fully grown, it can reach towering heights of between 1.5m to 5m.
NatureScot’s Invasive Species Policy Manager Stan Whitaker said: “It’s really important for people to be able to recognise giant hogweed so they can avoid potentially serious injury. Thankfully the plant is relatively easy to identify when fully grown due to its enormous size of between two and four metres tall, with large white clusters of flowers up to 80 centimetres wide.
“Its leaves are very large and sharply divided and can be over one metre across while the stems are green with purple blotches and covered with bristly hairs.”
Mr Whitaker continued: “As well as being a health risk to people and animals, giant hogweed is also a risk to our environment because it forms dense patches which crowd out our native plants. It can be very tricky to eradicate, because each plant produces over 20,000 seeds, which can live in the soil for up to five years, so land owners need to take a long-term approach to removing it every year, before it flowers.”
Eleanor Robertson, Senior Clinical Research Fellow at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “This plant, although impressive to look at, is best avoided and reported to your local council. If you do come in to contact with the plant, you must cover the affected area to block sunlight then thoroughly wash the area to remove the sap. Should redness or blistering occur, you should seek medical help.”
While there is no legal requirement to control it, the owner of the land on which giant hogweed is present has responsibility for the plant. It in an offence to cause this species to grow in the wild.
What does giant hogweed look like?
NatureScot explains how to recognise giant hogweed:
- Typically 2-4 m tall, with large white clusters of flowers up to 80 cm across – looking like a giant cow parsley.
- Leaves are very large and sharply divided and can be over 1m across.
- Stems are green with purple blotches and covered with bristly hairs.
What to do if in contact with giant hogweed
- Cover the affected area, and wash it with soap and water soon as possible following contact.
- Keep the area away from sunlight for at least 48 hours (this includes sunlight on dull, overcast days).
- If you feel unwell after contact with giant hogweed, speak to your doctor.
- Protect the sensitive areas with sun-screen in the following months.
Areas in and around Glasgow currently suffering from giant hogweed include:
- Tennent's Park, Duke Street
- Kelvingrove Park, next to Kelvin Way
- Beneath the Clydeside Expressway under River Kelvin bridge
- Brisbane Street
- Cartside Quadrant
- Pollok Country Park
- Richmond Park
You can see the full interactive map here.
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