A warning has been issued to residents and users of a canal towpath in Greater Manchester after a toxic plant which can cause excruciating blisters was spotted.
A runner saw a Giant Hogweed plant sprouting on the Manchester Ship Canal towpath on Monday (June 12), and reported it to Salford City Council. Posting on social media, they said it was between the Dock5 building and Woden’s footbridge.
The plant can grow up to five metres tall, and the specimen seen in Salford was far taller than protective railings on the towpath. Giant Hogweed is known for its ability to cause particularly painful blisters.
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“The sap of giant hogweed can cause burns,” the Woodland Trust warns. “It contains furocoumarin, which makes skin extremely sensitive to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis).
“If the sap gets onto your skin and it's then exposed to the sun, your skin can blister badly. Blistering can then recur over months and even years. This is known as phytotoxicity.
“The best way to avoid injury is to familiarise yourself with the plant and avoid contact with your skin. Brushing through patches of giant hogweed and exposing yourself to plants that have been cut might cause you to get sap on your skin.”
If you do get sap on your skin, it’s best to wash the area as soon as possible, and very thoroughly. Then, you should seek medical advice and keep the area affected shielded from sunlight for a few days.
In Salford, the plant has been removed, according to Councillor Barbara Bentham. The council’s lead member for environment, neighbourhoods, sport and leisure, thanked members of the public for reporting the problem.
“We’ve already removed the foliage encroaching on the path to make it as safe as we can for pedestrians and have alerted the landowner to its presence on land beyond the fence,” she added. “Giant Hogweed is very invasive and spreads rapidly and medical advice is to avoid contact because its sap makes skin extremely sensitive to sunlight which can cause recurring blisters.”
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