Giant Hogweed

[kowen]

What is the best way of removing Giant Hogweed from an area?

The local council have told me they will remove GH, if resources allow, from public areas but cannot guarantee a year on year effort. They admit this is next to useless especially if the surrounding private land is contaminated.

I approached the Environment Agency, asking if they could advise me how to officially report GH. I have yet to receive a reply.

I keep thinking about the countryside and wildlife act 1981 which covers GH, if all else fails can I just report the matter to the Police?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by kowen

What is the best way of removing Giant Hogweed from an area?

The local council have told me they will remove GH, if resources allow, from public areas but cannot guarantee a year on year effort. They admit this is next to useless especially if the surrounding private land is contaminated.

I approached the Environment Agency, asking if they could advise me how to officially report GH. I have yet to receive a reply.

I keep thinking about the countryside and wildlife act 1981 which covers GH, if all else fails can I just report the matter to the Police?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm sure you know, but do be careful. It's such a dangerous plant. I'd definitely leave it to experts with suits and masks and gloves!
Awesome looking plant though and somewhat triffidy!

[mrs fish]

Why would you like it removed?
Is it on or near a childrens play area?

I know of only one or two plants and think they are amazing

[GuyF]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what's wrong with Giant Hogweed? If it's the plant I'm thinking of (the one that's flowers look like giant Cow Parsley) I've got some growing in the bottom of the garden. I'd always assumed it was native but I could well be wrong.
Guy

[thunder]

Originally Posted by GuyF

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what's wrong with Giant Hogweed? If it's the plant I'm thinking of (the one that's flowers look like giant Cow Parsley) I've got some growing in the bottom of the garden. I'd always assumed it was native but I could well be wrong.
Guy

The problem with Giant Hogweed is that the sap, if splashed on the skin and not washed off, reacts with sunlight to cause extremely unpleasant and painful blisters. This is a problem for anyone cutting it, and for children playing with it. It can also be quite invasive. However, in the right place it does look spectacular, which is why it was introduced in the first place.

thunder

[mrs fish]

True Giant Hogweed can grow to 12 foot, it can burn the skin so mustn't be touched

Info
Environment Agency - Giant Hogweed Information

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by GuyF

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what's wrong with Giant Hogweed? If it's the plant I'm thinking of (the one that's flowers look like giant Cow Parsley) I've got some growing in the bottom of the garden. I'd always assumed it was native but I could well be wrong.
Guy

The sap from the plant can burn you if you are sunlight. It can cause permanent scars. It is very dangerous. I've seen it once and the area was blocked off while it was being removed. I'm not 100% sure but I think it's not a native plant. Bit like the Japanese knotweed etc.

[GuyF]

Thanks for the info.
I will take a photo tomorrow of the plants which I think might be Giant Hogweed and post them, then I will know whether to be careful of them or not.
Guy

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by GuyF

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what's wrong with Giant Hogweed? If it's the plant I'm thinking of (the one that's flowers look like giant Cow Parsley) I've got some growing in the bottom of the garden. I'd always assumed it was native but I could well be wrong.
Guy

there is nothing inherently wrong with it - but it has caustic sap which causes burns/blisters on the skin especially under sunlight - children have been known to burn/poison themselves by making pea shooters etc out of its hollow stems and therefore it is generally removed from public areas

it is also a menace to those who do strimmer/brushcutter work as when you hit it you are wont to get showered in sap which can result in you going down town of a saturday night looking as tho you have leprosy *speaking from bitter personal experience here* the important thing if you do get the sap on you is to wash it off straight away and if you do get blisters / rash not to scratch it as this will cause it to scar

the best way to kill it is to carefully, wearing apprpriate PPE, cut the stem about a ft from the ground then fill the hollow stem with concentrated round up or other glyphosate based weedkiller

[Hornbeam]

It is a beautiful and much abused plant. So much "triffid" nonsense was written about it when it had already been growing harmlesswly for over 100 years in Britain. Will the health and safety nannies also insist that we destroy stinging nettles and the many toxic plants in our flora?