DORSET residents are being urged to treat Giant Hogweed with caution as they head out into their gardens and the surrounding countryside this summer.
The invasive weed has been increasingly reported nationally in recent weeks and there have been incidents elsewhere of injuries to children.
With the summer holidays underway, The Property Care Association is warning people of the risks to youngsters and to those tasked with removing the plant unless correct safety measures are introduces.
It says Giant Hogweed sap is extremely toxic to the skin in sunlight, making it a serious and significant danger to public health.
Contact with any part of the plant, followed by exposure to sunlight, can cause severe blistering to the skin and discomfort, the latter possibly recurring over a number of years.
Chairman of the PCA’s specialist Invasive Weed Control Group Professor Max Wade and fellow senior ecologist Dr Mark Fennell have shared their expertise to produce a wide-range of information covering the species of non-native plant.
The guidance note can be viewed at www.property-care.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Guidance-Note-Giant-Hogweed.pdf
Stephen Hodgson, chief executive of the PCA, said: "Giant Hogweed is widespread and the problems it can cause are certainly not insignificant.
"Children in particular are going to come across it and the general public, as well as local authorities, statutory agencies and landowners on whose property people can come into contact with the plant need to be aware of the risks.
"Giant Hogweed needs to be controlled and managed professionally."
Giant Hogweed, along with the more widely known Japanese Knotweed, is increasingly coming under the spotlight of land and property professionals and new legislation that comes into force next year could see companies that fail to deal with the problem fined up to £20,000 and individuals up to £2,500.
The regulations will also empower government agencies to issue Control Orders that necessitate the removal of high risk invasive weed species from specified areas, which could potentially include derelict sites, public land, construction sites and neighbouring properties.
CONTACT ME
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e: harry.hogger@dorsetecho.co.uk
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