**Warning Issued Over Common UK Plant Capable of Causing Lasting Burns and Blindness**
Residents across the UK are being urgently warned about the dangers posed by Giant Hogweed, an invasive plant infamous for its severe health risks. Experts indicate that mere contact with this plant can result in burns, skin sensitivity that may linger for years, and even, in the most serious cases, permanent blindness.
Giant Hogweed, easily identified by its towering height and large white flower heads, often grows undetected along riverbanks and woodland paths. Its alarming similarity to more benign species, such as Cow Parsley, means many remain unaware of the peril until it is too late. According to Jennifer Holmes of Environment Controls, the plant’s sap should be avoided at all costs due to its highly toxic nature.
“The sap of Giant Hogweed contains furocoumarins,” Holmes explained, “which render skin extraordinarily sensitive to sunlight. Even accidental contact can be extremely dangerous for both people and animals. Worryingly, the damage may not be immediately apparent—the first symptoms can take several hours, or even up to two days, to reveal themselves.”
Contact with the sap can cause the skin to erupt in painful blisters. Uniquely, these burns tend to reappear whenever the affected skin is subsequently exposed to sunlight, with reactions repeating even years after the incident. This recurring photosensitivity sets Giant Hogweed apart from ordinary burns or stings one might encounter outdoors.
Aside from skin injury, Giant Hogweed sap also poses a grave threat to sight. If the toxic liquid enters the eyes, it can cause intense pain, temporary blindness, and in some cases, irreversible damage. This heightened level of risk throws a particular spotlight on the risk to curious children and roaming pets, who may inadvertently disturb the plant.
Giant Hogweed is listed as an invasive non-native species under The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019. It is illegal to plant or allow it to spread in the wild. Landowners are obliged to prevent its proliferation and could face legal action should the weed encroach onto neighbouring properties.
Spotting Giant Hogweed is key to personal safety. Experts encourage walkers and gardeners to be vigilant for its hallmarks: immense growth, sometimes exceeding three metres (10 feet) high; umbrella-shaped white flowers up to half a metre wide; sturdy, ridged stems tinged with purple blotches and covered in white bristles; and spectacularly broad, jagged leaves. Its resemblance to other, less hazardous wildflowers can make identification especially challenging.
If you or a pet are exposed to the sap, immediate action is crucial. The affected skin should be thoroughly washed with soap and cold water at the earliest opportunity, and then kept completely shaded from sunlight for at least 48 hours. Should blisters develop or sap make contact with the eyes, prompt medical attention is essential to mitigate ongoing harm.
Removing Giant Hogweed safely is a complex undertaking best handled by professionals. The plant’s ability to colonise riverbanks and seed prolifically means that amateur attempts can inadvertently spread the danger further, as well as put individuals at unnecessary personal risk.
As the plant’s white blossoms begin appearing across the UK with the onset of summer, the need for public awareness has never been greater. Environmental specialists urge the public to familiarise themselves with what Giant Hogweed looks like, exercise caution along countryside routes, and never attempt removal without expert guidance. Such vigilance is vital not only to individual safety, but to limit the spread of an invader that continues to threaten the nation’s woodlands, waterways, and wellbeing.