HogweedTrackWorld

Question for the botanically- interested amongst us.

What is this ? Is it ‘normal’ Hogweed ? Or Giant Hogweed.

I’m seeing a whole lot more of this, this year, than ever before, out walking the pup or out biking.

Some (like the photo below) is 7ft tall or more (though most is 5-6ft).

Not Cow Parsley – too big and that has quite different (fern-like) leaves.

Looks like normal hogweed to me. It should be noted normal hogweed can cause the skin reaction too. I would have to get out my Plant Crib 1998 book to remember the differences tbh. Before it’s got big the Giant version looks a lot like the normal one

I expect the extreme wet weather has aided growth this year.

Hog weed leaves are also quite variable from plant to plant.

Hog weed is quite common at the moment .

Cheers.

I’m defo treating it with caution, just in case !

And everything has expanded this year. Out garden is a total jungle having turned our backs on it a few weeks ago for a long weekend in the Lakes.  And now I have so.e bastid Himilayan Balsam to eliminate that’s has appeared from nowhere (no doubt c/o birds given its location beneath a mature Magnolia in the garden)

I think that’s wild Angelica. Giant hogweed has very large Jurassic park looking leaves and is quite distinctive from Cow Parsley or Angelica.

Nope, don’t think so. Giant Hogweed looks like this

as we discovered after sending the Cubs into the woods by the Hall to collect as many different leaves as they could find in 5 minutes. Fuuuuuuuck. We’d never seen it there before, but with the recent rain… Got them all to wash their hands and advised those that had touched it to wear gloves for the next few days, and seek medical attention if a rash appeared. Emailed parents to say the same: cue stories about how when they were young making telescopes and blow pipes.

Emailed the Council to report it, but it’s still there 2 weeks later. Evil stuff.

On cue Jurassic park leaves…

Emailed the Council to report it, but it’s still there 2 weeks later.

Jesus, that was a lucky close call, yeah good luck with that, it’s all over the local river banks.

as for Himilayan Balsam, good luck with trying to contain that, tenacious stuff that will just smoother competitors (even worse if crush underfoot, it still continues to grow) & has seed heads that pop potentially 800 seeds each, upto 22ft away.

Giant hogweed is… Giant.

Atleast it is by the time its flowering.

Like not a bit big.

**** massive day of the triffids stuff.

Regular hogweed, not giant. We have tonnes this year it likes the weather.

Giant hogweed is… Giant

Not especially helpful if it’s not all grown up!

Except you missed the bit about “when its flowering”

Ie that op picture, is not giant because…

Emailed the Council to report it, but it’s still there 2 weeks later.

It isn’t regarded as a problem. Japanese Knotweed OTH…

Emailed the Council to report it, but it’s still there 2 weeks later. Evil stuff.

It’s problematic. We have an issue on the local canal where there is Giant Hogweed growing unchecked on the other side from the tow-path on privately-owned land and seeds – giant hogweed produces massive seed-heads – periodically blow across and sprout next to the path, where it would be very, very easy for a walker, runner, cyclist, small child to brush against it.

The Canal & River Trust are technically responsible for removing it on the tow-path side of things and do regularly spray and kill the stuff, but the warning signs on the tow-path are laughably useless and reporting growth to the Trust doesn’t always result in prompt action. Some locals, I think, have sprayed the stuff themselves. Bear in mind that the Canal & River Trust were the nice people who almost flooded the Goyt Valley when the Whaley Bridge dam, which they were responsible for, almost collapsed about five years back.

As above, Giant Hogweed isn’t classified as an invasive species, in the same way as Japanese Knotweed, so there’s no legal onus on the landowner to remove it, however, apparently, if the landowner is made aware that the plant is spreading to adjacent land, they can be served with a notice by the relevant council forcing them to rectify the situation. Whether land on the other side of a canal is ‘adjacent’ is something I’m trying to discover. I am not a lawyer, but this is based on advice from the relevant civil service department. I can dig it out if anyone’s interested.

It’s horrible stuff and it seems bonkers that there’s no legal imperative for landowners to get rid of it. I avoid that section of the canal in summer – it runs from New Mills Marina near Swizzles for a quarter of a mile or so towards Whaley Bridge if anyone’s local/passing through. It’s a section that’s busy with walkers, runners, cyclists etc. Take care heading into or brushing against the shrubbery in that area is my advice, it’s easily done when giving way to walkers/prams etc.

As above, Giant Hogweed isn’t classified as an invasive species, in the same way as Japanese Knotweed, so there’s no legal onus on the landowner to remove it

Yes it is. It is absolutely  classed as a non native invasive species, its just not reportable. It is subject to the same laws as himalayan balsam and giant knotweed.

There is not an onus to remove japanese knotweed or giant hogweed it is however an offense to allow it is to spread into the wild.

Its also covered in the antisocial behaviour act which would also cover giant hogweed as allowing it to spread onto neighbouring properties fails the DBAD principle.

They are both covered as controlled waste and if taken off site MUST be disposed of in a registered landfill.

What seperates the two is the financial and insurance issues are significant for knotweed so its more likely to be dealt with.

Edit: fixed a typo… Although himalayan knotweed is actually a non native invasive plant too i think.

Loads of Giant Hogweed around here (near a river), looks amazing when fully grown but yeah, nasty stuff. Concur with everyone above that the OP’s pic is regular hogweed not giant, the sap can also burn you in a similar way but not so badly, so still don’t play around with it. The difference in the leaves is easy to spot once you’ve seen both.

Himalayan Balsam … has seed heads that pop potentially 800 seeds each

Um… per plant maybe, certainly not per pod! More like 10.

The pods are amazing fun, explode with a hair trigger touch on the bottom of them, and I used to love popping these when younger, until I learnt not to spread them. Nowadays I pop them into my hand and eat the seeds, yummy snack with a bonus of preventing them spreading!

If we’re doing invasive species, been noticing skunk cabbage more around our way (Surrey/Sussex). Easy to spot with their big yellow flower around generally wooded shallow watercourses and do have a smell as you would expect!

This is what Natural England told me in response to a query about Giant Hogweed, apologies for any confusion, it’s been a while:

Thank you for your enquiry concerning Giant Hogweed.

The Weeds Act 1959 lists the following 5 injurious weeds:
(Broad Leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Creeping / Field Thistle, Ragwort and Spear Thistle)

Whilst the Weeds Act 1959 gives Defra and Natural England powers to require landowners to control the risk of these 5 weeds spreading onto neighbouring agricultural / grazing land, Giant Hogweed is NOT listed under the Act.
We have no regulatory powers regarding the management of Giant Hogweed, and regretfully we cannot assist with your enquiry.

However we can offer the following information which might prove useful to you.
Giant Hogweed is classified as an invasive species and it is therefore the responsibility of the land owner to prevent the plant spreading to neighbouring land (or into the wild), and removal of this plant must be conducted with due care and attention. There’s no legal obligation to remove or treat Hogweed as long as you’re not encouraging or allowing the growth on adjacent land.

Community protection notices can be used to require someone to control or prevent the growth of plants like Giant Hogweed which are capable of causing serious problems to communities.
Local councils can issue these Notices which can require the person responsible for the land in which the Giant Hogweed is growing to take steps to rectify the problem.
For an individual on-the-spot penalties can be issued, and if prosecuted fined further.   Companies can also be fined for non-compliance.

The Department of Health advise that Giant Hogweed is one of the common plants well known for its general adverse effects on skin following contact.  Symptoms are usually noticeable within 24 hours and may include the development of blisters and swelling which is exacerbated by exposure to the sun.
Whenever coming into contact with Hogweed ensure you are properly protected.

The Land Registry may be able to help to determine who the land actually belongs to https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry
Tel        0300 006 0411
For more practical advice you might want to contact the Environment Agency Helpline about the treatment and disposal of Giant Hogweed
Tel        08708 506 506
and look online at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

If we’re doing invasive species, been noticing skunk cabbage more around our way

If we’re doing invasive species, gardening fashion of the late 20th Century is starting to have serious repercussions

The big British bamboo crisis: ‘It invaded my beautiful home’ | Plants | The Guardian

There’s no legal obligation to remove or treat Hogweed as long as you’re not encouraging or allowing the growth on adjacent land.

Which is exactly  the same as knotweed is my point.

Its also worth pointing out that injurious weeds act is nothing to do with non natives, ragwort and spear thistle are very very native. Injurious in this instant referring i think to agriculture practices than hurty plants.