Giant hogweed threat warning issued to Oldham residents

The Property Care Association (PCA) is looking to make people aware as the sap of the invasive, non-native weed is toxic, making it a danger to public health.

With wet springs both this year and last year, experts at the PCA say weather patterns are creating an opportunity for the plant to thrive and gain ground across the UK.

Contact with any part of Giant hogweed, followed by exposure to UV light, including the sun, can cause severe discomfort and the skin to blister.

In 2022, Giant hogweed was confirmed to have been spotted in Oldham.

Giant hogweed was spotted in Shaw two years ago

Daniel Docking, Technical Manager of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group, says making people aware of its presence, and the health implications associated with exposure to it, are key to creating a safer environment.

He said: “Too often there are reports of people who have been injured after inadvertently coming into contact with Giant hogweed.

“Children are particularly vulnerable, as they can encounter the plant while playing outdoors in the summer.

“In some cases, people need urgent medical attention because the blistering can be so severe.

“There can be longer-term complications too, as the condition can reoccur over a period of years, with the rash and the itching coming back every time the skin is exposed to UV light.” 

Daniel Docking says the weather has made the growth of Giant hogweed a threat (Image: Daniel Docking)

The PCA has said members of the public can recognise Giant hogweed, due to key features, such as the plant's height, the flowers and leaves it produces, as well as its markings.

Giant hogweed's standout feature is its height, with the plant able to grow up to five metres high, with a stem that measures up to 10 centimetres in diameter.

The plant produces a large, white, umbrella shaped flowering head, with a single umbel capable of producing 50,000 seeds per head, while it also has sharply serrated or divided leaves, which reach up to three metres.

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Giant hogweed’s stem is usually covered in blotchy purple markings, while sharp bristles can also be found on the stem and under the leaves.

Mr Docking added: “Giant hogweed has distinctive features, which should help people to recognise it, although we urge the public not to get too close to the plant to identify it.

“The plant can sometimes be confused with UK’s native Hogweed, Cow Parsley or even Hemlock, all of which are much smaller in size and have leaves with a smoother outline.”