The scale of the giant hogweed menace in Northern Ireland has led to children being burned and the dangerous invasive plant flowering in “abundance” and “taking over” areas, according to environmental data.
In a summer that has seen it flourish thanks to a damp June and high temperatures, details have emerged of the prevalence of the plant across the north, through reports made by members of the public online.
Hundreds of reports have been made in recent years to the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR), which gathers and manages information on flora and fauna in the north.
Reports seen by the Irish News include the highly toxic plant growing “rampant” and huge clusters like a “field”, with a sighting noting specimens growing over six-feet tall and almost reaching a tree canopy.
Giant hogweed’s danger comes from its sap, which when it makes contact with human skin reduces its ability to safely absorb the sun’s UV rays, a condition known as phytotoxicity.
Even a slight brush against the plant can lead to severe burns within minutes in sunlight, and in some cases the affected skin can remain at risk of painful blistering for many years after exposure, even permanently.
Contact with the eyes can cause blindness, and people are advised to thoroughly avoid the plant, recognisable due to its white, domed flower heads, its thick, purple splattered stem with hairs, and its jagged-edged leaves.
Giant hogweed has distinctive purple markings on its stem
Native to the Caucasus region where Europe meets Asia, the plant was brought to Ireland and the UK by Victorian botanists charmed by its striking appearance.
Initially planted in private gardens, it soon spread to become one of the most recognisable invasive species, and is now a common sight in the spring and summer months near rivers, ditches and roadsides.
CEDaR is jointly managed by the NI Environment Agency and National Museums NI, and revealed to the Irish News over 300 reports made since 2021.
Although dates of the reports have been redacted by CEDaR for data protection, they cover all NI counties, and include details of children being injured by giant hogweed.
One logged report has details of an incident in Drumahoe outside Derry.
“A member of the public reported that their child received burns on their legs from what appeared to be giant hogweed, which had a large bulb head that had not flowered yet,” it states, adding that the contact occurred when the child walked through an “overgrown grass path to walk along the banks of the River Faughan”.
A NI Environment Agency poster warning of the dangers of giant hogweed
A separate report from a mother states there was “a lot” of the plant along the River Faughan.
“My son has burns from the plant. It has not reached full height or flowered,” they wrote.
It is not stated if this was the same incident of a child being burned.
Another report states a stretch of the Route 92 Foyle Valley cycle route, built on an old railway line, has “lots” of giant hogweed, adding: “It’s rampant”.
A patch was reported “next to a busy walkway” outside the city, while describing the Bamboo River Walk pathway in Castlecaufield, Co Tyrone, a report describes the plant as “taking over”.
At a road junction on the Garvaghy Road outside Ballymena, the plants were reported as at least four feet in height, with some over six feet, with its leaves – also dangerous to touch – spanning two feet.
“The weeds are now also spreading to the verges on the Garvaghy Road and some are close to touching the above tree canopy,” the report states.
“I live close to the area and worry greatly about the risk that this weed presents to both health and the environment.”
In Coleraine, a report has a large “clump” on the Ulster University campus, while another report describes the dangerous plants as “like a mini forest” close to the Asda supermarket car park in Portadown.
In Limavady’s Drenagh Estate, which hosts weddings and offers accommodation, a report described giant hogweed as “hugely abundant” and “absolutely everywhere”.
Prolific growth was also reported close to the Dunnes Stores car park in south Belfast’s Annadale Embankment area.
Not far from there in the riverside area of Stranmillis in south Belfast, popular with walkers, a report marks “likely hundreds of individual flowering stems”.
Giant hogweed plants grow in Newry town centre along the canal and Clanrye River
In Newry, where the Irish News reported this month that the plant was growing within arms-reach of city centre pavements, over 12 reports describe growth along the Clanrye River and Newry Canal as a “large amount”, “heavy” and “abundant”.
A house in Belfast’s Dundonald area was described in a report as having the toxic invader growing “all through (the) property, front and rear gardens – seeded over many years”.
Another report on a domestic property, from Ballykelly in Co Derry, has a worried householder warn of “at least 10 full grown in close area of neighbour’s garden”.
A spokesperson for the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said along with its dangers to humans, giant hogweed “can form dense colonies which suppress the growth of native plants including grasses, displacing species and negatively impacting ecologically sensitive and vulnerable habitats”.
They added: “If you think you have seen giant hogweed, please report via CEDaR or the iRecord App, but do not approach or try to remove it unless you are wearing full protective clothing.”