Dangerous invasive weed that can cause skin blisters found in children’s playground

A dangerous invasive weed that can cause ‘life-changing burns’ has been found in a children’s playground. The founder of a local community group has taken it upon himself to clean up the facility, suggesting that even if it is only there for a day it is “one of many” and called on the council to “stand up and take responsibility” for remove it.

Giant Hogweed is a non-native invasive plant native to the Caucasus Mountains and Central Asia. It first came to the UK as an ornamental in the 19th century when it escaped and naturalized in the wild. The plant is now a problem across the whole of the River Brent, affecting Brent, Ealing and Barnet.

It has caused particular concern among some locals after it was recently spotted growing in a children’s playground at the Abbey Estate Open Space in Alperton, Brent. Clean Up The River Brent (CURB) founder Ben Morris called it a no no no and dug up the weeds himself after the council failed to take immediate action.

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Mr Morris told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This is a children’s playground here, if a child were to break a stalk of (Giant Hogweed) or come into rough contact with a leaf on their bare skin – in a few minutes. hours or possibly the next day – if they are in sunlight, they will start to get severe sunburn. That’s because the chemical in the plant photosensitizes your skin and then it’s very difficult to remove.”

He added: “But there are cases where people have had severe blisters and the sores haven’t really healed for over a year, they just keep coming back. It is a very serious problem, so having it in a children’s playground is the best no no.

“I’m just trying to make the point that we’re all in this together and every council, every landowner, every stakeholder has a role to play in dealing with this very dangerous and invasive Giant Hogweed species, which can cause very nasty burns. I mean blistering, life-changing burns.”

Mr Morris said an instant response was “the only one”. He attended the playground last week (April 25) to dig up weeds from the playground, claiming “one day these things are here is one day too many”. Even if it had been sprayed that day, Mr Morris told the LDRS it “would still be dangerous for another two weeks”.

Although humans are uniquely vulnerable to the plant due to their more exposed skin, other animals such as dogs can also be severely affected by it. If a dog comes into contact with Hogweed, either with its nose or exposed belly, it could have the same photosensitizing effect and it can be very serious.

After being alerted to the presence of Hogweed in the playground, Brent Council put up signage around the playground but the plants were not removed. While Mr Morris dug up the plants and left them in piles outside the playground, it is illegal for him to remove them from the area.

Ward councilor for Alperton, Cllr Anton Georgiou, has been working with residents to raise awareness of the problem and would warn to avoid the plant, especially those with children or dogs. He called it “very disappointing” that the council did not remove it immediately.

Cllr Georgiou told the LDRS: “Despite Brent Council knowing about the Giant Hogweed problem here in the Abbey Estate open space and children’s playground, they have not taken the immediate action they need and it is really disappointing, because someone could get hurt.”

Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, Cllr Krupa Sheth, said: “We are working with a contractor who will deal with Hogweed as soon as possible. At the moment we cannot fence off the area, but we have put up signage warning residents to avoid the plant and not to touch it. Thanks to the residents who brought this to our attention.”

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