Council warning over toxic plant in Bearsden street which can cause blindness

The Giant Hogweed plant was spotted by a local woman in the Kirk Road area.

She posted on a community Facebook site: “Please be aware that Giant Hogweed is back between Ashoka and the Church (it is not yet growing over the railings but soon will) and this year it has also made its way into the planter on the pavement.

“I have reported it to the council and they are going to get someone out to it. In the meantime, stay clear!”

The Herald contacted the council and Thomas McMenamin, Executive Officer - Roads & Environment, confirmed on Tuesday: “We are aware of the presence of Giant Hogweed at this site and although its location is not easily accessible to passers-by, we have moved quickly to spray it.

“We also removed the nearby planter which contained shoots of the plant.

The spray will take between 10-14 days to take full effect and in the meantime residents should not attempt to touch the plant as it can be harmful to people and pets.”

Giant Hogweed has been described as ‘the most dangerous plant in Britain’ by the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust, based in England.

Heracleum mantegazzianum, or Giant Hogweed, can reach over 10ft in height and poses a ‘serious risk’ to people who are unaware of its potential for harm, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

Toxic sap from the weed can increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight, often leading to burns – and can cause temporary or even permanent blindness if the sap gets into the eye.

Symptoms may persist for at least five years. The plant is also particularly dangerous to dogs.

It was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the 1890s, but escaped from cultivation and spread throughout Britain.

The flowers of the Giant Hogweed are white (or sometimes) greenish white in colour, and usually appear symmetrical.

It typically grows in areas of waste land, along the banks of streams and rivers, and along roads and railways.