Giant Hogweed

Giant Hogweed is much less common on the River Usk after a concerted effort to control it but its seeds can survive in the soil for up to 15 years so still one to watch out for. This plant lives up to its name and can grow up to 5 metres tall with gigantic white flowering umbels. It is another invasive non-native species which crowds out our native wildlife and also dies back in winter leaving bare areas of the river bank subject to erosion.

This plant can also be very dangerous for humans as the sap of the plant contains a chemical which can make your skin sensitive to sunlight and lead to painful severe blistering.

A key part of the strategy to control invasive plants is to know where they are, you can report sightings of Giant Hogweed in the Park here: https://record.bis.org.uk/.

Or you can e-mail directly [email protected] or 07854997508.