A national trade body is warning people in Ayrshire to be cautious of an invasive weed that can cause injury in summer.
The Property Care Association (PCA) said the sap of the giant hogweed is highly toxic and poses a significant risk to public health.
Contact with any part of giant hogweed and subsequent exposure to UV light, including the sun, can cause serious discomfort and skin blistering.
The non-native plant is thriving due to the weather patterns created by two consecutive wet springs this year and in 2023, according to experts at the PCA.
Daniel Docking, technical manager of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group, emphasised the importance of public awareness.
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.
“Anyone unfortunate to come into contact with giant hogweed can develop symptoms including a rash, itching and blisters where skin touches any part of the plant.
“In some cases, people need urgent medical attention because the blistering can be so severe.”
He said there can be longer-term complications too, as the condition can reoccur for years every time the skin is exposed to UV light.
The PCA has created an identification guide to help the public recognise giant hogweed.
The plant can grow up to five metres high and produces a large, white, umbrella-shaped flowering head which can produce up to 50,000 seeds per head.
It also has sharply serrated or divided leaves, with its stem usually covered in blotchy purple markings.
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.”
The PCA provides a list of specialist contractors and consultants who can control and manage invasive species.
A full list of companies in the Invasive Weed Control Group is available in the ‘Find A Specialist’ section on the PCA website (property-care.org).
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