Fear the hog

You mentioned giant hogweed in your Hallowe'en themed edition ‘Frightful Flora’ article. While you advised to avoid all contact with this plant, there is rather more to it than that – and as one of its victims, I can confirm the burns it causes are exactly the same as you would get if you were splashed with hot cooking oil.

It lives up to its name: the flower is massive and about 12-15 feet above ground. This, ironically, makes it easy to not see, because we’re all looking where we put our feet. If you come across it, don't touch it, and certainly don’t break it: the sap inside reacts with ultraviolet light and causes burns (I have the scars to prove it).

If you get some of it on your skin, you should wash the area immediately with soap and water – but on the absence of soap and water, cover it as quickly as possible to limit the amount of UV light that will activate it. The blisters (which you must not burst) will take about 48 hours to manifest themselves and will be sore. DO NOT GET THE SAP IN YOUR EYES as it can cause blindness. This plant is covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 so it’s illegal to allow it to grow in the countryside. If you find any, make a note of its location and report it to the relevant Local Authority. Rachel Armitage, Email