Mapping the giant hogweed
The countrywide mapping of giant hogweed, a noxious giant herbaceous perennial whose sap can cause painful blistering of the skin, has been taken over by commercial review site WhatShed.co.uk so the public can continue to plot the plant’s spread.
Sap of the plant, which can grow up to 5m (16ft) tall and 1.8m (6ft) wide, contains furocoumarins, organic chemical compounds toxic to humans. The compounds seep into skin cells, preventing the skin from being able to fully protect itself from sunlight, leading to skin damage. Symptoms can last for months or even years after the initial contact.
The original PlantTracker app, which enabled users to upload local sightings of hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, was created as a joint effort by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, but unfortunately no longer functions due to lack of funding.
To view the current map, the status of Giant Hogweed in the UK and to submit a sighting, follow this link: https://whatshed.co.uk/ giant-hogweed-map/.