You may have heard William Warden speaking early this morning (Wed 28 June) on BBC Radio Wiltshire about Giant Hogweed.

Some background on this plant from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: “Giant hogweed is an invasive weed of riverbanks, where it prevents native species from growing. It was introduced into the UK by the Victorians as an ornamental plant for lakesides and gardens. It escaped into the wider countryside and gained notoriety in the 1970s as an alien species that favours damp spots like riverbanks. At this time, many children started to display blisters as a result of touching the plant’s sap while using the stems to make pea-shooters or telescopes: sunlight makes the skin sensitive to the irritants in the plant, causing the skin to redden. Today, it is widely acknowledged that neither gardeners nor conservationists should attempt to cut the plant down (exposing its sap) as its toxins can cause serious, recurring skin damage”.
For images and more information please see the link here
Other invasive species include  Himalayan Balsam – also an invasive weed of riverbanks and ditches, where it prevents native species from growing.
and Japanese Knotweed   – an invasive non-native plant of many riverbanks, waste grounds, and roadside verges, where it prevents native species from growing.

Different rules apply about planting or “causing these plants to grow in the wild”, so do check this out carefully.