Giant hogweed: On the frontline fighting 'UK's most dangerous plant'

A conservation project in County Tyrone says it is making progress tackling giant hogweed, an invasive plant described as the UK’s “most dangerous plant.” The species can grow up to five metres tall and has sap that causes painful blistering and scarring on contact with human skin. The Ballinderry Rivers Trust says it has identified and been treating a source just outside Cookstown, focusing on areas around Drum Manor Forest Park and along the Ballinderry River. While it reports control near Drum Manor as a “success story,” it warns the plant has spread further downstream and remains a “monumental task.” Stormont has set a target to cut distribution by 50% by 2030, while BBC News NI figures show more than 500 enforcement cases being pursued by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.