Sir – Your reporters should investigate a bit further before running ‘dangerous plant’ stories (Report, August 6).
As any botanist would have told him, the plant that Sara Kemp is standing by is common hogweed, an abundant and harmless relative of giant hogweed, the exotic flower that can give you a nasty rash. Giant hogweed really is giant – 8-10 feet tall with massive leaves.
I don’t recall seeing any in Oxfordshire for decades.
Anthony Cheke
Oxford
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