Giant Hogweed
Edinburgh if fortunate to have a dedicated team to check our greenspaces are free of Giant Hogweed an invasive, non native plant that can rapidly colonise waterways as its seed is carried in water.
These guys who were in the Figgate today can spot a Giant Hogweed seedling from many paces away and its really good for us that they can as to the untrained eye you would never see one in amongst all the other new growth on the bank.
Giant Hogweed is not what you want growing in your local park as it is highly toxic to both humans and dogs, its sap causes nasty burns and blisters if exposed to sunlight.
Thankfully for us the team check along the length of the Braid Burn and Waters of Leith every year and spot spray any Giant Hogweed seedlings that they find.