A CAMPAIGN to rid the River Esk area of dangerous giant hogweed has been launched by Inveresk Village Society (IVS).

Action is being taken by concerned members, as the toxic sap from the invasive plant can cause life-changing burns, blisters and scarring if people come into contact with it.

Kathryn Shanks, a society committee member and River Esk co-ordinator, said: “This year, one of the chosen objectives of IVS is to initiate a giant hogweed eradication programme on the River Esk, following the highly successful programme on the River Tyne.

“Giant hogweed is an invasive and noxious plant, the sap of which causes blistering and scarring when it comes in contact with skin.

“There are large areas of this dangerous plant along the banks and fields by the River Esk.

“The programme relies on volunteers spotting and mapping the plants in early spring. Spotters will be allocated a specific half-mile stretch of the target area.

“We have identified a three-to-four-mile stretch to tackle initially, running from the A68 down to the mouth of the river in Musselburgh.”

She added: “The success of the project depends on volunteer spotters, followed by all landowners voluntarily giving up time to go out and spray the hogweed that has been spotted on their land.

“The mantra is that no plant be allowed to flower. Each plant that flowers and then seeds disperses tens of hundreds of seeds which can lie dormant in the soil for years, so it’s imperative we stop the plant in its tracks before it flowers.”

The programme starts this month via Zoom.

Kathryn added: “We will explain how spotters should plot the giant hogweed and feed into the programme co-ordinator through a special app. This allows the co-ordinator time to alert the relevant landowners who have already agreed to spray the young plants before they flower.

“This is an ambitious and exciting initiative that I hope people will be happy to support.”

In his chairman’s report at the society’s AGM via Zoom, John Manning also issued a warning, saying: “You will see many around the edges of the river fields – please keep children and pets away from the plants as the sap burns on contact, hence the IVS’s focus.”

Further information on giant hogweed and specifically the River Tyne project can be found at www.elcv.org.uk/tasks/invasives/the-program

According to the Woodland Trust website, giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) looks like enormous cow parsley.

It states: “If you do get giant hogweed sap on your skin, be sure to wash the area thoroughly immediately, seek medical advice, and do not expose the area to sunlight for a few days.”