Latest news with #FieldToFarm
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Farmer warns of ‘deadliest' plant growing on UK soil that's ‘enough to kill' – do you have it in your garden?
A FARMER has warned of a deadly plant growing on UK soil, after learning his new land was covered in the flower. The Facebook page Field to Farm shared a video of the farmer showing his pasture, which was blanketed in the poisonous plant. 4 The farmer claims he has purchased the UK's "deadliest" field after finding his new field littered with Hemlock. The highly poisonous plant deadly to humans Hemlock is a highly poisonous flowering plant which can be fatal to humans, even in small amounts. The flower affects the body's nervous system, eventually causing death by respiratory failure. While the plant looks harmless, with umbrella-like clusters of white flowers, even the smallest amount can be enough to kill. According to The Wildlife Trusts: "Hemlock has a repellent smell when its leaves are crushed, helping to ensure that accidental poisonings don't occur very often - even livestock studiously avoid it." Farmer sends his warning Upon discovering the plant in his new field, the farmer took to social media to warn his followers. He said: "I have just bought a field to live in and I've realised it is full of poison." He continued by explaining that Hemlock is commonly mistaken for wild carrot. But added: "Just eating any single part of this plant is enough to kill me. "The amount of this you have to eat to die is realistically quite small. "Four or five leaves, done. Game over." Expert Gardening Hacks for a Pet-Friendly Summer Garden His advice was to mow the plants down and you will most likely be ok, but take care to not get any of the sap on your skin because it will blister. The farmer concluded: "So, all in all, if you've got this stuff growing, be careful." What is Hemlock? What is Hemlock? Hemlock is a notoriously poisonous plant often found in damp places, such as ditches and riverbanks. It can be identified by its umbrella-like clusters of white flowers in summer. The plant is most commonly found in England and Wales, while being more scarce in Scotland and Northern Ireland. What are the dangers? Poisoning can occur if you accidentally infest the plant. Symptoms can range from vomiting to seizures to respiratory failure. Most of the time, hemlock is only poisonous when ingested, however, you should be careful when handling the plant. In very rare cases, hemlock poisoning can occur after the toxins enter your bloodstream. What to do if you come into contact with it: If you think you may have accidentally ingested poison hemlock, you should call your healthcare provider right away. There is no antidote, however, treatment may include: Mechanical ventilation if you are having trouble breathing. Antiseizure medication to control seizures. Hemodialysis for renal failure. Digestive system cleanse to get rid of the toxin. IV to prevent dehydration and provide nutrition. You can prevent poisoning by getting rid of any hemlock you have in your garden. Sources: The Wildlife Trusts and Cleveland Clinic Symptoms of Hemlock Symptoms of Hemlock poisoning include sweating, vomiting, dilated pupils, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure. The plant is so poisonous that dead canes can remain toxic for up to three years. 4 4
The Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
I own the ‘DEADLIEST field in UK' that's full of ‘poison' – it's absolutely everywhere & just a tiny amount will kill me
A FARMER believes he has bought the UK's 'deadliest' field having discovered it was riddled with a harmful plant which is so poisonous even a tiny amount can kill a human. The Facebook account Field to Farm took to their social media page to share a video of the field which was covered in Hemlock. 3 3 In summer, the poisonous plant produces clusters of white flowers which can be mistaken for wild carrot flowers. However, the plant can be identified by its distinctive and unpleasant aroma of its foliage and purple-spotted stems. The smell means that accidental poisonings are rare and most livestock keep well away from it. Even a small amount of Hemlock, if consumed can be enough to kill a human or animal. Hemlock usually grows in damp areas and can often be found in ditches, river beds and waste ground. The farmer took to his Facebook page to warn his followers about the danger the plant posed. He said: 'I have bought a field to live in and I've realised it is full of poison. 'Commonly mistaken for wild carrot, this is hemlock, and, just eating any single part of this plant is enough to kill me. 'And on this part of my land it is absolutely everywhere. 'The amount of this you have to eat to die is realistically quite small. Urgent warning over deadly plant worse than Japanese Knotweed... do you have it near you 'Four or five leaves, done. Game over. 'A couple of hours later, you're having seizures and you are dying.' He added: 'If you are going to mow this stuff down, you are mostly ok, but don't get the sap on your skin because it is going to blister your skin in a similar fashion to giant hogweed. 'You can maybe make out this one is absolutely covered in aphids and it is already going to seed. 'It provides a lot of flowers and sap and stuff for the invertebrates around the farm, but bit of a poison and if you get the sap on you, it is not the best, bit of an irritation, potentially blisters. 'So all in all, if you've got this stuff growing, be careful.' Hemlock and its cousin hemlock water-dropwort are members of the carrot family and are both toxic, posing a risk to anyone who tries to eat them. All parts of Hemlock are toxic and can harm people if they are touched, breathed or eaten. Anyone who comes into contact with the plant should be aware of the symptoms which include dizziness and trembling followed by a slowed heartbeat, dilation of the pupils, muscle paralysis, paralysis of the central nervous system and death caused by respiratory failure. Hemlock is so poisonous that dead canes are still toxic for up to three years. Anyone getting rid of the plant should wear gloves and take frequent breaks. A pensioner in Milton Keynes became irate after the plant was left to grow nearly eight feet high, last year. Jean Crussell claimed she was forced to keep her doors and windows shut and her dog kept inside. She said: 'They ignored our concerns for many months. 'The plant is known to be lethal and could have killed my dog and affected my health.' Jean, 79, who lives alone with her Labradoodle called Taxi, added: 'All the residents are naturally very worried as hemlock can be highly poisonous. 'There's pets and young kids living in the close of 20 homes. 'No one knows how the hemlock got here, it just self-seeded and grew, and grew and grew. 'In the spring it was already six feet high.' Jean, who has lived on the close for 10 years, said the plant initially started growing in the close made up of council homes two years ago after two new properties were added. The local authority eventually took action eight months later and got rid of the deadly plants. Jean said: 'Two new properties were built two years ago on a former grassy area. It's a nice little close. 'But the hemlock took over. It was just inches from my front door and lounge window and towering up to the roof. 'It shouldn't be residents' responsibility to clear it. 'These are council homes, many of us are retired and we pay rent and for communal maintenance which went up this year. 'I was so cross I called my local paper, the MK Citizen and they ran an article on Monday. The next day the council finally came around to remove it. 'They whipped it out quite quickly while I was out. 'They came suited and booted and masked on Tuesday and thankfully got rid of it.' 3
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Farmer buys 'deadliest field in the UK' after discovering poisonous plant which can be mistaken for household vegetable
A farmer has claimed to have purchased the deadliest field in the UK, after finding it filled with a harmful plant which can be mistaken for a common vegetable. Speaking on his Facebook page, the account Field to Farm shared a video of his field which was covered in Hemlock. The poisonous plant produces clusters of white flowers in summer, which makes it look strikingly similar to wild carrot flowers. Hemlock is often found in damp areas, such as ditches, river beds and waste ground. The plant can be distinguished by the distinctive and unpleasant smell of its foliage and its purple-spotted stems. Its smell means accidental poisonings are uncommon and even most livestock stay away from it. Just a tiny amount of hemlock, if consumed can be enough to kill a human or an animal. The farmer noticed the plants in a field which he had purchased and took to social media to warn his followers about the dangers. He said: 'I have bought a field to live in and I've realised it is full of poison. 'Commonly mistaken for wild carrot, this is hemlock, and, just eating any single part of this plant is enough to kill me. 'And on this part of my land it is absolutely everywhere. 'The amount of this you have to eat to die is realistically quite small. Four or five leaves, done. Game over. A couple of hours later, you're having seizures and you are dying. 'If you are going to mow this stuff down, you are mostly ok, but don't get the sap on your skin because it is going to blister your skin in a similar fashion to giant hogweed. 'You can maybe make out this one is absolutely covered in aphids and it is already going to seed. 'It provides a lot of flowers and sap and stuff for the invertebrates around the farm, but bit of a poison and if you get the sap on you, it is not the best, bit of an irritation, potentially blisters. 'So all in all, if you've got this stuff growing, be careful.' Both hemlock and its equally toxic cousin hemlock water-dropwort are members of the carrot family and so both cause a risk to anyone who attempts to eat them. All parts of Hemlock are acutely toxic and can harm people if they are eaten, breathed in or just touched. Symptoms include dilation of the pupils, dizziness, and trembling followed by slowing of the heartbeat, paralysis of the central nervous system, muscle paralysis, and death due to respiratory failure. They are so poisonous that dead canes remain toxic for up to three years, and people removing the plant have to wear gloves and take frequent breaks. Its' poisonous notoriety can be traced back through history - it was the plant that was given to the famous Greek philosopher Socrates at his execution. Last year, two pensioners in Milton Keynes were furious after the plant was left to grow nearly eight feet. Jean Crussell said she was forced to keep windows and doors closed and her dog shut inside. She added: 'They ignored our concerns for many months. The plant is known to be lethal and could have killed my dog and affected my health.' The tenant, 79, who lives alone with her Labradoodle called Taxi, explained: 'All the residents are naturally very worried as hemlock can be highly poisonous. There's pets and young kids living in the close of 20 homes. 'No one knows how the hemlock got here, it just self seeded and grew, and grew and grew! 'In the spring it was already six feet high.' Ms Crussell, who has lived on the close for 10 years, said the plant first started growing in the close of council homes two years ago after two new houses were added to the road. The authority was finally spurred into action eight months later and removed the deadly plants. Ms Crussell added: 'Two new properties were built two years ago on a former grassy area. It's a nice little close. 'But the hemlock took over! It was just inches from my front door and lounge window and towering up to the roof. 'It shouldn't be residents' responsibility to clear it. These are council homes, many of us are retired and we pay rent and for communal maintenance which went up this year. 'I was so cross I called my local paper, the MK Citizen and they ran an article on Monday. The next day the council finally came around to remove it. 'They whipped it out quite quickly while I was out. They came suited and booted and masked on Tuesday and thankfully got rid of it.
