Hemlock on the Mill Field

Mon 22 Jul, 16:16

Hemlock, as noted above, is present at Mill Field. This is poisonous when eaten and may cause a rash on the skin if touched so please avoid it. The Town Council has received specialist advice on how to deal with this plant which it is following. It involves cutting down regularly until the life cycle is broken but this takes 2 to 3 years. Notices are being erected to warn people of its presence. Obviously keep your dogs away but it isn't growing on the main walking area.  Thank you.

Sun 21 Jul, 10:11

Maybe this needs to be seen in proportion…there are numerous very common plants, foods and household materials which can be toxic to dogs.  Hemlock will not be growing on the obvious central pathways through the Mill field. perhaps keep your dog on a lead would put you more at ease? I shall continue to give my dog the pleasure of this great walking area.

Sat 20 Jul, 16:04

At the entrance to the Riverside Festival, there's a notice warning about the presence of hemlock on the Mill Field.

Hemlock, says Wikipedia, is so poisonous that "about six to eight fresh leaves, or a smaller dose of the seeds or root" can be fatal to an adult human, and can kill practically any mammal eating enough. Now my dog weighs about one-eighth of this average human, so it looks like just eating one leaf would be enough to kill him. 

Obviously, that means he's got to be kept away from the Mill Field (or at least kept on a lead, which will really annoy him) until the Town Council has eradicated the plant. 

When's that likely to be?