One of the nation’s most poisonous plants has been found on a West Cumbrian beach.

A resident found hemlock while walking along St Bees beach last week, and posted a warning to social media alerting dog walkers of the danger.

Copeland Borough Council’s Environmental Health team, which has not yet received reports of the plant, nor of poisonings in the area, said: “Hemlock is common in the UK and it’s not considered either an invasive plant or harmful weed in legislation, so there is no legal requirement for a landowner to remove or control it.”

It added: “According to the Wildlife Trust while it is poisonous it smells bad so accidental poisonings are very uncommon, even with livestock and pets.”

They provided advice from the Woodland Trust of what to do if you fear someone has been poisoned by hemlock or other plants, which can be found at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/02/uk-poison

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