Staying well clear

I spent some time today at the lakes. Yes,  back to the Testwood Lakes in Hampshire, and couldn’t help noticing — and avoiding the undergrowth alongside one of the footpaths.
During the past few weeks the undergrowth has taken hold, and very prevalent is what may well be the dreaded hogweed, which just a year ago was leading to reports from around the country of people inadvertently brushing against it, and coming out in blisters.
It looks for all the world like cow parsley, and according to the text books, comes from the same family.  But it stands at nearly twice my height, the stalks are much thicker than the cow parsley I have seen in hedgerows around home, but it bears the tell-tale large saucer-like rosettes of tiny white flowers.  And leaves that look far more vicious than those of cow parsley.
Apparently it is the sap within hogweed which is toxic and for the unwary coming into contact with it, can lead to burns and blisters of the skin, simply by brushing against it.

Mind you, the nettles alongside it looked pretty vicious as well, so being ultra-cautious, I kept well away.