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‘Britain’s most dangerous weed’ Giant Hogweed is springing up all over Greater Manchester again

You do not want to get its sap on your skin...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th July 2023

Giant Hogweed, the plant known as ‘Britain’s most dangerous weed’, has burst back into life across Greater Manchester once again in recent weeks.

The plant comes with a serious health warning, because coming into contact with its sap can lead to painful blistering and even blindness.

It’s easily recognisable, often growing along waterways and climbing to as tall as five metres (15ft) in height.

Giant Hogweed has large jagged leaves, according to the Royal Horticultural Society, and thick, bristly stems which often have purple splotches.

It also has flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, which can be as wide as 60cm (2ft) across.

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It looks a lot like its harmless relative cow parsley, but grows much, much bigger.

People around Greater Manchester have once again been reporting it growing along waterways, like the Manchester Ship Canal towpath in Salford and along the banks of the River Irwell around Prestwich, Salford and Bury.

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A map of Giant Hogweed growth around Greater Manchester
A map of Giant Hogweed growth around Greater Manchester. Credit: Plant Tracker

It’s even been spotted in the city centre, growing around Angel Meadows near the Green Quarter – though these plants have since been destroyed.

It appears that much of this year’s plant growth is being treated, with the huge Giant Hogweed plants already dying off.

If you get the sap from Giant Hogweed on your skin, it can cause photodermatitis or photosensitivity, meaning the skin can’t protect itself from sunlight.

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Giant Hogweed
Dying-off Giant Hogweed towering overhead in Prestwich Clough
Dying-off Giant Hogweed towering overhead in Prestwich Clough. Credit: The Manc Group

It can lead to blistering, pigmentation and scarring, and could leave you blind if it makes contact with the eyes.

It can also affect dogs, as well as humans – so pet owners are advised to keep dogs on leads in areas where the plant has been spotted.

If you come across it, you should avoid contact with any part of the plant, and report it to your local council.

And if you do get Giant Hogweed sap on your skin, the following advice is issued by the Woodland Trust: “Be sure to wash the area thoroughly and immediately. Seek medical advice and do not expose the area to sunlight for a few days.”

Giant Hogweed growing in Manchester city centre:

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty sacked

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

A ‘morally reprehensible’ police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty has been sacked and barred from service.

GMP held an accelerated misconduct hearing with PC Dean Dempster, 35, and he has been dismissed without notice.

The disgraced officer admitted ‘sexually touching’ the six-year-old child in December 2023 and is set to be sentenced at a later date.

He was a response officer in Oldham at the time that the offence was reported, and was arrested by a supervisor when he returned to work the next day.

A senior officer has now said that Dempster ‘has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public’.

Another said it was ‘among the most distressing cases ever presented’ and a ‘despicable betrayal’ of police duties.

Dempster was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl while responding to an incident on 29 December 2023.

He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court in February and remained suspended since being charged at the end of last year.

Presiding over today’s hearing, CC Watson found PC Dempster’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct, saying: “This sexual assault occurred whilst the officer was on duty and where the victim was totally trusting and reliant on him performing his duties professionally, compassionately and with her welfare uppermost in his thoughts.

“It is this most egregious breach of trust of an innocent young child that is most upsetting aspect of this case and something that clearly amounts to an aggravating factor.

“I consider this case to be among the most distressing ever presented to me such is the despicable betrayal of all that is inherent in being a decent police officer.

“I have no hesitation whatsoever in dismissing PC Dempster from the service with immediate effect.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Dean Dempster is not a police officer, he’s a child sex offender who has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public.

“We have no time for people like Dempster who should not be in GMP and does not represent us.

“This is why we’re increasingly using accelerated misconduct hearings to root out and boot out officers who are unfit to serve in our uniform, and this work will continue while ever they remain.”

Dempster has been added to the College of Policing Barred List by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who described Dempster’s actions as ‘morally reprehensible’.

GMP used accelerated proceedings as part of its pledge to ‘root and boot’ officers unfit to serve the public.

The force is now writing to the Deputy Mayor of GM to appeal for Dempster to lose his right to a police pension.

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Featured image: GMP

News

Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City Andy's Man Club sessions

Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.

One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.

The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.

With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.

Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.

Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.

Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.

In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.

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The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.

Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.

Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:

  • Monday 13 May
  • Monday 20 May
  • Monday 3 June
  • Monday 10 June

Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.

#ItsOkayToTalk

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Featured Images — Manchester City/Andy’s Man Club

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