Ferrymead hemlock concerns resident
A Fenymead property infested with hemlock is concerning a nearby resident. Mr Grahame Felton, of Mount Pleasant Road, wants the section, near the Ferrymead bridge in Ferry Road, cleared.
The same section was the subject of action by the Christchurch City Council two years ago when it became infested with hemlock.
Mr Felton said that he was getting “tired of having to jog the council along” on the issue. The council had served notice on the property owner which enabled it to get rid of the weed, he said.
“They can then charge the owner for the cost of removing the weed. “Hemlock is extremely dangerous to children and animals, and I just feel that
somebody should take some action on this.” The hemlock was all in seed at the moment, said Mr Felton. "Once that takes off it will be dynamite.”
He said that he had been asking the council to do something about the infestation for about four years. The council’s supervising general inspector, Mr Don Carnegie, confirmed yesterday that a notice had been served on the property owner to cut and spray the hemlock. Seeds could stay in the ground for years, he said. Hemlock was a difficult plant to eradicate.
He estimated that the section was about 4ha and had a "reasonable infestation” of the weed.
“The owner hoped to cut the growth down this week,”
he said. It was the season when hemlock flowered and seeds could be spread. The plant was very toxic, Mr Carnegie said. However, he had not heard of anyone dying from hemlock poisoning. The weed could be found in some city back yards. It was also a recurring problem on vacant land, such as at the Ferrymead property.
Hemlock has leaves similar to those of a carrot and plentiful white flowers. Symptoms of hemlock ]>oisoning are weakening muscles, loss of vision, loss of balance, paralysis, and vomiting, with stomach pains and sometimes delirium.
Anyone suffering from hemlock poisoning should be taken to a doctor or a hospital.
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Press, 19 December 1985, Page 6
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341Ferrymead hemlock concerns resident Press, 19 December 1985, Page 6
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