Deadly nightshade growing next to a playground in Leicester
One of the world's most poisonous plants has been found growing beside a play area.
A large bush of deadly nightshade, which can be fatal for children who eat a few of its black berries, was discovered in the play area in Penny Park, off Upperton Road, in the city's West End.
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A large deadly nightshade bush beside Penny Park, off Upperton Road, in Leicester – it has since been removed
Yesterday, after being alerted by the Mercury, Leicester City Council parks officers removed the plant from the site.
Parents of youngsters who play in the park expressed concern that it had been found in the play area.
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Mika Dolgelo, 29, who lives in Hinckley Road, was with his one-year-old son Krystin in the park yesterday.
"Kids play here all the time and it's terrible it has poisonous plants," he said. "I hope it's safe now."
Andrea Murphy, 34, who has children aged two and five and lives in Upperton Road, said: "We use the play area quite a lot and I had noticed a plant with big, black berries.
"It's quite worrying that it was growing there."
Conrad Webbe, 43, of Upperton Road, said: "Most people wouldn't recognise deadly nightshade – I certainly wouldn't.
"It's a kids' play area and it should be better maintained."
Adrian Russell, director of environmental services at the council, said: "The plant is one of a number of potentially hazardous wildflowers that grow in hedgerows and gardens across the country."
The sweet berries are edible for many animals, including rabbits and cows, but for humans the plant – Atropa belladonna – is one of the most toxic found in the Western Hemisphere.
Its poison attacks the central nervous system, causing convulsions and, in some cases, death.
Historically, it has been used to poison arrow tips and was a common method of murder in the Roman Empire.
Peter Gamble, president of Loughborough Naturalists' Club, said: "Of all the plants that grow naturally in this country, it is definitely one of the most dangerous.
"All of the plant is poisonous and the berries can be deadly if they're eaten.
"The berries start off green but grow to be big, black and shiny.
"There aren't many cases I can think of recently but occasionally you do get kiddies taking the berries thinking it's fruit and dying.
"Fortunately, it's rare nowadays as people rarely eat berries in the wild.
"Deadly nightshade would never be planted deliberately, except perhaps in a botanical garden."
Anyone who has concerns about plants in parks or play areas can report them to the city council on 0116 252 7003.
Comments
by Lutyens2
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 8:35PM
“There are no native plants that grow in the wild that are illegal in this country. The noxious weed act merely lists a few species that landowners have a duty to control from spreading onto other peoples land.
There are also some plants listed as invasive species that a person may not cause to grow in the wild (that is not to say that they can't grow them on private land but it would be illegal for them to take any action that enables the plant to establish itself "in the wild").
There are also some invasive species that it is illegal to sell.
All the invasive species are classed as non-native although some have been in this country since Victorian times.
Deadly Nightshade is an "uncommon" common species that tends to turn up on locations where it has little competition but is quickly crowded out by other more vigorous species.
I agree a children's play area is not a good location for it to grow but I do enjoy discovering growing elsewhere in more natural locations across the city (it is almost like knowing a guarded secret).
On a side note with the mention of Yew, against my supposed better knowledge I trusted a challenging friend with my life by eating a Yew berry.
Following their instructions I placed the berry in my mouth, sucked the fleshy part off and (this was a test of my trust) and only then did they say spit the seed out but swallow the flesh.
It appears only the leaves, bark and seed are poisonous and not the flesh (disclaimer: I am not saying go and try this yourself as I don't know about quantity issues).
Its good sometimes to say you can have a friend which you can put that much faith in.”
by nodenet
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 11:50PM
“It also grows on the St Matthews, along with opium poppies and the castor oil plant (ricin). Big deal. Most plants are poisonous. But guess what 2-3 year old children are able to learn 2000 different plants fairly easily because our brains are built to identify plants, particularly edible ones.
The deadly nightshade is protected in Bradgate Park.
Despite a level of herbicide spraying that is actually turning the soil sprayed into gravel. So much for carbon dioxide pollution. These plants would die out if local plant competition was allowed.
I looked at taking out an injunction against the council for their indiscriminate spraying and cutting but all, yes ALL the solicitors in Leicester work for the council and none would help me get an injunction.”
by graydjames
Friday, August 31 2012, 6:01PM
“I agree with Graham. The parents speak as if this is some terrible crime committed by some person somewhere and they are looking for someone to blame - or worse - sue. Another example of shocking tabloid journalism.
By the way I lived for the first 21 years of my life just round the corner from this park. We did not use it often as Westcotes Park was bigger for ad hoc games of football. Slightly further afield, Fosse Park, Braunstone Park or Western Park were all frequently visited for more spacious adventures. Anyway, my point is that I never heard this park called Penny Park before. We always called it Upperton Park. Has it always been called Penny Park or this a new invention? Does anyone know?”
by f007e
Friday, August 31 2012, 12:33PM
“karinfall1955, that was kind of my point - how ridiculousness to make a plant, that grows wild, illegal. However if you take a look at existing laws you'll find the government have indeed done just that.”
by Graham_LE8
Friday, August 31 2012, 11:10AM
“It's a wildflower, and despite our efforts to pollute the world around us, they propagate naturally; The only action required is that when identified an appropriate response is undertaken, and in this case that's what happened... I can understand the parents' concerns, but not the 'worry' spoken of - any more reasons to keep children indoors is the least of what we need!”
by karinfall1955
Friday, August 31 2012, 10:50AM
“Illegal? A plant? It is a very attractive plant and is a member of the solanaceae family which includes potatos and tomatos. There should be no such thing as an illegal plant, only inappropriate planting. Yew is also potentially poisonous, shall we ban that too?”
by f007e
Friday, August 31 2012, 10:03AM
“Perhaps this plant should be made illegal, like certain other plants that grow as weeds? It certainly appears to be at least as dangerous.”