SAFE GARDENING
When our twins were tiny, I used to sit them out on the patio in their highchairs to get the fresh air. One day I noticed Molly had taken a bite from a leaf from the nearby lilac bush. Thankfully no harm was done, but it made me realise how easy it would be for them to eat something they shouldn’t.
I contacted the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) through their website, and they promptly sent me some detailed leaflets about plant safety. There was too much advice given to repeat it all here, but I will summarise some of it. ROSPA can be contacted on 0121 248 2000, or at www.rospa.co.uk.
Most at risk from poisoning are crawling and toddling children who are likely to put small objects like berries in their mouths. Older children may try nibbling plants just to see if they are edible. It is never too early to start teaching children not to eat plants that are not recognised as food. Children are also more vulnerable to poisoning than adults because the smaller your body weight, the more toxins affect you.
Risky plants can be found not only in domesticated gardens but also growing wild in the countryside, as well as houseplants. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has drawn up a Code of Practice which lists 62 problem plants and includes details of how they should be labelled. If your local nursery or garden centre belongs to the HTA, poisonous, irritant or allergenic plants should be labelled as such.
What to do if you think someone has eaten part of a doubtful plant:
Examples of harmful plants:
Bulbs
Daffodils and hyacinths
Cut flowers such as daffodils and Monkshood (aconitum)
Autumn crocus
Spurges (Euphorbia)
Foxglove
Ivy
Laburnum
Leyland Cypress
Lily-of-the-Valley
Lupins
Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)