Poison Hemlock in New Allotment

I've seen it growing along the streams in the local park, it's not unusual in my opinion.

I think its the fact it looks like other similar plants that gives it that really bad image.
Not saying it shouldn't be handled with some care, I just don't think it's the end of the world.

 

Right, I would take it up but
a) try the cheeky request of ' Pay rent now 'from Jan 24' as it is derelict'.(18months for cost of 12). Use the saving to buy glysophate
b)take the opportunity to apply glysophate to the worst half now, and repeat as necessary.
c) get the rest into clean condition and use for such crops as you can. You may wish to use it for autumn/winter/spring veggies which plant from July.
This will enable you to be up and ready for an early start in Spring 24
I personally use and recommend 'no-dig' as a concept; perhaps there should be a section for this kind of growing knowledge exchange @wiseowl

 

Personally I would put through the compost heap, particuarly if small plants, with the rest of the seasons weeds and finished plants it will be a) broken down and b) diluted considerably.
The poisonous compounds will have been degraded especially if you can get the temperature up.
Finally and of the poisonous compounds are highly unlikely to be taken up by any plant you are growing to eat.
Wear gloves when handling the plants, eye protection is never a bad idea, don't put any poisonous plant through the shredder and when finished wash hands.
I grow a number of Aconitums that are probably equally poisonous and the above is what I do.

 

Some more photos to help with identification please.

 

It does look like parsnip as @infradig suggested.
But is that purple spots.

 

I understand that hemlock, which I have never encountered, has a pungent musty aroma which may distinguish it from the more familiar parsnip scent. Also, I understand that it has a white flower rather than yellow for parsnip. Either should be in bloom shortly (June-July).
Irrespective, you should dig out/or spray while growing actively. I would compost as @NigelJ above but if sprayed with glysophate, delay using the result for at least 3 months.

 

Thank you everyone, there are no flowers yet, I’m just going to dig up now and compost

Council offered me 1 year rent free

Thanks again

 

RESULT!

 

I did read yesterday that the poisonous substance in hemlock can remain in dried stems for up to 3 years.

 

It looks to me like hemlock water dropwort which is indeed poisonous if you eat it but you can pull it up using gloves and compost it. All that family have irritant sap which gives blisters if you get it on your skin and the sun shines on it. It tends to like moist spots which indicates the sort of soil you have. Don't get too het up about poisonous plants, you would be surprised how many common wild plants are poisonous to eat - all the buttercup family, foxgloves, rhubarb leaves for instance but just pull up and compost, the bacteria will break down the poisonous compounds which are all organic. I always wear gloves for gardening, my skin is dry enough as it is and I still manage to get dirt under my fingernails. The TV gardeners wax lyrical about getting their hands in the soil but they probably get apprentices to do most of the hard work!