Park staff and dog walkers were shocked to discover on Friday that a poisonous plant has been found growing in Hackney Downs.
The plant, Mirabilis Jalapa, commonly known as the four o’clock flower, can cause gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea in dogs. Though the plant is not life-threatening, ingesting any part of the plant may require urgent veterinary attention.
A vet at Hackney Vet said it would cost “around £200” to treat a dog that had ingested a poisonous flower.
Park team member Habiba believes that the flower was “planted”. In a 2023 Facebook post, a local resident warned dog walkers of the flower’s toxicity, but no action was taken to remove it.
However, dog walkers on Friday said they were “unaware” the flower was growing in four locations across the park – posing a significant threat to their pooches.
Sanjay 52, said: “Oh wow, I was not aware of it, I have never seen that flower before,” while David 54, said: “A warning sign would be helpful as it is a prolific dog walking park.”
When asked, other park staff were also unaware of the plant’s existence. Gardening team member Rasheen, 22, said he had not seen the flower before, but would “notify” his manager and “ask if it needed removing”.
Hackney Council has been approached for a comment.
Joshua Haining is a freelance news reporter for The Daily Telegraph. He has written previously written for The Times and The Northern Echo, where he reported on news and culture.