Couple praised for battling river's giant hogweed

David Butler got his spraying qualification to battle giant hogweed in 2015

A couple have been praised for spending the last 13 years battling giant hogweed along the banks of a river.

David and Ros Butler, 78 and 76, started volunteering with the Tees Rivers Trust in 2012 as part of the clean up.

They regularly head to the banks of the Lower Tees, wearing protective gear, to remove swathes of the invasive species and their efforts have been described as "nothing short of extraordinary".

Mrs Butler said giant hogweed was a "vile plant" which more people need to be careful of when walking near to the River Tees.

She said re-visiting areas the team had cleared and seeing the flora flourishing was "beautiful".

"Giant hogweed is the most vile thing. Young people don't have the time to be coming out and doing it.

"The important thing is people realising that it is dangerous and not just for them but also for their dogs."

David and Ros battle the giant hogweed with a team of fellow volunteers

Chloe Lawrence, project manager for the Tees Rivers Trust, said the couple's efforts had been "nothing short of extraordinary".

"Having David and Ros come out with us is always a joy because their dedication, energy, and genuine care for the river environment is inspiring," she added.

"For over a decade, they've given their time and passion to this cause - not just helping with giant hogweed, but making a real difference in the community."

Ms Lawrence said the couple had made "a huge improvement" to areas such as Manfield, Cleasby and Stapleton along the River Tees.

Giant Hogweed is a common weed which can grow up to 13ft (4m) in height with leaves of up to 5ft (1.5m) wide.

Poisonous sap from stem hairs can cause severe blistering, which can take months to heal.