But the sentiment behind these stories is kinda positive in that these people want to protect and perhaps inform if protection is not possible. Imagine this article being about trying to put pressure on the council to remove this plant from where people are passing , a shame the authorities/get people complaining directly for action. Or if that's still not working at least people reading this can learn something, perhaps pass it on, so preventing harm through contact.
I'm not for eradication of anything, I believe that if you something is harmful in nature it evolved for a reason and that we've also evolved enough to learn to avoid. I just think if one person sees this photo of the guy next to this plant, recognises it then their ignorance of it has been lifted. A good thing to educate right?
P.S. I admit to not knowing poisonous plants present in the UK but I feel I don't need to know. Anything in my garden, if I had one, would be known to me, if not I'd certainly not eat it or crush and rub it. If in doubt avoid. If in your garden then gloves make a good protection for handling stuff. There's quite a few garden plants that have defences which can cause wealds and reactions through contact with skin. I used to know a few after the village Bobby where I lived, a keen gardener, wrote a piece about plants to defend property in his column in the neighborhood watch newsletter. Plenty of thorns included but one had a toxin in the thorns which caused a painful, bright red welt if it scratched you that lasts weeks. The idea was the police would know to check out the usual scrotes for these obvious marks, thus giving them cause to search the person's property. Plus they hurt badly so you also know the guy is suffering.
That really surprised me since the copper was really advocating pain. I liked the idea. A few euphorbias around drainpipes or under windows to scratch the he'll out of burglars. Or a climber/rambler with major thornage trained along the top of fences or walls. Also keeps the cats out, although 6"nails along the top of the fence also works with all but the most stupid or persistent cats too.
One question, what is the most dangerous native plant? That's either most toxic or most likely to cause serious harm. Something that's truly toxic but very rare is unlikely to kill or harm but a common plant that's less poisonous may still cause more hospital visits thus being more dangerous. I'm just curious, but it is a digression do perhaps should be asked in its own thread if I get round to it.
. Better they take an active interest in the plants (and animals) around them than unthinkingly blast them with a stick as they amble past and then complaining to disinterested (phone addicted) parent that a plant's just hurt them ... 
