A brand new play space on the Nationwide Arboretum designed to assist kids ‘join with nature’ has been constructed beneath timber that drop toxic berries.
Two playgrounds, known as Department Out and Holford Hole, characteristic climbing poles, ropes and an enormous web-like construction. However they’re tucked away amongst yew timber, which produce small orange or crimson berries which are enticing to kids – however lethal if eaten.
It comes months after a coroner expressed concern concerning the hidden hazard yew berries pose after a boy collapsed and died from consuming them throughout a stroll in a park along with his father.
A supply at Westonbirt Nationwide Arboretum in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, which is run by the Authorities’s Forestry England, mentioned: ‘Employees have been scooping up these harmful berries from the playgrounds by the handful.
‘There isn’t any method they’ll get all of them, it is solely a matter of time earlier than a toddler finds one and places it of their mouth.’
A brand new play space on the Nationwide Arboretum designed to assist kids ‘join with nature’ has been constructed beneath timber that drop toxic berries
A supply at Westonbirt Nationwide Arboretum in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, mentioned: ‘Employees have been scooping up these harmful berries from the playgrounds by the handful’
The supply, who requested to not be named, added the location for the play space had been chosen as a result of it was a ‘pure clearing’ – however identified it was solely clear as a result of the extraordinarily poisonous yew timber had suppressed different crops.
Final week, bosses put up some small indicators studying: ‘Warning. Most berries within the arboretum will not be suitable for eating. In case you see them on the ground or within the timber please go away them the place they’re.’
Nevertheless, workers feared these indicators weren’t apparent or particular sufficient.
Final evening, Forestry England mentioned the play space was aimed toward kids aged 4 to eight, when they’re ‘creating necessary expertise in judging danger’.
A spokesman mentioned: ‘Now we have defined that we advise towards consuming any berries or seeds within the arboretum. Now we have posters on show on web site advising this.’
