Giant Hogweed in Somerset

[Mick F]

The green path is the path round the back of our bungalow.

I've cut the bracken back as far as I can, done three times this summer.
Beyond that is the farmer's field and it's infested with bracken. He won't do anything with it as it would cost him money, and after all he's a Cornish farmer and not noted for spending money.

[Paulatic]

They told me at Agricultural college to cut 3x in the first year. 2x second year and one cut in the third year and you'd be rid of it. Never tried it as bracken usually grows where no cutter dare go.
My observations are the tracks we drove sheep and cattle down never become heavily covered with bracken. The constant bruising and crushing by hooves seem to check it.
Though in your case Mick you'll be fighting a loosing battle with the farmer next door. Farmers are the same no matter which county they are in. [emoji6]. Anyone can make money but hanging on to it is the skill farmers have. .

[661-Pete]

All fungi are edible ............ but some only once.

I think you'd probably spit out something like Russula emetica or Lactarius torminosus, pretty damn quick, before swallowing it (unless you're that one and only bloke who finished the widower curry...) On the Scoville scale they're probably up there with Dorset nagas and Carolina reapers. But don't experiment! I did once . They have other effects - as the Latin names suggest.....

[Bicycler]

As a keen walker I gave up reporting GH long ago (except where it's a particular risk such as in the OP). It's just too prevalent in much of the countryside.