Common hogweed, Heraculeum sphondylium.
This sturdy plant, which grows between 50 and 200 cm, is also known as cow parsnip (not to be confused with cow parsley). It was originally used as pig’s fodder hence the name hogweed. The flowers form large umbrella shapes and attract lots of flies, mainly due to the nasty scent it produces. This is not the same as the infamous Giant hogweed which is not present on the Walk.
