Every now and then you stumble across a real corker of ecological illiteracy in a news story - this one really stands out... https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/13372808.warning-after-poisonous-plant-found-growing-on-residential-street/

Firstly - the entire story hangs on a mis-identification - once you hit the line where it turns out that it's black nightshade rather than deadly nightshade then the story disappears into irrelevance - a deadly plant was not found growing on their street...

Secondly - it adds to the confusion further by illustrating the story not with deadly nightshade (which it wasn't) or black nighshade (which it was) but a whole other species of nightshade - bittersweet... which doesn't feature in the story anywhere!

Thirdly you have the unsubstantiated claim that the plant was killing local birds and could kill local cats and dogs. This would be fairly implausible even if it were deadly nightshade... and we've already established it isn't!

Fourthly - the article advises that if you see the plant (which one!?) then you should contact the council for it to be removed by professionals. This is not necessary!

Fifth - the choice of specialist to comment on the plant seems poorly chosen - I'm not sure which species of nightshade was being referred to but neither black nor deadly nightshade are climbing plants to be found winding around trees...

And finally - the whole scaremongering tone of the article is disappointing but oh-too familiar now. If it was corrective, informative and informed then it could have been a good educational opportunity but instead it just rolls with the scary headline. OK, rant over... :)