The ongoing battle against the invasive Himalayan balsam plant has been reinforced by Island Roads. Members of the Highways PFI company’s frontline staff, including district stewards, were recently given a briefing about the destructive plant by Natural Enterprise’s Rivers and Invasive Species Project Manager, Carol Flux. They were reminded what the plant looks like, where is was most likely to be seen and what to do should they come across it while out on their duties inspecting the Island’s highways network Himalayan balsam is an invasive non-native plant that has taken root in large sections of the Island, particularly along watercourses. It is listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as a species that poses a conservation threat to native biodiversity and habitats and it is an offence to plant or cause Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) to grow in the wild. As well as competing for resources against native species, Himalayan balsam can also cause problems by exposing the banks of colonised water courses to erosion in winter when it dies back. Carol said:
“We need to be on constant guard against this damaging species and having the support of Island Roads staff who are continually out and about across the road and footway network is very welcome.”
Island Roads staff have previously received similar awareness training about another threat to the Island’s ecology – the Asian hornet. An Island Roads spokesperson said:
“We are always keen to ensure our people are aware of local environmental threats so we were pleased to host Carol who gave a valuable refresher briefing. “Staff are now fully up to speed with the latest areas at risk from Himalayan balsam and we look forward to doing our bit to help prevent the march of this invasive species.”
Think loads of it out milly ..love it that all the road been taken over by shrubs and headges overgrown everywhere on the milly and island..
They can do this, but not fix potholes or sort out the easily fixable roads in Ventnor.
You can do the ‘easy fix’ in Ventnor if you like. Give them a call, tell them how to do it, where to get the bits and pieces from, B&Q or wherever. Then pop along while the crew are doing it. Just to check in. It’ll be sorted in a day won’t it?
Thank you. You’re so kind
I am not talking about leeson road or the graben, there are several other road where arguments have been rumbling on for months.
“Ivy Searle” must be having a day off! That headline is begging for a racist comment in reply.
“She” is probably taking a day or two off while her boss is in N Korea.
Don’t have to say it out loud but I bet most sane people are thinking along similar lines..
They’d actually have to cut the roadside hedgrows to spot anything
Not more foreign invaders? Himalayan balsam, haven’t heared of them before.
Ye new one’s from france..
What I love about the Island, always guaranteed a laugh.
Island Roads Numpty’s are only good at the following:-
Sitting in their vehicles all day
Eating
Smoking (even thought they shouldn’t smoke in Company vehicles)
Vaping
Texting
Looking at magazines
Island Roads is the biggest scandal ever to take place on the Isle of Wight
What a complete waste of money
Sad but true
Personally I blame the overpaid Management
clueless and useless.
If the staff were working for a private company, majority of them
would be sacked in the first week.
100% agree how on earth do they get away with running the island roads when when you have a short trip to mainland the all roads come under National Highways.
We all pay taxes so time to sort out the roads then collect from who is responsible.
Gets even harder to leave Ventnor next week
Just mt thoughts don’t need any bad replies as I won’t read them
They can’t even find tarmac at the best of times. No hope finding that weed.
The Island is full of weed, you can smell it everywhere,
shouldn’t be difficult to find.
Stop the boats! That’ll sort it out.
IF only this were our main concern in the UK from costly, troublesome and often dangerous invasions from outside our country.
Ash die back also imported here is changing our landscape forever as are those brown leg creatures ( Which the Echo had an article on with ID photos) which are particularly aggressive compared to other species causing great harm once settled here.
A great deal will unfortunately arrive crossing the Channel in this warm summer season.
Be aware, very aware and vote REFORM.
Ive Searle aka Bluto aka dunderhead with a totally predictable comment. Vote Reform to ensure that Labour win!
So voting Deform will stop an invasive weed growing by the side of the road will it? I think you’ve been smoking the stuff Bluto.
How can island Roads do this when they are asleep in the vans ,, and Friday 3pm until Monday morning not one in sight, only the traffic cones and faulty traffic lights
They can’t even spot pot holes, so what chance the weed being stopped? NONE!
They worry about and get training for a bit of plant and a hornet yet they can’t seem to fix the roads properly. Get your priorities right .
A photo of it would be useful, no idea what it looks like…
There’s a big picture of it in the photo at the beginning of the story.
The photo depicts IR perfectly. Sitting there doing nothing. Situation normal. What else do you expect?
Because every training course you have ever been on you have been jumping up and down? You complete numpty… people have to sit down to learn, love to see you on a training course? But due to your comment i expect you have never trained on anything!!
Look closely at the picture. There’s a clue
Neighbours have reported to the council already that there is some between the River Yar and the railway lines. on the bank near the railway bridge by Morton Common also on the slip by the water/sewage that goes to the pond
From the RHS website:
‘The flowers of Himalayan balsam produce large amounts of nectar and are therefore very attractive to numerous bee species’
Confusing, isn’t it? We’re told that bees are vital to the ecosystem and struggling, and then we’re told to eradicate a plant that they apparently love?
So, what to do? Get rid of something because it’s ‘foreign’ or help the bees?
Get rid of an invasive plant that shades and outcompetes native plants. Dense growth of Himalayan balsam on riverbanks also increases the rick of flooding. Simple enough Catherine. No confusion here.
They can not even spot potholes when they drive over them so they will never spot flowers.
Is the floating bridge working yet