Natural Enterprise’s Plant Positive project is once again out on the River Medina, the Eastern Yar and Wroxall Stream and the local charity is in urgent need of new people to join their band of volunteers who tackle Himalayan Balsam.
Since 2013 volunteers have made great progress on bringing the infestation under control and on much of Wroxall Stream, native herby vegetation has returned. Fields are no longer pink! The team tackles new areas each year, as well as visiting previous sites to eliminate any plants that have returned.
Himalayan Balsam is 1 of the most invasive non-native plant species on the Island’s rivers.
As well as out-pollinating and out-shading our native flora and threatening the extraordinary biodiversity of our river habitats it dies back in winter, leaving our riverbanks bare and vulnerable to erosion and increased flooding. It is thought that this loss of plant diversity and bank erosion is also contributing significantly to the decline of one of the UK’s rarest mammals, the water vole.
Carol Flux, the Project Manager explains:
“We currently have volunteers out 3 days a week, and need new people to join our regular volunteers. It’s urgent as the balsam will be seeding soon, and each plant produces about 800 seeds.”
“Pulling Himalayan balsam out at the root before it has a chance to seed is an effective method of control, and we also have some volunteers using scythes, and some wading.”
“It’s an easy job, lots of fun and a great excuse to work outside in some of our loveliest river-side spots! It’s great for individuals to come ‘on the pull’ with us, or we are happy to take out groups”.
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If you would like to give a hand Himalayan Balsam-pulling this Summer, please contact Carol Flux on 07790 906232 or [email protected].
No experience is necessary as training will be given on the day.
Whilst this is undoubtedly an admirable effort, I was under the impression that it was illegal to allow certain non-native invasive species, like Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed, to grow on your land. If that’s the case, why isn’t the landowner paying to clear up their land, rather than relying on volunteers?
Waterways are the responsibility of the Environment Agency.
This is so important and have seen a group of guys in waders pulling such out the river at Roud.
If only non native troublesome beings could be removed from our land for similar reasons life may once again be good.
Thank you to all who can and do help do such work nature needs all the aid it can get now.