Your mission, should you choose to accept…
Our annual Himalayan Balsam Campaign runs from May until late September each year and we need volunteers to help us hand-pull this invasive plant. It is good fun and remarkably therapeutic.
The problem!
Himalayan Balsam is the most invasive plant on the Island’s watercourses. Each plant can explode 800 seeds. 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 to the decline of water voles. They do not like habitat where balsam is dominant.
The plant occurs on the lower Eastern Yar, Scotchell’s Brook, Wroxall stream, Merstone Stream and in patches on the River Medina River. In places it is dominant but we are starting to win the battle! Our strategy has been to clear from upstream, downwards, and much of Wroxall Stream is now clear enough to only require two volunteers to diligently walk along four times a year and pick every pesky plant.
However there is still a lot to do, and our current areas of focus are lower Wroxall Stream, the Eastern Yar from Budbridge to Langbridge and Merstone Stream and the Medina. Its great for individuals to come ‘on the pull’ with us, or we are happy to take out groups. Balsam is removed by pulling (it comes out very easily) and some of our volunteers like to scythe and wade, but its not necessary so there’s a suitable task for everyone!
We supply gloves, you supply old clothes. We are out two or three times a week, you don’t need to commit, just turn up if you want to. We send out a list of sites fortnightly, and some people stay all day, others go home at lunchtime.
Why we do it!
This is the same field three years apart. Note the recovery of native species.
We have made two videos to tell you what it’s all about. The first is pretty comprehensive; whilst the second is a ‘Silent Movie’ version we thought might make you smile.
Still need more persuading?
We will take you to places you have never been before. Here are some smiley faces and sunny sites all pictured this year.
If you would like to give a hand Himalayan Balsam-pulling this summer, please click here. No experience necessary as training will be given on the day.