Removing Himalayan Balsam From The Banks Of Our Rivers

News release from The Eden Rivers Trust

Himalayan balsam is being pulled from the banks of some of our local rivers to help protect wildlife.  Enthusiastic volunteers have set about removing this invasive plant from riverside woodlands around Penrith.

One balsam pulling day has already taken place, organised by Eden Rivers Trust, and several more are coming up soon.  The event was well attended by local people willing to get a little hot and sticky to help the wildlife of our rivers!  The event took place on the banks of the Old Petteril at Calthwaite near Penrith.

The Soroptimists have been very active in helping Eden Rivers Trust tackle Himalayan balsam.  Penrith Soroptimists came out on the pull last year, clearing a large area of woodland on the Old Petteril, and have another event organised for this July.  Members from Carlisle (and one of their husbands!), who had done a tremendous job last year pulling out thousands of balsam plants on the River Irthing, came to assist in the Penrith area this year. 

Himalayan balsam is a relative of the Busy Lizzie and is known by a number of common names including policeman’s helmet and stinky-pops.  It is a tall annual plant, reaching up to 3 m, and produces clusters of purplish pink helmet-shaped flowers with a sickly sweet smell, hence its common names!

It was introduced into this country in 1839 from the Himalayas as an ornamental plant for gardens.  Unfortunately our climate suited it well and it escaped from gardens and spread rapidly throughout the country, especially along waterways.

Its aggressive nature means that it out competes native plants along river banks and forms dense stands, and in autumn when the plants die back it leaves banks bare of vegetation and vulnerable to erosion.

There are various means of controlling this plant, including spraying and cutting, but in sensitive habitats such as along rivers, hand pulling is an effective method.

Joanne Backshall, Conservation Officer for Eden Rivers Trust said, “We had a great turn out for our balsam pulling day, and look forward to seeing more people at our future events.  The day was fine and sunny, and everyone did a fantastic job, clearing large areas of this problematic plant.”

Further balsam pulling volunteer days are arranged and the details are as follows:

Wednesday 30 June - River Petteril - with Cumbria Wildlife Trust in Wreay Woods
Saturday 3 July - 10.30 am - River Irthing at Lanercost
Monday 5 July - 6 pm - Penrith Soroptimists event - River Petteril near Calthwaite
Thursday 8 July - 10.30 am - River Petteril near Calthwaite
Wednesday 14 July - River Petteril - with Cumbria Wildlife Trust in Wreay Woods -

To come along or for more details contact Joanne Backshall at Eden Rivers Trust on 01768 866788 or email joanne@edenriverstrust.org.uk.  To join in the Cumbria Wildlife Trust events, contact Morag Angus via email moraga@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk