Himalayan Balsam – seasonal report

FOHW would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our efforts to reduce Himalayan Balsam on Hell Wath this year.

Himalayan Balsam is an invasive plant species that needs controlling because it crowds out our native species of plant. It is very difficult to control as each plant produces hundreds of seeds each year and so is able to spread far and wide. Great swathes of Himalayan Balsam are evident, especially across the lower reaches of Hell Wath around the margins of the meadows.

This year we took the decision to work on specific areas of Hell Wath rather than across the whole site. Our plan has been to remove as much HB as possible from these priority areas by scything and pulling. We then keep returning to the same areas to remove any new plants that regrow. In this way we hope to significantly reduce the amount of HB that grows in these areas next year and begin to expand our efforts outwards, increasing the HB ‘free’ areas over time.

The priority areas have been: around the pond and a couple of clearings along the main path leading away from the pond; an area opposite the veteran oak tree where scrub was cleared last winter; along the Hell Wath track and from there down to the river.

We would encourage people to visit theses areas over the next few weeks to continue to pull any HB plants. Mature plants are already producing and distributing seeds, but any plants pulled and crushed now will reduce the number of plants growing up next year.