Please join us for the first of several events this year to remove Himalayan balsam from the banks of the Avoch Burn.
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a highly invasive plant which was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the early 19th century. It has since spread along many rivers and canals and outcompeted many native plants. The seed pods explode when touched by animals or strong wind; this way the seeds are flung several metres from its parent. The seeds are also transported downstream by water or carried to new areas in the soles of shoes and feet of animals. The roots are quite shallow, which means that where Himalayan balsam grows in large numbers, the riverbanks are becoming more prone to erosion. When riverbanks erode, more fine sediment enters the water. This damages habitats, harms wildlife, and even changes the shape and structure of rivers.
Luckily the shallow roots of Himalayan balsam make it fairly easy to pull out of the ground, and this is what we are going to do during the balsam bash events. The seeds can survive in the ground for up to 5 years, so it is important to revisit known infested sites regularly and to keep removing as many plants as possible. The control period usually runs from May until the seed pods start to appear in the summer. The goal is to prevent the plant from spreading seeds. It is an annual plant, unlike the equally invasive Japanese knotweed which is a perennial that spreads via rhizomes as well as seeds. It is illegal to move Himalayan balsam without special permission, so we'll stack the plants on beds made of dry branches, or hang them into trees around GZ, to make sure the roots don't get into contact with soil again. It is recommended that whenever you walk through an infested area, you check your shoes (and dogs' paws) for seeds to avoid carrying them elsewhere. The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) have a member who lives locally and has provided us with advice.
At the parking coordinates there is space for several vehicles. Another option is the church car park on Braehead. If you haven't been down to the burn yet, there's a trailhead given to help you find the path behind the houses on Rosehaugh Crescent. The area we're going to work in is more or less by the three traditional caches along the burn upstream from the old railway viaduct. We'll be on hand to show you what Himalayan balsam looks like and where to stack it.
Some of the balsam can be pulled from along the small path along the burn, but a lot of it grows in an area that gets flooded regularly, so we recommend wearing wellies. If you have waders you can work from the water to access the more difficult stretches of riverbank. The plant is quite juicy (but not toxic) so you might want to wear gloves. We'll be working along the burn from 14:00 to 17:00, but you don't have to stay for the whole duration of the event. Every little helps!