DEAN GREEN TEAM Wildlife Conservation Group in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire

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20 June 2024

Cinderford Brook Water Project

Himalayan Balsam removal

 

We were along Cinderford Brook at Linear Park where we were removing a amssive patch of Himalayan Balsam. Himalayan Balsam needs to be pulled before it starts to seed and we were just in time!

Himalayan balsam was introduced as a garden plant in 1839, but soon escaped and became widely naturalised along riverbanks and ditches, especially close to towns. It is fast-growing and spreads quickly, invading wet habitat at the expense of other, native flowers. Its explosive seed pods aid its spread by sending the seeds into the river, causing further dispersal downstream. Our largest annual plant, it flowers from July to October.

 

 

Plenty of the plant was found here.

 

 

This shows the high leaves of the plant .

 

 

When we pulled the balsam out of the earth they still had their roots attached so we pulled the roots off and laid the plant in piles.