Volunteer to Bash the Balsam

Controlling the Himalayan Balsam on the reserve is important and you can help to do this by signing up to help us pull up this invasive non-native species on Thursday 26th June 10.00am - 12.00pm and/or Thursday 31st July 10.00am - 1.00pm

Our partners the Ribble Rivers Trust explain why this plant can cause problems on the reserve:

Himalayan balsam grows along river banks and in damp woodland in dense stands that shades and crowds out many native species. It produces much nectar, making it attractive to pollinating insects to the detriment of native flowering plants.

Once established, it dominates riverbanks in summer but in winter, when the plant dies back, it leaves bare and exposed banks  vulnerable to erosion, as the shallow Himalayan balsam root system offers limited stablisation.  Dense stands can also impede the water flow at times of high rainfall, increasing the likelihood of flooding.

What can we do? Sign up to volunteer

The most powerful tool we have isn't nasty chemicals or fancy kit, it's our volunteers! You can help us with:

• Removing Himalayan Balsam at the root

•  surveying the rivers and monitoring invasive species

• reporting sightings and recording data

• spreading awareness in the community