David Louden of Dollar is endeavoring to organise a series of community Himalayan Balsam plucking session along the Devon between the Haugh and Sheardale bridges.
The first date in the diary is Monday 14th June between 9.30am and Noon
Anglers along the Devon will be familiar with this pretty but pernicious non-native invasive species, here is an excellent guide to identifying it:
https://www.invasivespecies.scot/sites/sisi8/files/ID_Impatiens_glandulifera_Himalayan_Balsam_0.pdf
This is a vigorously that out competes native species, which uses it ‘exploding’ seed pods to in time become the dominant species on the river bank. It has limited root systems make banks prone to erosion during spates. It’s weak roots make it easy to pull up and large areas can be covered even by an individual but can only be done before the plant begins to seed in the late summers.
Members are encouraged to attend and support this initiative
If you can’t when on the river why not spend ten minutes clearing a patch:
https://devonanglingassociation.org.uk/2017/05/08/get-plucking-help-control-himalayan-balsam/