The Himalayan Balsam season has finished – thank you everyone who helped us whether in organised sessions or at their own pace in the areas of their choice.

Let’s hope that the promised wet and windy autumn doesn’t result in hosts of seeds floating down from the upper reaches.

Report from Paul Wilson

This year there appeared to be less Balsam growing and some areas had a significantly less than in previous years; this could be due to the very dry spring – however too soon for optimism, there was still plenty to work on.  It was also noted that there seemed to be a more varied amount of other plants this year including Campion and Rose Bay Willow Herb – this made a pleasant change to a sea of nettles.

However there didn’t seem to be any sign of additional growth from seeds distributed in previous years – maybe the nettles are suppressing growth, or making the ground too fertile for wild flower seed mixes to succeed. The small-scale trials last year to try and clear small sample areas earlier in the year didn’t appear to make any difference to this year’s growth – worth a try but more thought needed!

This year we had twenty sessions through June & July with seventeen different volunteers coming to join in the fun.  More than 700 man hours of work! My thanks go to everyone who volunteered – there were some very hot days. Thanks, must also go to those who went out over and above the planned sessions to do additional hours. In full sun it was baking hot with the ever-present risk of nettles, under tree cover it was very hot and humid with the ever-present risk of Tabanids (Horse flies).

We worked in three different areas: -Strensall – Moray Close up to the Settling Beds.  The majority of HB was cleared from bankside & pathside with only a few plants out of reach. Haxby Weir – Through the woodland footpaths.  We also cleared nettles & brambles to allow access along the footpath.  Good progress as well on the banksides of the small drainage channel. Huntington – Up and downstream from All Saints Church.  Downstream from Church Lane bridge to the metal gate was cleared both sides of the river. Upstream was more challenging but significant progress was made. On the opposite bank to the church, Balsam was cleared almost all the way up to the Ring Rd bridge. On the other bank most of the profiled bank was cleared but some large stands, which were only accessible from the river, remained.

RFS volunteers also worked around Yearsley Baths and along the Fairy Trail to clear large swathes of HB. Our efforts to control HB on the lower reaches of the Foss were also supported by St Nicks volunteers who worked in Sessions Reserve and other areas, once again supported by their two contractors.

The group attack an enormous growth of Himalayan Balsam on the river bank