Himalayan Balsam: A Brief Guide for Bashers

Balsam for Beginners

There are aliens amongst us. There are 36 species of concern in the UK, invasive plants and animals that have been introduced to our countryside that have no natural controls and spread without mercy. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an invasive species, and it is this species BCV spend hundreds of volunteer hours each summer trying to control.

The many names of balsam: Indian Balsam, Nuns, Jumping Jacks, Bobby Tops, Copper Tops, Gnome’s Hat Stand, Jewelweed, Ornamental Jewelweed, Policeman’s Helmet, Kiss-me-on-the-Mountain

Balsam was introduced to the UK in 1839 from the the foothills of the Himalayas, mainly northern India, Pakistan and Nepal, by Victorian botanists and collectors of exotic plants. But their pretty pink flowers would soon be seen outside of private collections as they began their colonisation of riverbanks and wetlands. Without the natural biological controls found in their native habitats balsam soon spread, and in the last 50 years especially it has become a menace to conservationists across the country.

Himalayan balsam can dominate habitats, its canopy blocks out light, restricting the growth of native flora. Pollinators are attracted to balsam blossom in preference to other flowers, this reduces the species diversity of plants and the vertebrates and invertebrates that would use them by affecting local ecosystems and food webs. It alters soil conditions, as being shallow rooted once the balsam dies back there’s less soil binding, increasing the risk of erosion and the siltation of watercourses. It blocks access to paths and waterways, costing time and money to clear it from affected areas.

Being an enemy of the people it has some heavy legal controls to make it think about its behaviour, here’s a few things taken from various government and local government websites.

Because of negative impacts on the UK environment and economy, Himalayan balsam is listed as a species of special concern under retained European Union (EU) law. This means it is an offence to plant or cause these plants to grow in the wild, or intentionally release them into the environment. Schedule 4 of the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 removes plants listed under the EU IAS Regulation from Schedule 9 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, although the same offence applies. Also, Himalayan balsam plant material (including soil contaminated with seeds) is a ‘controlled waste’ under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which means it can only be transported by a registered waste carrier to suitably permitted or exempt sites. Transfer notes shall be kept for each load for a minimum of 2 years.

Breaking the rules can result in a fine, a 3 month prison sentence, or a good telling off and your promise to tidy up not to do it again. But balsam has a good lawyer so there are exemptions:

Landowners do not have to remove listed plants growing wild from their land. However, they must not intentionally grow, cultivate or allow to reproduce wild listed plants. If a listed species is already growing on your land, including parks, estates open to the public or private gardens, or in ponds, lakes, waterways on your land, either private or open to the public, the species is not considered to be intentionally kept or cultivated. So you’re not committing an offence because you’re not intentionally keeping or cultivating it.

If you want to grow balsam or any invasive species as part of a collection or for commercial purposes you will need a permit.

Balsam for Bashers

So, what can you do to stop the spread? Can you bash it? Yes you can. Every summer between May and early August conservationists across the UK take part in the activity known as balsam bashing. This is preferably done before the seed pods appear and always with the landowners permission if on private land.

Balsam can be controlled in a number of ways: it can be sprayed with herbicide, which isn’t the preferred option of environmentalists; it can be introduced to grazing animals, but there’s only so much they can eat. There is also ongoing research into the use of fungal rusts that can take down vast areas of balsam but that’s outside of the average bashers means. So, the methods most commonly used are cutting and pulling.

Balsam can be cut with a mechanical strimmer or brush cutter, or with hand operated weed whackers. This method is great for clearing large areas of balsam but does leave an unsightly mess of cut balsam on the ground. Also, to be most effective the cut needs to made between the root and the first node, the first bulge on the stem above the root. Balsam can re-shoot if the stem is cut too high so accurate bashing is essential.

Hand pulling takes longer and works well on smaller areas. Just hold the stem and gently pull the roots out of the ground, then you can either snap the roof off, again below the first node, or crush it mercilessly in a neat pile. Not severing the root and just throwing it back on the ground undamaged can result in the balsam re-rooting and it can continue growing albeit in a bit of a twisted shape.

If the balsam has seed pods then any kind of bashing will release the seeds and give you more work for next year. Seed pods have an explosive method of distribution. As the two halves of the pod mature there’s an increase in tension, at this point even a gentle touch with a finger tip can cause them to twist open, firing seeds for several metres in every direction. Putting a bag over the seed head before pulling will catch the seeds, but is a bit time consuming, so it’s best to do all your bashing long before this stage. What you do with the seeds you catch in the bag is a problem as they would be classed as hazardous waste, keeping them on site is probably the best option. Bashing the same area over five years or so will eventually exhaust the seed bank leaving it balsam free. BCV have had success with this at several locations.

Balsam for Boiling

Some people argue that balsam benefits bees and pollinators, which is true, but there is a cost to other native species as noted previously. However, there is one benefit balsam has that other invasives generally don’t- it is edible. As long as the balsam hasn’t been sprayed with herbicide it can be eaten: its seeds can be used in curries, the leaves can be used in salad, soups and stews, the flowers can be used in gin, smoothies, jelly, ice cream, jam, crackers, and champagne. An extract of balsam is even used as a homeopathic treatment for anxiety. The leaves taste a bit bitter and the flowers don’t taste of very much, the stems are best left alone, but whatever floats your boat, however caution is needed so see the box below. Also, collecting the balsam does raise the problem of transporting invasive plant material to another site, a bit more thought might be needed on that score.

Himalayan Balsam is very rich in minerals, so shouldn’t really be eaten in large quantities. It also contains calcium oxalate, which can be harmful, cooking thoroughly should break this down. People with arthritis, kidney or bladder stones, gout, hyperacidity and rheumatism should avoid eating balsam completely.

So there you go, brief guide to balsam and how to bash it, the rest is up to you.

Sources:
Gov.uk – Invasive non-native (alien) plant species rules in England and Wales
Jones D (2022) Public information on invasive species in Wales: Himalayan balsam. Welsh Government.
foragingcoursecompany.co.uk
Royal Horticultural Society

A Royal Welcome

Duke of Edinburgh Award for BCV’s Nathan

Congratulations to one of our Bolton Conservation Volunteers, Nathan who originally joined us in 2016 as part of his volunteering task for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award. After completing all his tasks over the following three years he successfully completed his Gold Award in 2019. Because of the pandemic he was unable to celebrate his achievement, but last week he finally got to celebrate the award at Buckingham Palace attended by the HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Great to see that the volunteering bug hasn’t left him and, 7 years on, he is still a regular member of the team on our Sunday tasks, happy to get stuck in (sometimes literally).

If you too are looking for somewhere to complete the new skill section or volunteering section of your Duke of Edinburgh Award, please come along to one of our tasks (see the relevant section on our website for more details).

Words and pictures by Katrina

Doffcocker: Rafts and Reeds

Habitat Management Doffcocker Lodge LNR 23rd April 2023

Tern Rafts – Doffcocker Lodge already has 3 rafts for common tern and today we completed and installed raft number 4. Common tern winter in West Africa before returning to Europe to breed. They usually nest on shingle beaches along the coast but disturbance by humans has forced these agile and elegant sea birds to look further in land for suitable habitat.

Tern rafts are floating wooden frames, surrounded by a fence and covered in cockleshells, they also have short pieces of terracotta pipe for shelter. The population at Doffcocker varies but in 2022 we had around 10 breeding pairs which successfully hatched several chicks.

The rafts were completed on the shore then floating out into position and secured in place with 4 concrete anchors. The grouping of 4 rafts will allow the terns to breed away from predators, as we were leaving the site 2 common tern arrived and landed on one of the rafts.

Reedbeds – Doffcocker Lodge is an old industrial lodge consisting of 2 water bodies divided by a causeway. The reedbeds at Doffcocker were planted around 30 years ago by BCV, at that time they were just a few square metres of rhizome planted in straw bales. The bed now covers the shoreline of the small lodge from one end of the causeway to the other part part of the larger lodge. Our reedbed work today involved finishing a line of dams in along the compartment in the main lodge to raise the water level locally, and also pushing back the tree line on the north side of the small lodge to the allow the reeds to spread further, a continuation of work we started last year.

Reedbeds can support around 700 species of invertebrates, amphibians, birds, mammals and fish.

Darcy Lever Gravel Pits: Restoration

Pond restoration Sunday 12th February 2023

The Darcy Lever gravel pits were formed around 40 years ago when the site was used for the extraction of aggregate to be used in the construction of St.Peter ‘s Way; the construction crews left but the holes in the ground remained and soon filled with water. Over time the site matured and in the early noughties great crested newts were found on the site.

In 2003 a new conservation group was set up by Mike, Dave, Denis, and John to look after the site, the Gravel Pits Action Group (GPAG). Since then GPAG has been maintaining the gravel pits for its wealth of wildlife which includes great crested newt, palmate and smooth newts, common frog, common toad, 18 species of dragon and damselfly, deer, bats, foxes, a multitude of bird life, fungi, and a wide variety of plant life.

In recent years many of the 24 ponds on the site have been in decline, silting up and becoming dominated by typha. The good news is that GPAG obtained funding from English Nature and the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit to restore the site to its former greatness, these 2 bodies provided contractors to dig out several of the ponds in a project planned to run over the next few years.

BCV was involved in some of the early work on the site, but it’s been well over a decade since BCV and GPAG worked together. Well, we’re getting the band back together, GPAG and BCV are once again joining forces to help the gravel pits return to being arguably Bolton’s most biologically rich site.

Today’s task involved removing trees from around the pond, letting in more light to reduce the build up of leaf litter. More light means the oxygenating plants can function better, more sunlight also creates a warmer microclimate which will benefit dragonflies and amphibians. Removing trees also gave us the chance to try out our new piece of kit – a winch. On today’s task we used a hand operated winch to drag a felled tree out of the pond. No more bad backs.

Many thanks to Mike and the GPAG team for inviting us back to the pits, and thanks to BCV’s volunteers for taking part. More pond work can be found in the pond category.

Doffcocker: Coppicing Osier

Coppicing at Doffcocker Lodge, 29th January 2023

Doffcocker Lodge Local Nature Reserve, was Bolton’s first, and for many years only LNR. The lodge was originally built to supply water for Bolton’s industry and made use of the site’s elevation and plentiful water supply from the numerous springs and streams running into the valley. Today it is a haven for bird life including kingfisher, reed bunting, willow tit, and an occasional stop over for bittern.

Our task today was harvesting osier stems from one of the 3 compartments on the northern shore. The compartments were originally created to prevent Canada geese from damaging the vegetation along the shoreline, leading to erosion and loss of habitat. This has allowed willow to grow and in doing so stabilises the soil and create habitat, but it needs to be managed. The last time we did this was in December 2020, before that it was 2015.

Coppicing is an age old woodland management technique that exploits our native trees’ ability to regrow after being damaged. Cutting these trees back causes them to regrow new shoots and stems which can then harvested for firewood, charcoal making, or craft materials. In this case we’re coppicing osier to for use in hurdle weaving projects at local schools. All of the willow that was cut will regrow and in doing so create habitat for birds and invertebrates. It is a highly sustainable method of woodland management and causes no harm to the trees used for harvesting.

Incidentally, Doffcocker is derived from the site’s Celtic name meaning The Black Winding Stream. I bet you really wanted to know that, so now some photos.

Walmsley: Do Ponds Succeed?

Sunday January 1st 2023 – Pond Management

We began work at Walmsley Unitarian Chapel, Egerton, thirteen years ago, back then the area beneath the cemetery, called Spring Meadows, was dominated by willow and there was no open water to speak of. So on a cold snow covered day in January 2010 we began work clearing out the willow and prepping the site for pond digging, by the end of the day there were fewer willows and plenty of scope for improvement. In March the same year we got a big digger in to dig out the ponds we see today, the site was still pretty desolate at this point but the ponds quickly filled with water. We threw in a few aquatic plants and left the site to cook for a while and when we returned in August 2013 there was a new Eden; the ponds were established, the wildlife was thriving, and the transformation from desolation to restoration was complete.

2010: Walmsley Chapel, pond work begins.

But nothing in nature ever stays static. Ponds are temporary and through the process of succession will move from open water to dry land. This progression, called a hydrosere, has seven stages: phytoplankton stage, submerged stage, floating stage, reed swamp stage, sedge-meadow stage, woodland stage, and climax stage. Not all ponds will follow this idealised pattern, the size of the pond and other factors can mean that some stages are skipped or never reached. Spring Meadows has a long history of being wet and boggy, the name itself suggests that at one time the site may have been water meadow. When BCV first started work here the site had no open water and was mainly willow carr fed by springs and run-off from the surrounding land as has been the case for decades if not centuries, it would be unlikely for this area to ever dry out completely but the ponds could still disappear if not looked after.

Once created ponds take effort to maintain. One of the things we did in previous years was to install silt traps to stop the ponds being filled in by sediment. Periodically removing the self seeded reed mace (Typha latifolia) will also stop the ponds becoming drier. Drying out happens partly through transpiration, ie the plants act like water pumps sucking up moisture and drying out the edges creating more space for plants to grow. Also, by removing the Typha and other aquatics we can stop the build up of dead material which would otherwise reduce water quality, reduce the depth of water, and form more growth medium for future generations of plants. Digging out the silt traps and digging up the Typha were the main goals of today’s task.

Do ponds succeed? Only if we let them. Thanks to everyone involved for making this task a success.