At this time of year, if you spend any sunny day walking along river banks or canals you’ll notice a very pretty plant. Pretty, until you learn a little more about it...
Introduced to Britain in the 1890’s, Himalayan balsam produces attractive, hat-shaped, pink and white flowers which start to appear in June.
It once provided ordinary people with a cheap alternative to more expensive plants like orchids, but since its introduction Himalayan balsam has spread rapidly throughout the country and can now pose a problem for native plants.
Himalayan balsam, taken by Chris O'Reilly
Able to form dense stands up to three metres high, Himalayan balsam often blocks light and out-competes smaller plants. It spreads so successfully because after flowering it produces amazing explosive seed cases which can shower seeds up to 7 metres away. The first time I saw this happen, it actually made me jump!
However, by suppressing the growth of native plants and their root systems, come autumn and winter, the area occupied by Himalayan balsam can be left bare, and therefore vulnerable to erosion or collapse.
This is a particular problem in wet areas where flowing water can aid its seed dispersal, allowing it to spread easily along riverbanks. Both Coombes and Churnet have many wet area and losing native plants in these areas can have dramatic consequences for the insects, birds and mammals which make their homes along the river systems.
Himalayan balsam, taken by Nick Upton
In order to control the spread of Himalayan balsam we need to remove it before it has a chance to fling its seeds every which way. Our enthusiastic Tuesday work party help us to ensure its continued management by removing it each year.
Due to shallow roots, the balsam can be easily removed by simply pulling it out or by breaking the stem close to the ground (with a very satisfying ‘snap’), which prevents re-growth and can then be left to rot down.
Himalayan balsam, taken by Laurie Campbell
Any seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to two years so it is important to continue managing the area over a period of years to ensure that numbers are reduced successfully.
So, while Himalayan balsam could be considered beautiful, it does have a sinister side. If you see us pulling or snapping it around the reserve, rest assured, there is good reason.
Who knows, in a few years that area could be filled with a spectrum of stunning, summer wildflowers alive with butterflies and insects.