Hi my name is Thomas and I wish to share experiences on dealing with the control of Himalayan Balsam.

I am a contractor for the Countryside Council for Wales the Environment Agency Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales in a joint project to eradicate Himalayan Balsam from the river Ystwyth.

The project was started in summer 2009 and I am pleased to say that we are finally making a marked difference.

In 2009 we found the source and have been clearing an area from the source down river methodically. It is my belief that the seed bed lasts for 18 to 24 months therefore only now are we realising a difference in the area covered.

We are using 3 methods of clearing the Balsam, Hand weeding, Hand held sickle, and Strimming.

From previous experience you have the hit the same areas a minimum of three times a year starting from when the plant first shows signs of wanting to flower and before it starts to seed. This year we are doing four sweeps once in June, July, August, and September. The starting date will however change around the UK depending on location and altitude.

Last week the 13^th June to the 17^th June we went over what we have covered the two previous years and were pleasantly surprised of the difference we have made, as last year did not show much change. We therefore have more of a budget to continue further down river. Although there were still some plants in areas, these were localised and only less than 10% of what we have had to deal with on previous years.

I hope readers will find this encouraging that it can be done even in difficult and widespread terrain.

 

 

 

Good luck with any Balsam project you may have.

Tom.