Himalayan Balsam - bash or not

[SandyBeds]

I am view this plant with particular unease and would welcome it's eradication or extreme control wherever possible. It's a shame that the poll has closed as this is an interesting discussion.

[Stewart J]

Its a huge problem here in Northumberland on the banks of the South Tyne. I'd like to see it eradicated.

Stewart

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

It is a massive problem because pollen and nectar for bumble bees isn't enough when a massive block of the stuff along a river corridor out-competes an otherwise diverse floral assemblage that not only provides for bumblebees but also for moths and their caterpillars, butterflies, hoverflies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs etc

plus because it is an annual with no major root network (two points cited in its favour above) when it does die back in the winter it leaves no vegetation to protect the bank and you get major wash out erosion during winter floods.

this is becoming a major problem along the thames and is not cheap or easy to fix. I'd favour eradication if it were possible, but its like trying to empty the ocean with a teacup - therefore control where ever possible is the way to go IMO.

[KeenTeen17]

Its a bigger problem up here than the Japanese Knotweed which I don't see that much. Every meadow, river and stream is taken up by HB. When you get a public footpath which hasn't been used in ages, its most likely that has taken over. I went on one a while back and it was head high.

[ChrisJB]

Bash it or rag it up.

Regards, Chris

[Jenny W]

Unfortunetly I think it's never going to be eradicated, the same as with the vast majority of species that we control, but it does need to be controlled as effectively as possible. At the end of the day, it's a non-native species and can be no substitute for a native riverside flora.

[Hornbeam]

Awful lot our plants are not native. They have been introduced by man since the Neolithic farmers. If we just retained the flora that survived the ice ages and was here before Britain became an island, we would have a very poor collection.

Rhododendron was one of the natives that was here before the last ice age - so you could count it as a reintroduced native if you were pedantic enough to do so.

Himalayan balsam is a fantastic flower and rivals most orchids for exotic beauty. Long may it flourish and brighten our waterways. May the balsam bashers blunt their tools and stop interfering with natural selection.

[SandyBeds]

Almost every single one of us interferes with "natural selection" every single day of out lives. I think the "Balsam-Bashers" are simply trying to do their bit to redress the balance. Just my opinion.

[Henrietta]

[quote=Gill Catton;528199]While it may be easy to eradicate from a garden scenario its is almost impossible along a stream or river if everyone on the catchment doesn't participate - which they don't - so it ends up being and on-going concern. It is a massive problem because pollen and nectar for bumble bees isn't enough when a massive block of the stuff along a river corridor out-competes an otherwise diverse floral assemblage that not only provides for bumblebees but also for moths and their caterpillars, butterflies, hoverflies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs etc - I believe even a block of nettles supports more species than himalayan balsam. And by your arguement - Rhododendron which actually supports hundreds of insects by providing a rich pollen and nectar source should be as welcome?[/QU0TE)
End quote
I take your point on damage to river banks but Rhododendron is a toxic nectar plant for bees and there have been cases of honey poisoning in people. I would not site my hives too near it. It also invades streams, totally covering them and blocking out all light. It also covers acres of land in this country poisoning the ground as it goes. And yet we have gardens open to the public, growing nothing but this awful species. Of coase all of these problems stem from introducing foreign plants. In New Zealand they have the most dreadful problem with the Clematis Old Man's Beard, it grows at a tremendous rate covering the natural bush plants. Likewise Gorse which is a fire hazard and spreads like mad. All these plants were introduced by the settlers there.

[KeenTeen17]

I think my only negative thing toward balsam bashing is that you need to make sure the people who do it can tell the difference between Impatiens species. In a local park near me there grows the Touch Me Not Balsam, I. noli-tangeres which is a very rare plant. Unfortunately the Himalayan Balsam is slowly entering the area which this grows. Unfamiliar balsam bashers may pull up the Touch Me Not as Well