Eden Rivers Trust removes 200,000 Himalayan balsam plants

Eden Rivers Trust, a Cumbrian river conservation charity, has announced the successful completion of its 'Big Balsam Bash' for 2024, with 200,000 invasive non-native Himalayan balsam plants removed over the summer.

This has been a 'ground-breaking year' for the charity in its mission to curb the spread and eventually eradicate this invasive species from the River Eden's banks and the surrounding countryside.

The charity's efforts were bolstered by the participation of 185 volunteers, school groups, and residents from across the Eden River catchment.

Thanks to their collective efforts, the trust estimates that a potential 60 million plants have been prevented from germinating next year.

The Himalayan balsam overview map in 2024 (Image: Supplied)

Jenni Payne, community engagement and volunteer coordinator at Eden Rivers Trust, said: "It is heartening to be able to take so many positives from the year despite the presence of this pervasive invasive annual plant.

"We’ve been heartened by the support for this year’s Big Balsam Bash from so many people who want to see the back of this pervasive, invasive annual plant.

"It has given us the opportunity to work alongside many of our wonderful communities in Carlisle, Appleby, Dalston, Warcop, Wetheral, Lazonby, Kirkoswald and more, engaging new volunteers and creating partnerships to help us reclaim our river banks."

The trust's efforts are part of a long-term plan to eradicate the Himalayan balsam, which, with its showy pink flowers and prolific growth, has become a 'common sight' along Eden’s riverbanks.

The plant dominates areas to the exclusion of deep-rooted native plants, which provide the stability needed to protect banks from erosion and serve as natural corridors for native species.

The trust's work is carried out from spring until late August when the plants set seed.

Despite the halt to 2024’s activities, the trust encourages walkers, residents, and visitors to rivers in the catchment to continue supporting the cause by reporting sightings of Himalayan balsam and other invasive non-native species on INNS Mapper, a free phone app created by the Yorkshire Invasive Species Forum.

This will provide vital information about the plant's location, which will help in planning future years’ activities and assessing the reduction in numbers as more people get involved in the effort.

This year’s activities were organised as part of ‘Action Against Invasives’, from the 'Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges' partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Westmorland and Furness Council’s Climate and Nature Partnership Fund.

More information about the area’s invasive non-native species, how to identify them, and how to help can be found on the Eden Rivers Trust’s website.