Restoring the Riverbanks - Himalayan Balsam…

Picture this - it’s a sunny summer’s day, the Teign is flowing away peacefully, and you’re enjoying a gentle stroll along its banks… until suddenly, you find yourself wading through a wall of pink flowers taller than your uncle Rog in his fishing waders! Congratulations, you’ve just walked into a Himalayan balsam jungle.

It may look like something out of a tropical holiday brochure, but Himalayan balsam is no friend of the River. This invasive plant has taken up residence along the riverbank, and like a bad houseguest, it’s more than overstayed its welcome, trashed the place, and won’t take a hint.

But fear not! With a bit of elbow grease and a team of willing volunteers, we can boot this botanical menace out of the river valley. And yes - this is your official invitation to join the plant-pulling party, soon to be hosted by TACA, so you can’t say you haven’t been warned!

So, what’s the big deal with a few pretty flowers?

We get it - Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is quite pretty, in a ‘Victorian garden gone rogue’ sort of way. But behind this visual beauty lies a real-life botanical bully, and here are some of the reasons it’s got to go:

It’s a space hog

It can grow up to 3 metres tall (that’s taller than most garden sheds) and muscles out every other plant in sight. Nettles, wildflowers, grasses… all gone! For other plants, it’s either balsam or bust!

It’s got commitment issues

Come autumn, it dies back entirely, leaving the soil bare and sections of bankside about as stable as Terry (not Terry) after a long night on the cider! Rain and river water then wash this loose earth away, leading to erosion and generally muddy, messy waterways.

It’s a champion seed-flinger

This plant doesn’t drop its seeds gently, it explodes them! Each plant can launch up to 800 seeds into the air like tiny, leafy fireworks. Great fun at parties, rubbish for native habitats! With water flowing nearby, these seeds then descend downstream only to be deposited to start new colonies of plants, further deepening the problem.

*Seed pods - Like a lit fuse waiting to go off!*

OK, then, what happens if we do nothing?

Being blunt, nothing good. If we let Himalayan balsam continue its riverbank rampage, we could expect to see:

Whole stretches of river that are overrun with nothing but this one plant.
Native riverside wildlife beginning to decline due to a lack of food and available habitat.
Riverbanks eroding and collapsing like an over-dunked rich tea biscuit!

And let’s not forget the money. The longer we wait, the harder and more expensive it becomes to eradicate or even manage the spread. Early intervention is not only more effective but also more economical.

The Good News - It’s weirdly fun to remove!

Unlike some invaders (*cough,* Japanese knotweed, *cough*), Himalayan balsam is satisfying to remove. It’s got shallow roots and pulls out cleanly, kind of like unzipping a massive green tracksuit from the ground. And removing it before it seeds prevents new plants from sprouting the following year.

This means it’s perfect for volunteer days - no strimmers, no pesticides, no complicated tools. Just a pair of gloves, a good pair of boots, and your enthusiastic weed-wrangling attitude!

So, with this in mind, we are putting plans in place for a soon-to-be-released ‘Volunteer Balsam Pulling Day’ along the River Teign. This will serve as a great chance to get involved. So why not?…

Spend some time in nature (without your phone constantly pinging)
Meet like-minded folk who also enjoy a bit of low-stakes plant-based combat
Learn more about this remarkable river and its wildlife
Feel like a superhero, but instead of a cape, you wear wellies and gloves!

As with all volunteering, you don’t need experience, just enthusiasm - and maybe a snack or two to share (balsam pulling can be hungry work). We’ll provide a quick intro on what to pull and where to tread, so panic not!

*A quick guide to know what to look for…*

Let’s give the Teign some TLC

Our rivers deserve better than being swamped by thuggish greenery. With just a few days of volunteer effort each summer, we can keep invasive species like Himalayan balsam in check and help native plants and animals bounce back and thrive, supporting the balance of a wondrous ecosystem.

So, whether you’re a seasoned angler, a dog-walker, a wild swimmer, or just someone with a burning dislike for ecological freeloaders, come and join us. Let’s restore the riverbank - one satisfying pull at a time!

Stay Tuned

I'm Interested

If you’re interested, click the button to show us your support and interest. Based on numbers and your location within the catchment, we’ll put together some volunteer opportunities. Watch this space! Bring a friend, bring your dog - just please don’t bring the balsam!

Attack of the 8-Foot Weed