The main method of non-chemical control of Himalayan balsam, and usually the most appropriate, is pulling or cutting the plants before they flower and set seed. Our StreetCare teams carried out 'balsam bashing' together with a staff work party to clear the weed from riverbanks on the Frome in Yate. There is a very short window in June/July to do the important clearance work. | South Gloucestershire Council

Himalayan balsam - what is it? Why does it matter? This invasive, non-native plant has become widely established along streams, ditches and roads in Devon, competing with native plants for light, nutrients, pollinators and space. It is an annual plant and dies back over the winter to leave riverbanks exposed and vulnerable to soil erosion, causing negative impacts on water quality and wildlife downstream. Thanks to our fantastic volunteers and the Tavistock taskforce, DWT's #UpstreamThinking tea

We need your help to pull up... - Lancashire Wildlife Trust