On Sunday, 6th July, a merry band of weed-wranglers will descend upon the River Frome, sleeves rolled, boots muddy, and eyes on one plant in particular: the invasive Himalayan balsam. Organised by the good people at Bristol Avon River Trust (BART), this day-long effort is all about restoring the riverbanks by removing this notorious invader—one armful at a time.
So why all the fuss about Himalayan balsam? Well, it might look innocent enough with its pink flowers and tall stalks, but it spreads like gossip in a small village. Worse, as an invasive species with no natural competitors, it outcompetes native plants and weakens riverbanks, contributing to erosion. Then, in the winter, it leaves the soil bare and ready to wash away. Not ideal.
BART’s clever plan to remove this pest is to start at one of several sources: the River Frome. As a tributary of the River Avon, it’s a key battleground. Remove the balsam upstream, and you stop it from reseeding downstream—simple logic, smart strategy. Volunteers will walk the river throughout the day (8am–4pm), not only pulling balsam but also collecting litter along the way. A double win for biodiversity.
Now, why is Protect Earth shouting about this? Because we’re right behind it—figuratively and literally. We’re in the process of purchasing riverfront land along the Avon, which also contains Himalayan balsam that needs to be removed. We’ll soon be calling on you—yes, you!—to join us for our own balsam-bashing event. The sooner we team up and tackle it, the better our chances are of giving native species the space they need to flourish.
Many hands, muddy or not, make light work. If you’re free on the 6th, go pull some weeds with BART. And keep your gloves handy—Protect Earth’s turn is just around the corner.