Sammy the Squirrel will be pulling up Himalayan balsam around Ullswater on Wednesday 27 July 2011 and is looking for volunteers to join him! Sammy is the mascot of Ullswater Steamers and anyone involved could get a free boat trip on Ullswater as a thank you for their help.

This is part of the Eden Invasive Species Group initiative coordinated by Eden Rivers Trust, in partnership with Natural England, Environment Agency, Ullswater Steamers, the Lake District National Park, the National Trust, the Ullswater Association and Patterdale Hall Estate.

Everyone is welcome to come along and help with removing this invasive plant from the shores of Ullswater and its surrounding rivers and streams. The meeting place is the field next to Ullswater Steamers at Glenridding at 9.00 am on Wednesday 27 July 2011. There will be an Eden Rivers Trust marquee and staff there to greet people.

Volunteers will be taken by minibus to near by locations to work for the morning on hand pulling this plant. They will need to bring a packed lunch, drink and appropriate clothing and footwear and gardening gloves. After lunch, volunteers will be able to take a free trip on the Ullswater Steamers or at a later date (availability subject to numbers).

People can book in advance (contact Alison Reed at Eden Rivers Trust on 01768 866788 or email alison@edenriverstrust.org.uk) or turn up on the day. But Ullswater Steamers tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Himalayan balsam is a relative of the Busy Lizzie and is known by a number of common names including policeman’s helmet and stinky-pops. It is a tall annual plant, reaching up to 3 m, and produces clusters of purplish pink helmet-shaped flowers with a sickly sweet smell, hence its common names!

It was introduced into this country in 1839 from the Himalayas as an ornamental plant for gardens. Unfortunately our climate suited it well and it escaped from gardens and spread rapidly throughout the country, especially along waterways.

Its aggressive nature means that it out competes native plants along river banks and forms dense stands, shading out native wild flowers. In autumn when the plants die back it leaves banks bare of vegetation and vulnerable to erosion.

There are various means of controlling this plant, including spraying and cutting, but in sensitive habitats such as along rivers, hand pulling is an effective method. The Ullswater event is part of a long term programme to control this plant in this area. The work undertaken here in previous years has already made a real difference to its extent and it is hoped this event will encourage further involvement and success.

Alison Reed, Conservation Officer, said, “We would love people to come along and get involved in protecting the beautiful landscape and wildlife of the Ullswater area. You don’t need any special skills or experience and can do as much or as little as you are able. I hope it will be an interesting and enjoyable day!”