All has been quiet on the urban river Don thread recently, but behind the scenes lots has been going on. We (SPRITE ) have a full diary of community events over the summer, raising awareness for our group and also the fantastic urban river habitat (and fantastic angling) we are trying to protect and improve. – more details can be found at our web page, link below.

Regular forum-ites may recall I posted a couple of months ago about a proposed balsam bashing event we have been planning. Well this event is still going ahead and due to take place on Sunday 13th June, and we are looking for as many volunteers as possible to give a hand. You will I am sure be aware how serious a problem Himalayan Balsam has become, but for those that don’t know, read on. Balsam is an invasive plant species with no significant pests in this country. It is very quick growing and out competes our native flora. It is also extremely good at spreading itself by seed dispersal, and I am sure you have seen the miniature zeppelin shaped seed pods that explode when given the slightest touch, spreading seeds several metres.

That’s the bad news, but here is the good. Balsam is in fact very easy – if labour intensive – to control. As it only spreads through seed dispersal, if we can stop it getting to the seeding stage, then problem solved! By mid June, most of the plants will be big enough to find easily, but will have a small root structure and no seed pods. So the process is simply to hand pull and bag up the individual plants. EASY…If we carry out similar programs over the next 2 or 3 years, this should exhaust the currently dormant seed held within the river banks.

I know there are nay say-ers out there that say ’without full catchment management to stop seed coming downstream, there is no point in trying.’ I agree – that is why we are liaising with other conservation groups tasked with managing the upper river and feeder streams, who are planning similar balsam bashing events. Is that joined up thinking or what!

So here is where you come in. We have an awful lot of balsam to pull, and that old adage, many hands make light work, rings true. With your help we are hoping to blitz the river bank in one or two sessions, so need lots of bodies to volunteer.

What is in it for me, I hear you ask. As far as I am concerned, a chance to get involved in a real ‘people power’ event, when the great and good who should be doing something, refuse to take any responsibility, is too good an opportunity to miss. They don’t like it up ‘em, you know …If we, as a lowly voluntary angling group, can get good result, then the powers that be will be forced to take notice. Also, if you haven’t fished the river before, you are really missing out on a first class wild trout and grayling water. And as always, a good number of regulars will be fishing afterwards, so you have the chance of high quality, free and guided fishing, for a couple of hours volunteering time. I can’t say fairer then that!

I know we will have a good turn out from SPRITE regulars, and I am arranging a separate balsam bashing session for university student, so lets see some hands in the air from you chaps to get involved in this project.

Either respond to this thread, or contact me by e-mail (green-tree@blueyonder.co.uk) if you are up for it. (I am away over the coming week, so won’t be around to answer, but for once I look forward to a full in-box on my return!!!)

Sorry for banging on a bit but looking forward to a good response to this

Soggy Welly



Sprite

Come and help Sheffield Partnership Rivers In The Town Environment (SPRITE) C.I.C to control this very invasive plant that is causing a great problem to our native species Himalayan balsam is an introduced annual naturalized along riverbanks and ditches. It prefers moist soils but will grow anywhere. It grows up to 3 m tall and is reputed to be the tallest annual plant found in the UK. A native of the Western Himalaya, it was introduced in 1839 and is now recorded throughout Britain. It grows rapidly, spreads easily, out-competes other vegetation and readily colonises new areas. Himalayan balsam is said to be relatively shade tolerant. When the plants die down in winter they leave large bare areas that are sensitive to erosion. Erosion of river banks can lead to increased risk of flooding. By controlling this alien species it will help to reconanise with the natural flora and fauna and these species will enhance the stability of the river banks and give increased opportunities for our native species to live and successfully breed
. All are welcome, the days events will start at

• Start at 09.30 hrs
• Finish approx 12.30 hrs
• Sunday 25th July
• Meet at Liversey St Bridge
• Bring your own Wellingtons or good walking boots
• Lunch and drinks will be provided


http://www.spanglefish.com/sprite-southyorks/

Well done everybody. I would add that: unless the seed heads have developed then you can just pull it up and leave it on the ground to wither and die, no need to bag it but the real key to getting quick control is to keep revisiting the sites, until the frost kills them off, to handpull the ones that you miss and the ones that germinate late, following the first hand pull. That way nothing goes to seed and you will find only about 1% of the plants there next year.

On the Monnow (a somewhat more rural catchment!) we are spraying it first and then hand pulling. We aim to have erradicated it from over 50kms of river by 2014. Over the last three years we have proved to ourselves and others that it can be done.

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"The sun was so delightfully warm, and the stone, which had been sitting in it for a long time, was so warm, too, that Pooh had almost decided to go on being Pooh in the middle of the stream for the rest of the morning."

www.monnow.org