Clearing these plants offers the opportunity for new plantlife to flourish, and helps to restore natural biodiversity. There is a very short window of time each year when we can do this work, because pulling the plants once seed pods have formed risks further dispersing the seeds. Once disturbed, they can scatter seeds as far as 7 metres, making the invasion worse.

The team of volunteers tackled riverbanks at both Goodyer Meadow and Rotherlands Nature Reserve. Leaders demonstrated how to identify and effectively pull up the plants. There is a very satisfying crunch as you fold the plant so that it is properly disposed of! It is actually illegal to remove the plants from the site, so several piles were made that will naturally break down and provide nutrition for the ground beneath.

The most satisfying area to clear was at Rotherlands. When we first started, all you could see was Himalayan balsam right down to the river, covering an area about 10 metres deep. With 20 volunteers on a hot and sunny day, the whole area was cleared and, after just 3 hours, all that was left were piles of balsam on the ground. The satisfaction comes from knowing that this gives a new lease of life to the other plants (including giant hogweed, which was avoided at all costs!). We also saw some beautiful dragonflies and butterflies and enjoyed being in nature.

We were also lucky enough to enjoy a few cakes left over from the Repair Cafe the weekend before, thanks to the Women's Institute (they were yummy and much needed).

PeCAN can't thank our volunteers enough for getting involved, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!