Join CURB – Clean Up the River Brent to help remove invasive Himalayan Balsam from the banks of the Brent on Saturday 16th May and Sunday 17th May at 11 am. This is two hours of very satisfying outdoor work, helping us reclaim the river banks from Himalayan balsam for more diverse, river and wildlife-friendly plants.
Himaylan balsam clean up event details
For the events, meet at 11 am on:
- Saturday 16th May At the footbridge between Gurnell and the viaduct on Ruislip Road East at Sixty Trees way.
- Sunday 17th May meet by the bridge at Mayfield, Hanwell and Greenford.
Himalayan balsam invasive species
Himalayan balsam is an annual plant with scented flowers in shades of pink and purple. Introduced to Britain as an ornamental garden plant, it is now considered a problematic weed, particularly along watercourses.
For full details see Himalayan balsam | RHS Advice.
Himalayan balsam is classed as a non-native invasive plant. It appears on the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 9 list and the Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS) list of Species of Special Concern, meaning there are restrictions on growing, cultivating, selling and transporting it.
The RHS says the nectar-rich flowers of Himalayan balsam initially attracted gardeners. It blooms well into autumn, make it a favourite of bees and beekeepers, but sadly is not enough to outweigh its negative impacts, which makes it a weed along the banks of the Brent. The negative impacts are:
- Outcompeting native plants for space, light, moisture and nutrients . Rapid growth early in the season leads to dense, tall stands of Himalayan balsam that crowd out other plants and reduce species diversity.
- Soil erosion along water courses. Himalayan balsam often colonises the banks of rivers, streams and ditches. Its shallow roots and annual growth habit do little to stabilise the soil along banks, leading to habitat alteration and degradation.
If you discover Himalayan balsam is already growing in your garden or green space, it is not considered an offence, but make sure you keep it under control or remove it completely. You must not intentionally introduce Himalayan balsam or cause it to spread.
Join CURB on River Brent clean up
After getting the Himalayan balsam under control CURB will be running further events. These events will include planting reeds, flag iris, purple loosestrife and others to build up the biodiversity and visual appeal of the river.
CURB run a variety of events, cleaning up in and along the River Brent.
Join CURB Facebook group to keep up to date with their events.
About CURB
CURB is Clean up River Brent and works in association with Thames21. Together with local volunteers including LAGER Can has removed around 100 tonnes of rubbish from the river. This includes over 500 car tyres. They also have initiated an invasive species replacement programme, planting hundreds of reed and rush rhizomes. CURB reports regularly to Thames Water and the Environment Agency on pollution in the River Brent. They are building connections with other volunteer groups throughout the Brent Catchment. They are also currently trialling a self-started network of water quality sensors with the support of the Environment Agency.
Curb has also written these articles for ActForEaling on river pollution issues.
- The Wet Wipe Ban & Crisis: Blocking Our Rivers: Britain’s sewers and rivers are repeatedly, and damagingly clogged by wet wipes. The government is planning a plastic wet wipe ban, but can it be that simple?
- Urban Pollution impacts on Ealing’s Rivers: In Ealing, and much of London, the surface water drainage system, designed to carry away rain water and prevent flooding, flows directly into the local river. So urban pollution really affects this water system.
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