Help in the hunt for Himalayan balsam
July 17 and 18 
Nature lovers are being asked to turn detective and track down an alien pink peril which is threatening to dominate our native plants and riverbanks.
When flowering the Himalayan balsam appears in the guise of a pretty pink flower, a bit like a sweet pea. But underneath its benign exterior lies a rampant weed, producing 700 seeds per plant, which threatens to take over our native countryside.
The Broads Authority and Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative are turning to the public for help during a Weekend of Action on 17 and 18 July.
They are asking volunteers to report sightings of the balsam on the banks of the River Bure, from the headwaters at Briston as far as the sea at Great Yarmouth, either on foot or by boat. These reports will feed into a full river survey which will help them manage this invasive plant.
Volunteers are asked to contact the Broads Authority on 01603 756016 or email invasives@broads-authority.gov.uk for a map and survey information. The location of the plants spotted should be marked on the map and the findings returned. The final results will be published and shared online.
Conservation Officer Beth Williams said: “This is meant to be a fun weekend and you can do as much or as little as you like. If you happen to be walking your dog on a certain route we’d be grateful if you would check it out for balsam. Or if you spot a plant at the bottom of your garden just let us know. Every single plant we find will help.”
The balsam, which was brought over from the Himalayas, grows up to 2 m tall. It beats other native vegetation to sunlight, and causes bare patches once it dies back, increasing the risk of soil erosion.
For more information about Himalayan balsam see www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/nonnativespecies
For further information contact: Hilary Franzen, Press Officer, on 01603 610734; mobile: 07775 563030;
email:
hilary.franzen@broads-authority.gov.uk
or Clare Weller, Communications Manager, on 01603 756040
Picture of Himalayan balsam: GBNNSS&RPS Group
05/07/2010
