New tool for removing Himalayan Balsam

June and July is the time to remove the invasive Himalayan Basam, when the plants are easy to spot, but the explosive seed heads haven’t yet formed.

It looks pretty, but spreads rapidly along rivers and crowds out everything else. We’re working with the Wildlife Trust to remove it from Bourne Brook, Byron’s pool, and a few other spots, before it infests all of Cambridge.

It needs to be removed cleanly from the base, either by pulling it up together with its roots, or cutting it off below the first node.

We’ve discovered that a pruning saw on one of our telescopic Wolf Garten rake handles works really well!

If you would like to join a working party and help, do contact us.