Once celebrated for its striking appearance, Himalayan balsam has now become one of the most destructive invaders of our riverbanks.
For landowners and farmers, it represents a double-edged sword. Despite its aesthetic appeal, beneath the surface this invasive, non-indigenous weed is responsible for collapsing riverbanks, diminished biodiversity, and farmland under threat from flooding and soil loss.
What looks like colour and abundance is, in fact, silent ecological damage. But this is not just a Penheale or a River Ottery problem – it is a UK-wide problem and one that is getting worse annually.
The good news is that the solution is simple: people power! In 2025, we formed the group Friends of The River Ottery to unite environmentally conscious landowners, farmers and volunteers to take back from this invasive species by running a series of “Himalayan balsam bashing” volunteer days, both upstream on the River Ottery and at Penheale. All five events were well-attended we were able to demolish sizeable stands of the invasive weed.
This united approach offers a true “win-win-win” outcome for landowners, volunteers and the environment. By removing Himalayan balsam, we restore space for native plants and pollinators, stabilise riverbanks, and protect farmland. And in the process, we turn an invasive threat into an opportunity for connection, resilience and shared environmental success.
The benefits of volunteering:
- Outdoor exercise without it feeling like “exercise”
- Meet new people with a shared sense of purpose
- Explore new areas not available to the public
It is our aim to rid the River Ottery catchment of all Himalayan balsam – a monumental task but also a fabulous opportunity which presents too many community and ecological benefits to simply ignore.
Want to get involved?
If you would like to join the fun and make a difference at future Himalayan “balsam bashing” events in scheduled for 2026, please sign-up here or contact us.
