Adam Lovell, Seasonal Project Officer, SISI Project, published February 2025
We asked Adam Lovell, Seasonal Project Officer for the Dee and Don catchments, about his experiences working with volunteer groups to tackle Himalayan balsam last summer.
As I sit down to write this blog in mid-October, I find myself reflecting on the busy summer just passed and the culmination of my time as a seasonal Project Officer for the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative in the Dee and Don catchments. The season dedicated to tackling Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) has come to an end, and what an educational journey it has been! Witnessing the extent of this invasive plant’s impact first hand has been eye-opening, especially when considering the positive effects of careful management and treatment undertaken in previous seasons.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been the collaboration with a diverse range of volunteers. Each group brings its own unique perspectives and knowledge to our shared goal of managing Himalayan balsam. From corporate teams to local youth groups and community groups like ‘Bolland’s Balsam Bashers’, it has been inspiring to see everyone come together to form an impressive coordinated and united effort. The synergy created by these differing groups is remarkable; each person contributes not just their physical labour but also fresh ideas and spirit, which only enhances the project.
Managing Himalayan balsam presents its own set of challenges as this plant can dominate environments where it takes root. Introduced to the UK in 1839, it has become an established invasive species, particularly flourishing along riverbanks and in disturbed soils. Its ability to thrive in low light and outcompete native vegetation can significantly disrupt habitats and biodiversity, leading to the decline of other plant species. Not only does it change ecosystems, but it can also have detrimental non-biotic effects, like reducing waterflow and/or leading to potential flooding and bank erosion, which can have knock-on effects for freshwater ecosystems.
What makes managing Himalayan balsam even more satisfying is that control work is a manual endeavour. Unlike many invasive species, where chemical control is generally needed to be effective (requiring training, specialised equipment and expertise), working with Himalayan balsam needs only a bit of elbow grease (sometimes lots of it), making it an accessible task to everyone who is physically able. Armed with our scythes, gloves, and a can-do spirit, it’s a great way for people with varied abilities and experience to get involved in invasive plant control. It’s been a joy to see volunteers discover how impactful ordinary tools and dedicated teamwork can be in removing this plant effectively and in making a difference to each control location.
Himalayan balsam flowers are strikingly beautiful, producing clusters of purplish-pink blooms that attract bees and provide a good source of nectar. This might all sound rather positive and beneficial but it is not quite as straightforward as that unfortunately! There are significant downsides to Himalayan balsam, for example, bees will often visit Himalayan balsam in preference to native plants meaning that native plants may not be pollinated as effectively when Himalayan balsam is present. This can impact the ability of native species to produce seed and maintain viable populations and ecosystems. Think of it like using a big burger chain to buy lunch instead of a small local independent place.
Once pollinated, each Himalayan balsam plant can produce up to 800 seeds, with pods that explosively launch these seeds up to 7 meters away. Great tactics for spreading and reproducing but unfortunately this means that, once established it can rapidly spread, often aided by human activities and water currents, and form dense monocultures which outcompete native plants.
Throughout the 2024 season we collectively managed to pull, cut, and control the spread of Himalayan balsam, sharing in the triumphs and the inevitable frustrations along the way as we tucked into an essential Tunnocks Tea Cake and coffee. The community spirit has been inspiring! Volunteers have bonded over our common goal, exchanged stories from past seasons with us and other projects, learned from each other and ultimately had fun and a good laugh—whether they were seasoned conservationists or trying their hand at practical ecological management for the first time.
As the season winds down and my time with the Initiative comes to an end, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for the dedicated volunteers who have helped this year, the invaluable experiences we have gained, and the hope that our joint efforts will lead to healthier ecosystems in the Dee and Don catchments for the future. We have laid and continued to build solid foundations, and, although the battle with Himalayan balsam is ongoing, I am optimistic for the future. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me – your passion and enthusiasm have made a world of difference!
To find out more about the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative and how to get involved, you can visit our website, follow us on social media or contact us on sisi@nature.scot
