You should feel very proud of yourselves!
Thank you all
Fantastic results for our Himalayan Balsam Clearance
took place during July and August 2014 on some Friday's Saturday's and weekday evenings. It was tough going because we were hindered by nettles and brambles.
We began the West Hill Road side of the park after identifying that the canal feeder flows up the park towards the canal - logical when you think of its name!
Council funding cuts has caused some areas of our Park and playing fields especially those in the trickier mowing places to be left off programme and become overgrown with brambles. Much of the balsam was entwined within it or lay behind it meaning we had to cut paths into the brambles to reach it. The balsam is an annual so its roots are shallow making it easy to pull and its red stems meant we could easily spot it - it can grow up to 10ft, it has seed pods which can disperse 700 seeds at a time and unless it is cut below the first node or pulled at the roots will have time to revive and regrow.
A core group of 6 people in the Kings Norton Park and 3 people in Kings Norton Playing Fields and we had assistance from the resident artist at Winterbourne gardens who delivered our photosynthesis art and one ranger on a couple of occasions who helped scythe our paths a little wider for easier access. Between us we achieved pulling vast amounts of balsam along the feeder exposing hidden trees, ferns, rushes and water mint. We spotted roach, perch, caterpillars, butterflies, moths, frogs, bees and rats.
We made good use of the protective clothing supplied by Waterside Care which kept our legs dry - please note that the canal feeder looks shallow but is largely silt at the bottom so we sank up to 2ft, therefore, those with long legs entered the water and the little ones stayed out.
We dodged rain storms, basked in the sun and picnicked on our new benches - all in all it was strenuous, interesting but fun.
Many passersby thanked us for our efforts and asked what were doing. We explained that the balsam is beautiful but far to invasive it chokes out our natural plant species along our water courses. The bees love it but this means they ignore visiting other flowers which then are not pollenated. The result is less natural flora and forna and less wildlife, therefore, it is essential we begin to eradicate from the feeder.
We realise we have a 3 year programme ahead of us to completely remove it. Next year we will tackle the untouched areas and any stragglers we missed this year.
Very importantly, in 2015 we will begin in May
We would appreciate the support from other local community groups, schools and local employers. So please make a date in your diary when you can help and let us know.
You can contact us on
@kingsnortonpark
