Today we well and truly bashed a lot of beastly balsam in a riverside woodland with the help of the Outdoor Adventure Group from Beaumont College!

Tania, our Learning Manager, was joined by the group at Engine Lonning woodland in the west of Carlisle, where there are some large areas becoming smothered by the invasive non-native Himalayan Balsam. The group, who have worked with her on the site a number of times in recent months, had fun pulling, twisting, stamping and stomping on the plants, mashing and bashing them to a mushy pulp, so that they can do no harm!

All of this within the beautiful setting of a spring woodland, with the stunning white hawthorn blossom filling the air with a sweet scent and the sound of birdsong all around – from resident robins to chiffchaffs that have returned to breed after overwintering in Africa! The group’s efforts to clear the woodland of the invasive balsam (which, if left unchecked, will take over the woodland and reduce the number of different plants and animals) and help incredible mix of native plants and animals to thrive.