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This time next month we’ll be millionaires!

01/07/2026 5 min read

After incredible efforts to remove Himalayan balsam from the Eden river catchment in May and June, we're doubling our target for the removal of this Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) in 2026, with an ambitious goal to uproot ONE MILLION plants.

British Gas staff join an ERT balsam bash at Great Salkeld on a corporate volunteering day

The plants’ pink flowers may look pretty, but in ecologically sensitive areas like the Eden catchment, the plant causes serious damage to our rivers and woodlands. It smothers native plants, outcompeting them for light and space, leaving riverbanks bare in winter and at risk of major erosion. 

With the help of volunteers and community groups, 688,000 plants were removed in May and June at our ‘Bank the Balsam’ volunteer events, supported by individual efforts making use of our ‘Bashing Balsam Safely’ guide on their walks along Eden’s waterways.

We're now calling on members of the public to sign up to July ‘Bank the Balsam’ events, with volunteering opportunities across the catchment, in our bid to halt the march of this destructive species. 

Jenni Payne, our Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator said:

“We’ve been hugely ambitious with our target to remove one MILLION plants in 2026 but we know from experience how effective it is when people come together to help Eden’s native wildlife.” 

“All the family can take part, Himalayan balsam is non-toxic, easy to pull and every ten stems removed will stop 8,000 plants from growing next year.  By taking part in our Bank the Balsam campaign, you’ll be helping to give much needed space to our native plants and enabling them to re-establish themselves along Eden’s riverbanks.”

Get involved

There are two ways you can get involved:

Join one of our Bank the Balsam events running throughout July and August. See www.edenriverstrust.org.uk/events for dates and venues. 

Download our Guide to bashing balsam safely and just pull ten plants every time you see them. https://edenriverstrust.org.uk/resources/your-guide-to-bashing-balsam-safely

This year’s activities have been organised as part of our ‘Action Against Invasives project’, part of the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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