Our Big Balsam Bash Weekend takes place on July 12th and July 13th 2025. We’re busy recruiting volunteers from Kirkby Stephen to Carlisle to join them on their annual blitz to remove Himalayan balsam from water courses across the Eden catchment.

In its native Himalayan home, this fast-growing annual plant lives in balance with other species, but here in the UK, it has become an invasive weed and is classified as an invasive non-native species (INNS).

It spreads quickly with explosive seed dispersal and transportation via the region’s network of watercourses to dominate extensive areas of wet habitat at the expense of native vegetation. This can lead to further problems in the winter months when the plant dies back to leave riverbanks bare and vulnerable to erosion.

Jenni Payne, Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator said:

“Regular balsam bashing events with volunteers and local communities over previous years have helped to re-establish our native flora and fauna and reduced riverbank erosion in targeted areas, but this remains a catchment-wide problem that needs catchment-wide help.

“The more people join us over the Big Balsam Bash Weekend or do some balsam bashing of their own, the more we can support our native species and the resilience of our rivers.

“The good news is that although this is a superweed, it can be super simple to remove. Its shallow roots and hollow stems make it easy to thrash, bash and mash – and bashing is one of the best ways to banish it for good. We know that many hands make light work, and balsam bashing is something that everyone can join in with, so do come and join us and find out how much fun it can be to look after your local river.”