Weed Control
Himalayan Balsam
The Friends of Longley Woods are tackling a monster plant which is
threatening our local plant life. Introduced by the Victorians in the 1900s,
from the Himalayan region of Asia, Himalayan Balsam is fast becoming one of
the biggest threats to our native flora; particularly our riverside plants
as its buoyant seeds travel rapidly in the water to crowd out our
riverbanks. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an annual plant,
meaning it flowers, sets seed and dies in one season. The attractive flowers
appear in July, and by October seeds start to scatter, with one plant
producing up to 800 seeds. The Friends aim to remove these plants from
around the wood and the riverside at King's Mill Lane before they have a
chance to set seed.
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