The Green Team tackles Himalayan Balsam at Denham Country Park
In June 2024 our Green Team went out to tackle Himalayan Balsam in Denham Country Park. This work is part of the ‘Improvement Works Project’ lead by Buckinghamshire Council. The green teams objectives is to improve the environment as well as help local people gain valuable skills and future job opportunities through programme called Green Skills.
The team runs a regular ‘Green Skills’ programme, which offers 12 weeks of paid employment to three local people, providing them with on-the-job training in a wide variety of green skills. The Green Skills Team model works by taking on individuals who are unemployed and face barriers to employment. During their time in the Green Skills Team, participants learn a wide range of practical conservation skills, including the use of hand tools and petrol-powered tools like strimmers. They also attend sessions to improve their employability, helping to prepare them for entering the workforce. While part of the Green Skills Team, participants meet new people, gain confidence, and learn in a safe and inclusive space.
It was a great opportunity for the team to get hands-on with Himalayan Balsam, a non-native invasive species. They learned how to identify it and the techniques to manage it effectively. This species grows quickly along riverbanks and has a negative impact on native flora. The work in Denham Country Park is part of the improvement work project funded by HS2 via Buckinghamshire Council. Check here to find out more about the project.
Unfortunately, Himalayan Balsam is now well-established across the UK, including the Colne Valley Regional Park. The species dominates wet habitats, suppressing native plants, and dies back in autumn, leaving riverbanks bare in winter. This increases erosion and threatens our local rivers.
The work done by the Green Team in June, along with our partnership with volunteers, is crucial in controlling its spread. Physically removing the plants before they seed is one of the most effective methods, though labour-intensive. Ongoing community involvement, along with regular monitoring and removal, can help restore affected areas and protect riverbanks from further erosion.
The pictures above show the hard work volunteers have been doing in the last few years.
If you want to find out more about volunteering opportunities or if you would like to know more about the Green Team, please contact us on [email protected]
