Date/Time
Date(s) - 25/05/2024
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location
Sandgate Park
Categories
Come along and help take care of this Local Wildlife Site. We expect to be doing some Himalayan Balsam ‘bashing’ this Saturday.
Himalayan Balsam is a large annual plant which is native to the Himalayas. It was introduced to Britain as a garden plant in the late 1830’s but escaped and quickly spread along river banks and ditches smothering out native plants. Being an annual plant it dies after the Summer leaving the river banks without vegetative cover and therefore vulnerable to erosion. It also threatens indigenous plants by attracting pollinators to its flowers which are prolific nectar producers.
To eradicate the plant it is important to remove it before it sheds its seeds. A plant will produce thousands of seeds which are scattered when the seed pods explode, sending the seeds several metres away from the parent plant. The seeds are buoyant and can float downstream to colonise new areas of the river bank.
The Society is involved in a project involving Wilder Horsham District and other partners to eradicate Himalayan Balsam from the River Arun and its catchment area. As part of the River Stor rises around, and flows through, Sandgate Park we need to do our bit to eradicate any Himalayan Balsam in the park to prevent it being a source of seeds to re-colonise areas downstream that had previously been cleared.
As the area we intend to be working in is wet underfoot the wearing of water-proof footwear is recommended. The plant is pulled up by hand. Although the plant is harmless the wearing of gloves is recommended as there are also nettles and brambles in the area. Please bring your own gloves (though if you forget gloves should be available). Also, please bring your own refreshment for the mid-morning break.
As it is early in the Himalayan Balsam season there may not be enough of the plant to occupy us for the full two hours. In that event we will do some Rhododendron removal in the woods instead.
Please meet outside ‘Brookside’ on Sandgate Lane, as this is opposite where the Himalayan Balsam can be found. ‘Brookside’ is the second house on Sandgate Lane from the junction with Water Lane.
Please be prompt as if it is decided that we will work in the woods on the Rhododendron instead by the time you have arrived you may find it difficult to find us.
Please check nearer the day in case the meeting place has changed
Note that Sandgate Park is the wooded area owned and managed by Horsham District Council, not the grassland area owned and managed by CEMEX.
We work until noon with a short break at around 11am.
All welcome – you do not have to be a member of Sandgate Conservation Society (though we will probably try to persuade you to join). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult unless agreed in advance with the Society (this is for health & safety and insurance reasons).