Macclesfield Bashers wage war on invasive species

Thousands of invasive Himalayan balsam plants have been removed from riverside sites across Cheshire and Lancashire as volunteers from United Utilities recently got to work 'balsam bashing'.

In Cheshire, a team of volunteers assembled to tackle the area around United Utilities' Macclesfield works. The team got involved to drive back invasive balsam from public paths and help combat its links to the destabilisation of riverbanks, which can accelerate erosion.

Their efforts complement United Utilities' wider catchment partnership work with the BEACON group on the River Bollin, which focuses on tackling invasive species in the region and enhancing the local environment for all to enjoy.

Meanwhile, in Lancashire, a team of 16 volunteers from United Utilities and its delivery partners joined forces with Ribble Rivers Trust to clear a patch of land in Hoscar, Ormskirk, that had become overwhelmed with the balsam.

Steve Czapski, a Delivery Manager at United Utilities, explained: "Our volunteers are working on projects to upgrade the wastewater treatment works in Skelmersdale and Wigan – each of these will play a role in improving water quality in local watercourses. They were looking to support activity that will also have a positive impact on the river environment in the county.

"Himalayan balsam spreads very quickly near rivers and has a negative impact on water quality by contributing to riverbank erosion and disrupting the natural ecosystem along riverbanks."

In just one day, the team cleared an area of around 500 square metres. Steve added: "While the weather could have been better, it was worth it to see the difference we had made to the local area, working as a team alongside the Ribble Rivers Trust volunteers."

Mike Flaherty, Conservation and Volunteering Officer at Ribble Rivers Trust, added:

"Himalayan balsam is a non-native invasive plant introduced by the Victorians in the early 1800s. Controlling balsam helps to restore habitats by preventing the plant from outcompeting our native vegetation. It reduces the risk of flooding by allowing native, deep-rooting plants to stabilise riverbanks, and it enhances biodiversity by preventing it spreading further."

The Ribble Rivers Trust is actively working to address the impacts of Himalayan balsam and other threats to salmon populations in the Ribble catchment through its 'Room for Rivers: River Revival' programme. This programme focuses on initiatives such as improving fish passage, restoring natural river habitats and creating wetlands to filter pollutants and trap sediment.