Himalayan balsam is an invasive species in the UK and can be found near canals and waterways.  Without natural predators, it out-competes many of the native plants found along our waterways.  The photo at the top of  the page shows Himalayan balsam in flower.  It's attractive but a menace.

​

It is easy to identify and can be pulled up easily.  It is best pulled up before or during the flowering season but once it starts to seed there is the risk of spreading the seeds.

​

Here is advice from PCAS about helping to tackle Himalayan Balsam

​

Here is a photo of land adjacent to Melbourne Arm.  It was a mass of Himalayan Balsam, not yet in flower.  Thanks to the efforts of volunteers there should not be much Balsam flowering here this year.

​

​