Other Invasive Weeds Eradication

Introduced from Central Asia in the nineteenth century as an ornamental plant, it is now widespread throughout the British Isles, especially along riverbanks.

It has a dark reddish-purple stem and spotted leaf stalks, it is capable of growing approximately 3 – 5 metres tall and is very dense. It flowers mid-May through July, with numerous white flowers clustered in an umbrella-shaped head containing approximately 1500 seeds which can lie dormant in soil for years.

Giant Hogweed contains a substance within its sap that makes the skin sensitive to ultra violet light resulting in severe burns to the affected areas, producing swelling and severe, painful blistering.

Introduced in 1839 from Western Himalaya, Himalayan balsam is now a common weed along most of Britain’s river banks and in ditches. It can grow up to 3 metres annually from a seed bank which can stay viable for up to 2 years.

The seedpods explode when touched or moved by the wind expelling them up to 7 metres from the parent plant. This dense plant out competes the native fauna reducing bio-diversity and the lower level vegetation, then in winter when it dies back it exposes the soil to erosion. Its flowers produce high levels of nectar which makes them attractive to bees and other insects resulting in less pollination of native species.