Balsam bashing at Hardcastle Crags on 2 August 2015

A new venue for the group and an old task that may well not be needed in a few years time. We were in the beautiful woodlands at Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge and the task was pulling up Himalayan Balsam. Ten years ago, this was the first NT volunteering weekend and task that Pip and I had done.

The balsam on the estate is now reduced to a few patches in the woodland and the group reduced that even further. The reason there might not be a need for the pulling in a few years is that there is a trial of a natural control starting in the next valley. This is a rust from its mountainous home which only thrives on Himalayan Balsam. If it succeeds it should spread throughout the country at a rate of 100+ km a year. It won't get rid of the balsam entirely, just stop it being so widespread.

From a grey start the day brightened over time until there was warm August sunshine. We ate our lunches outside the cafe at Gibson's Mill after a short (or long - opinions differed) stroll through the woodland alongside Hebden Water and enjoyed a sociable, straightforward task.

Mick