‘Balsam bashing’ to save cycle paths

Ever ready to help promote cycling, the entire work force of the Environmental Transport Association has been “balsam bashing” to clear overgrown cycle paths on the banks on the river Wey in Surrey.

The work was coordinated by Thames21, an environmental charity working with communities to bring London’s waterways to life. Thames21 mobilise thousands of volunteers every year to clean up waterside grot-spots, remove graffiti and create new habitats for wildlife.

Himalayan Balsam is a plant sometimes cultivated for its flowers, which is now widely established in other parts of the world such as Britain in some areas becoming an invasive species weed. The aggressive seed dispersal – the seed pods ‘explode’ and throw their contents one metre or more from the plant – coupled with flowers that are attractive to pollinators, allows the Himalayan Balsam to overwhelm native plants.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “It’s vital that cycle paths are maintained if they are going to be used to their full potential so we are delighted to helping Thames21 and Sustrans in this way.”

If you would like to volunteer and join the 8,000 people who already help to improve the waterways in London, visit Thames21

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