Green Hive volunteers turn Balsam bashers as they take invasive species to task by Nairn River and through the town's green spaces
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Nairn's Green Hive volunteers have been busy this summer spotting, reporting and removing invasive non-native species along the River Nairn and in Nairn’s green spaces.
Since May, volunteers have cleared more than 1.25 hectares of Himalayan Balsam along the river – removing many plants before they could flower, and will be continuing their work well into next month to stop their seeds.
Caroline Woods, Green Hive events officer said: “Last week Hive volunteers teamed up with Scottish Invasive Species Initiative project officer Elise Cox to tackle a large patch of Himalayan Balsam along the beach at the Whinnieknowe pool and undertook a litter pick. After two hours of hard work, we are confident the majority of this pesky plant has been removed on one side of the river.”
She continued: “Himalayan balsam grows in dense stands and can be up to 2m tall. It shades out many native species. It produces much nectar and therefore is attractive to pollinating insects, to the detriment of native plants.
“It dominates riverbanks and its shallow root system is no help in stabilising the bare bank, which is then at risk of erosion. Dense stands can also impede water flow, increasing the likelihood of flooding.”
Green Hive volunteers are also out on regular scouting walks around Nairn, looking for and reporting Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed to the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (invasivespecies.scot).
They are also active litter pickers while out – as well as teaming up to tackle areas like the East Beach dunes. Caroline said: “Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who work so hard to keep Nairn’s green spaces clean and biodiverse.”
