Balsam pulling at Fir Tree Farm and Grey Garth: 04-08-2015

Today was yet another day of pulling up Himalayan Balsam. 9 NCVs joined Paul at Fir Tree farm for the first wave of attack along Wreaks Beck and then, at 2pm, a group of 4 peeled off to form a line of defence against another invasion of the weed at Grey Garth, Dallowgill. Followers of the blog will already be familiar with the work involved in this particular type of task so I'll let the photos provide a record of the day.

(NB There are few photos from Grey Garth as the rain started to fall when we arrived and conditions were too wet or gloomy for decent photography. Indeed - both the conditions and the 4 people involved were exactly the same as they were almost three years ago to the very day when we went to collect yellow rattle seeds. Click here  if you want to reminisce!) 

Ros E.

Some of the troops fought the invaders on the hillside.

Others in the regiment had to brave the raging 

torrent of Wreaks Beck in order to reach the balsam.

Much of the balsam was well trained in the art of avoidance, 
hiding amongst the reeds and iris which made it very difficult to flush out.

Lots of it was only at the micro salad stage 
hoping to go unnoticed.

Everyone needed to spend the morning bent over.

Slowly but surely the balsam fell, 

unable to withstand the onslaught.

The NCVs took a break from the carnage at coffee time....

... after which Tony and Ros K. investigated the possibility 
of using water cannon against the invading army.

Dave L. ignored the treaty of balsam rights for the POWs he captured
 and broke their stems with impunity, hoping no-one would see.

Paul demonstrated the post lunch tactic 
for eradicating the tiniest bits with a slasher....

...and then did just that.

Up at Grey Garth only part of the pond area was under attack by balsam.

 Private Ros K. fought on, determined to win the battle.

And win it they did - well nearly. There are probably 

many seeds still in the soil that will emerge to fight again next year.