Impatiens glandulifera, Himalayan balsam, is a large annual plant native to the Himalayas. Via human introduction it is now present across much of the Northern Hemisphere and is considered an invasive species in many areas. Uprooting or cutting the plants is an effective means of control.Wikipedia – acknowledgement.

Invasive is the word. No doubt another gift from our previous generations- you remember, those people who gave us so much but now we are encouraged to see them through a backwards facing telescope and read of all the horrors they inflicted.

No doubt some explorer imported this quite pretty and colourful plant- a relative of “busy lizzie”. Then it escaped, or at least in the wild it does tend to take over, and recent years have seen a lot more of it.

The river is ideal for it ; damp, wet, fertile, and a first class seed distribution network all ready to promote its worldwide bid for freedom and dominance. If you see it – pull it up!

It’s shallow rooted, a tug on the stem will dislodge it, leave it there to dry and disrupt it’s life cycle. A bit of exercise and fun on a bimble.