As reported back in January, Natural Enterprise and The Community Fund have launched a crowd funding campaign to fund an ambitious project which will control weed infestation in the Isle of Wight.
We are looking for funding to support our Himalayan Balsam removal project on the beautiful Eastern Yar River on the Isle of Wight.
Each year, teams of volunteers work to control the spread of a weed, Himalayan Balsam, the largest annual plant in Britain, which grows up to 2.5m high in a single season and produces up to 800 seeds capable of being spread 7 metres away.
The weed crowds out other plants and then dies out in the winter, causing soil bareness, wildlife to be exposed to predators and river banks be prone to erosion. Water quality degradation follows. The Balsam is shown to have a detrimental effect on water voles, which still have a stronghold on the Island. It takes about 5 years to get the plant in check.
The most effective way to remove balsam is to hand pull it within the short time it grows and before it seeds, which is usually mid-May to early August.
This year our team of volunteers put in over 1100 hours of effort and removed over 150 tonnes of the plant – the infestation is that bad. Although we use volunteers, we need to employ someone to lead the team as they are working in and close to water. Also the person we employ is responsible for determining the most strategic approach, which will vary from year to year according to where the balsam has sprouted. We also need volunteers for the project, when we meet our funding target and arrange weeding events, so if you would like to volunteer for this project please email the Project Owner, Carol Flux
Sponsors will be acknowledged in Natural Enterprise publicity. Based on the Isle of Wight and as part of the Island 2000 Trust charity, Natural Enterprise supports the vision for Island-wide heritage conservation, environmental and arts interpretation and a better, healthier public realm for Islanders and visitors.
For each £5 donated, donors will be included within a prize draw to win a meal for two (worth up to £50) in a restaurant of your choice. The number of entries will depend upon the amount donated; £10 will be two entries, £50 will be ten entries and so on. The draw will take place once the fundraising target has been met.
Total Cost (£s):
£7,000 per annum
Contribution required from The Community Fund (target) (£s)
£2,000 per annum
How to pull Himalayan balsam (flowering)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhofJPnegMA
Image: pikerslanefarm under CC BY 2.0
