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IMPORTANT PLEASE READ This website and forum has been living on borrowed web server time for years. At the end of this month silsden.net in it's present form will cease to exist, BUT there is a new silsden.net in the making, and a new forum, and lots of exciting new things coming to this space. Peter |
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Replies in this thread : 30
Author |
Topic : Calling all environmentalists |
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| Silsdener2 |
Silsden's waterways are being overtaken by Himalayan Balsam. This is the plant that produces pink flowers on a 3-4' high stalk, with seedpods that explode when ripe in late summer. Their seeds are cast up to 12 feet away from the parent plant, and they germinate easily. They grow particularly well along the banks of rivers and streams, their seeds carried by water. They crowd out most other wild flowers and plants (except nettles!!) However, they are quick and easy to pull up, and the point of this posting is to seek help from fellow-Silsdeners in ridding our area of these destructive non-native plants. If you are prepared to spend a couple of hours a week with like-minded locals on this useful task please let me know.... |
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| greengrass |
A job for doggy he likes jobs like that  |
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| paulc |
You need to call on the "Silsden Environmental Group" Espically those chaps in their dry suits |
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| pumbajunior |
would that the silsden environmental group sub aqua division Paul? |
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| hermione fraggle |
I have a couple of concerns about this. 1. The Silsden Envirnomental Group up until now has been about cleaning up litter and area sof fly tipping. 2. We have little or no idea what these plants are, and assuming they are non-native invasive species is a rather large leap of faith. 3. I am pretty sure that if we were to try and erradicate a whole species of plant that we have are not botatists no idea that picking them if either going to get rid of them or may in fact make the problem worse. 4. If there really were an extremely invasive plant in the area that DEFRA would be lisencing people to do the work on their behalf. |
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| paulc |
Non native - YES invasive - YES Im no botonist but I do know about Balsam.Its a member of the impatiens family. Just like "buisy lizzie" I think the key word in "SEG" is the "E" word (cant be arsed to write it all) Balsam is often on National news and in the press. Poor old DEFRA cant afford to control it, just like Ragwort and Knotweed. We need to "PULL" it before it flowers Im in |
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| Peter |
 www.ceh.ac.uk/sci_programmes/documents/HimalayanBalsam.pdf publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO0410BSBR-E-E.pdf (page 14-15) |
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| paulc |
Thats the one. KILL IT !!!! |
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| paulc |
More infor here publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO0410BSBR-E-E.pdf Three years work for SEG |
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| paulc |
Ops. Thats the same as Peters so it must be right |
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| GAMEKEEPER |
Himalayan Balsam is a registered INNS - invasive Non Nature Species. Each seed pod can contain up to 600 seeds, spreading up to 20 metres. Control methods are pulling, cutting, poisoning and grazing. Most of these methods are unavailable to the group. Pulling or cutting needs to be done within the next week or two, before it flowers and the seed pods ripen. For obvious reasons, the plants cannot be composted. Ideally it needs burning. It may be more advisable to bag and seal the stems to have BMDC remove them. I should be available for a clearing session for the next couple of weeks. There are several clumps up by the Nah, some on the banks of the beck. Post on here if a session is to be held. |
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| hermione fraggle |
I am sorry but I am not available for the next few weeks. |
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| paulc |
I could give a couple of hours on Sunday 10th June. Late in the afternoon. |
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| Golden Oldie |
Lots of it over the Clog Bridge bankings. |
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| Silsdener2 |
I posted this topic a few days ago and am pleased to see some positive responses. I think we have longer than the month of June to tackle it, but the sooner the better. PaulC - When you say you have some time late Sunday afternoon, what do you mean? I could put in an hour or two then but would need to finish by 6.00 at the latest. Could anyone else join us? I plan to check with friends and might get the odd taker. Does anyone have a contact for the Silsden Environmental Group? They could be a useful source of help. |
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| paulc |
I think I could do 4.00 till 6.00 next Sunday. Depends on when I get back from my travels. There is no number for SEG. Its all done thanks to Peter and silsden.net. |
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| Peter |
S.E.G. is being formally set up, or to be more accurate 'reformed'. The group will have its own website and be on a more formal setting soon. Just for now keep posting here and those interested will get together through the forum. Peter |
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| Smiffykat |
Hi would like to help. when and were are you meeting |
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| Silsdener2 |
Thanks to those with offers of help. As PaulC thinks he'll be free from 4.00 on Sunday, I suggest we meet up outside the Town Hall at 4.00, provided it's not raining. Waterproof footwear and jacket (in case it rains while we're out), plus a pair of rough/gardening gloves would be a good idea. Anyone who can spare an hour or two will be welcome. Look forward to meeting up with you then. |
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| GAMEKEEPER |
That sounds good to me. I'll bring some bags with me. |
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| paulc |
See you at four. Ill be dressed in rubber |
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| pumbajunior |
err Paul this is the environmental thread not the erotic movie thread lol   |
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| paulc |
Four turned out in the sunshine. We did from the post office up to the new bridge to the park and then on to Bolton Road Bridge. No flowers on the plants yet. Perhaps in the next couple of weeks we could do from Bolton Road up stream. That will need wellies. |
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| GAMEKEEPER |
The bags we placed at Wesley Place where collected by BMDC this morning. The wicker chair had also been collected. |
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| Silsdener2 |
Yes, we had a useful session on Sunday, and I'm suggesting we do it again this Sunday, maybe from 3.00 - 5.00, weather permitting. I'm happy to work through light rain showers, but not anything heavier or persistent. I propose meeting up at the Town Hall again - any extra helpers would be most welcome! Email your friends.....! |
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| Silsdener2 |
Message for PaulC and Gamekeeper, who joined the first clear-up session last week. I spent an hour and a half with a friend yesterday, on the area just below the ford and weir. However I will be away, from Thursday, for a week, so cannot post any more proposed sessions until I return. In the meantime, maybe you'll fit in a session or two yourselves. But it might also be useful if you could suggest some times when you're free - I'd be happy to fit in with that where I could. As you know, there's lots of balsalm out there, and the more hands we have, the more progress we'll make....! If there's anyone else out there prepared to spend an hour from time to time, your help would be much appreciated. By the end of July, it will be too late as the seeds will be setting and there'll be thousands more plants by next year!! |
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| Silsdener2 |
Further message for PaulC and Gamekeeper - I've cleared from where we left off a couple of Sundays ago up to the Bolton Road bridge, and also a stretch outside the Co-op but not the bit in between. Hope you can fit in another session or two - please post a reply so I know where we're at.... |
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| hermione fraggle |
Silsdener2 - The SEG now has its own website and blog through which we can share news, events and hopefully is another way to reach potential volunteers who do not necessarily use silsden.net and it is also a central point of contact for the group. Here is the link (including details on how to contact the group) theenvironmentalgroup.silsden.net/ |
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| Silsdener2 |
It's now early August and the seed heads are popping. I've therefore stopped work on the balsam for this year. I've cleared the beck from the Co-op site down past clog bridge to the canal bridge, with some help from friends. |
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| gazzer |
quoteIt's now early August and the seed heads are popping. I've therefore stopped work on the balsam for this year. I've cleared the beck from the Co-op site down past clog bridge to the canal bridge, with some help from friends. May I be the first of mant to offer my thanks for the work you have done |
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| gazzer |
this post has been edited 1 time(s) Someone from the Environment agency coming to survey the beck tomorrow regarding fish https://twitter.com/PeteTurnerEA |
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| Replies in this thread : 30 |
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events sale / wanted general have your say looking for.. skippy greengrass |
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DON'T FORGET THE SUBJECT IS >>>>>>>> Forums Home > General Forum > Calling all environmentalists |
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03/06/2012 : 00:01:37 
03/06/2012 : 11:16:10