100 Hours with Aire Rivers Trust!

Betsy Matten (now proudly BA Hons.) writes about her placement with our Trust.

As part of my final year studying BA Geography with Quantitative Methods at the University of Leeds, I undertook a 100 hour placement with the Aire Rivers Trust (ART). ART immediately stood out to me, as a human geographer looking to gain insight into the world of environmental conservation, so I reached out and asked if I could get involved. From the very beginning, I was introduced to a variety of exciting projects, as well as many members of the team, a group of incredibly passionate and kind individuals.

Betsy Matten standing in a a field with ART volunteers, some cows and Himalayan balsam

During my time with ART, I managed to get out on some practical conservation days, working on important tasks with the amazing local volunteers! From scrub clearance to hedge laying, it was eye opening for me to see the work taking place on the ground to protect the Aire and its natural ecosystems.

Meeting the ART volunteers was a real highlight of the placement for me, showing such dedication to their local river and its tributaries. At a time when the topic of nature and the environment can evoke feelings of anxiety, this was a much needed reminder that there are many passionate people working towards a better world! 

My key project with ART involved working closely with the Catchment Coordinator, Ruth McBain, who really supported me throughout the placement. This project was focused on Catchment Management Planning. I undertook research around best practice across the UK, and began to compile information which could be used for ART’s updated plan.

A proud achievement for me was the publication of a web page and interactive map I created on the ART website. This page aimed to direct potential new volunteers to the best ways for them to get involved. The map involved the collation of many of the existing local action groups along the Aire, including contact details and a blurb to assist viewers in choosing the most suitable group for them. This webpage can be found here: https://aireriverstrust.org.uk/friends-of-the-river-2/ 

I thoroughly enjoyed every part of my placement. During a very stressful period of my education, the ART work provided me with engaging and inspiring days to break up the endless library sessions! In addition to this, my portfolio on all of my ART involvement received a high first class mark.

Thank you so much to the brilliant team at ART, for an invaluable 100 hours, I loved it!

Himalayan Balsam pulling season

Each summer, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) appears again along riverbanks throughout the Aire catchment, and for our volunteers, that means balsam-pulling season is back.

At first glance, this tall plant with its bright pink flowers may seem attractive, but it is actually a problematic ‘invasive non-native species’, that negatively affects our rivers and watercourses. An invasive non-native species is a plant or animal that has been introduced to a country or area, spreads rapidly and causes harm to its new environment.

A stand of Himalayan Balsam in flower

Volunteers at the Aire Rivers Trust therefore spend the early summer months taking part in one of our most important and satisfying conservation activities – balsam pulling, also known as ‘balsam bashing’.

Why is Himalayan Balsam a problem?

Originally introduced to the UK as an ornamental garden plant, Himalayan balsam spreads rapidly along river corridors, canals and transport networks like railways and roads. It grows quickly from spring onwards, forms dense stands, and crowds out native vegetation, reducing biodiversity and leaving little space for wildflowers and other important riverbank plants.

In winter, unlike many native species, Himalayan balsam dies back completely, leaving bare soil exposed along riverbanks. Without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together, banks become vulnerable to erosion during periods of high water and flooding.

Each plant can produce hundreds of seeds, which burst out of the seed pods in mid-late summer and spread far and wide, being carried downstream by rivers. This means that the plants (and the problem!) spread each year.

The power of volunteers

Despite being problematic for wildlife, Himalayan balsam is one of the easier invasive species to tackle. Its shallow root system means it can be easily removed by hand, simply pulling the plant from the bottom of the stem, before it sets seed. Every summer, volunteers from the Aire Rivers Trust head out to riverbanks, smaller becks and woodlands across the catchment to remove balsam and give native plants a chance to thrive again. These sessions are not only beneficial for local wildlife but are also a great opportunity to spend time outdoors, meet like-minded people and make a visible difference to the local environment.

A volunteer removing balsam from the riverbank
A small group of volunteers working to remove balsam from the riverbank
Solo volunteer balsam bashing

A catchment-wide approach

Managing invasive species requires working together and repeating the task each year. Seeds can travel long distances along rivers, so successful control relies on communities, landowners and volunteers working together across the entire catchment, over consecutive years. Many Rivers Trusts across the UK have shown that sustained annual balsam-pulling efforts can dramatically reduce the plant’s presence and allow native habitats to recover.

A group of volunteers celebrating their balsam bashing efforts
Himalayan balsam pulling is an easy activity suitable for all ages

Get involved

So far this year, we have pulled balsam at Fagley Beck in Ravenscliffe, Hawkstone, Chellow Dene and Pitty Beck, with more areas coming up in July. Some of these volunteer days been a part of our Roots in the River Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thank you to the National Lottery, and a huge thank you to all of our volunteers for making this possible!

Whether you volunteer regularly or are looking to join us for the first time, balsam pulling is a great way to help nature in your area. No specific experience is required, and our team will help you with identifying and safely removing the plant. Sign up to volunteer here: Volunteer with Us – Aire Rivers Trust

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Northcliffe Dike NFM

Life in Leeds Becks

Roots in the River

Weir Walkers

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