‘Bashing’ invasive plants

More and more communities and volunteers are taking on environmental tasks around the country. In Clonmel, Co Tipperary, for example, people have united to get rid of Himalayan balsam, an invasive plant, from the banks of the River Suir.

‘Balsam bashing’ is the term used to describe the removal of the plant, one of many invaders here like Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed or rhododendron. Balsam is one of the top-10 species to cause significant environmental damage, especially to river banks.