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26
Jul
180,000 Himalayan balsam plants removed at Nidd nature reserve
More than 180,000 invasive plants have been removed from a nature reserve on the banks of the River Nidd.
The 25-acre Sylvan Nature Reserve was created in 2010 at Kirk Hammerton.
The area was prone to flooding and unsuitable for farming before the family nature business Make it Wild transformed it into a habitat creation project.
With the help of the Woodland Trust and the Environment Agency, it planted 18,000 British native trees in 2011.
Make it Wild has now teamed up with nearby commercial plant nursery Johnson Nurseries Ltd to remove 180,000 Himalayan balsam plants over two days.
Although the plant is sweet-smelling and attractive, its presence can prevent the growth of other native species. Himalayan balsam can reach up to two metres in height, shading out smaller native vegetation if not removed.
Besides removing these plants, the team designed and constructed new scrapes. A scrape is a shallow pond, less than a metre in depth, that collects rainwater it can retain during winter and spring.
Scrapes ensure habitats for amphibians like frogs, toads, and newts, as well as assisting biodiversity and wetland health.
The conservation team.
Graham Richardson, Johnsons Nurseries group managing director, said:
We are delighted with the outcome of our team-building days. Our employees' enthusiasm and hard work made a significant impact at our local nature reserve.
Christopher Neave, co-founder and director of Make it Wild, said:
With the support of local businesses, we are able to do so much more for nature, and the Johnsons teams achieved a huge amount in just two days.
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