It was another scorcher along Richmond towpath but balsam needed to be bashed! 4 GGers donned gloves and waded into the foliage, braving the nettles and brambles to tackle the towering Himalayas.

We had joined the Friends of Ham Lands (a group of volunteers who work with local naturalists and the Council’s ecology officer to preserve and enhance the natural habitats of Ham Lands, create habitats for wildlife and arrange walking tours to show the wide variety of flora and fauna), who were spread out along the path past the riverside car park in hi-vis jackets.

We split off from the main group and took on several large patches of the marauding plans, enjoying the satisfying pop of balsam being bashed. Our brief was to leave the plants in piles and soon enough we had made many mounds.

After a thoroughly enjoyable time dodging stingers and scything through the undergrowth we packed up and headed home, ready for a cold shower!