FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Tuesday 26th August 2025

Hello Conservation Volunteers

With a number of our regulars away we had enough volunteers for a small group to make an unplanned and worthwhile return to the large area of gigantic balsam on the Mayfield which we had discovered on our previous session. It was a couple of weeks later in the season than usual for us for balsam pulling but there hadn't been much evidence of the seeds ripening on our last visit and being just 12 days later, we were hoping this would still be the case before the seeds started to pop off and spread.

Being a difficult area to access we tried an alternative approach coming downstream to the Mayfield confluence with the Porter, another interesting river walk with masses of iron ochre on the riverbanks and enclosed vegetation making it feel more like we were on an exploratory expedition in the rainforest! After pulling the stragglers of balsam there we made our way to the main area where the giant balsam was growing where we were greeted by the sight of the previously removed balsam piled up and already rotting down, and a sea of flowering balsam standing tall and proud like Triffids!

It was then just a case of getting stuck in and piling it up where we could, and with thousands of plants pulled and a lack of trees to hang them on they were piled on top of brambles, holly etc. and anywhere we could find off the ground.

As well as the taller balsam there was plenty of smaller, leggy plants which were more difficult to find where they were rooted, usually in the brambles - gauntlets rather than gloves would have been better to prevent scratches on our wrists between the glove and shirt cuffs! Whilst the majority of balsam has been pulled out by the roots, annoyingly sometimes it just snaps off and the roots cannot be found, but at least it won't seed this year.

We were all spread out dealing with our own patch with little chatting, but in the quietness of the valley there were a few occasional yelps in the distance as Rebecca managed to find the boggy area, and Chris did a pratt fall face down in the river....

As there was plenty to do and we were all enjoying ourselves it was a slightly longer session than normal, but all the balsam on both sides of the Mayfield in this area has been cleared and looks totally different, especially with pulled balsam lying everywhere (it will soon rot down), although we could see more further round the corner further up. It will be interesting to see how this cleared area looks next year.

With our main painting crew away or indisposed we hadn't planned a session for painting of the railings above the slide, however Mike turned up and proceeded to paint some more in green - in between fending off the children who ignored warnings the railings had wet paint on them! There's still the tricky bit above the slide to do but with the schools back and a step ladder it should be doable (without distractions) next time.

Our cake and biscuit supplier, Mandy, was unable attend due to having visitors (tell them to being their wellies next time Mandy!), however, she went above and beyond making chocolate chip cookie dough at 11pm the previous night, to leave resting overnight, before finishing them off the next morning to bring down to us, before no doubt returning back home to make coffee and biscuits for her visitors. Thank you Mandy, one (or three) were delicious with a coffee afterwards!

Many thanks also to everyone who came along to help, it all makes a difference.

The next work morning is on Thursday 11th September. An email will be sent out nearer the time with details.

Lyndon

A Selection of photos from the work morning

Walking downstream of the Porter to the confluence with the Mayfield

Crossing the Mayfield to the balsam

Chris holding a relatively small and weedy 9 foot balsam(!) as Rebecca clambers over the fallen tree

Seeds starting to form but not ripened

Rebecca in the bog!

This is what it looked like when we started on our previous session. Compare to the fallen tree below as a reference point....

...and this is what it looks like now!

The railings at the start of the session....

....and at the end. All taped off to prevent green coloured children!

Two boxes of chocolate chip cookies from Mandy!