Anglesey Council officers, in partnership with Bangor University students, have been working hard to remove invasive Himalayan balsam plants along Anglesey riverbanks.

The Himalayan balsam can often be seen standing up to two metres tall and displaying prominent pink flowers.

The plant is an invasive non-native species, which mainly grows along river banks and in damp woodland. The plant poses a big risk to the environment as it competes with native plant species – taking their space, light, nutrients and pollinators, and prevents other plant growth.

Himalayan balsam also increases riverbank erosion which can lead to long term damage to spawning ground for fish species, as well as decreasing the river’s water quality.

Anglesey Council’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Team carry out annual work to control the plant across numerous sites on Anglesey. This work is carried out by utilising funding provided by Natural Resources Wales.

This year, the AONB Team worked in partnership with students from Bangor University’s School of Natural Sciences as they carried out their Masters’ degree projects on Anglesey.

AONB Community Warden, Joseff Davies, said, “This collaboration was a great opportunity to work alongside Bangor University students on our Himalayan balsam control programme. It was great to see how enthusiastic all the students were about managing and protecting our natural environment.”

He added, “We worked alongside 10 Masters students in total, working hard to hand pull the invasive plant along the Afon Cefni, which runs through the Dingle Local Nature Reserve in Llangefni, and Afon Ceint, also near Llangefni.”

Climate Change portfolio holder, Councillor Nicola Roberts, added, “This annual work is essential to ensure that we are able to protect our environment. The work highlights our overarching commitment to biodiversity and tackling climate change. I would like to thank Council Officers and Bangor University students for their hard work.”

Each plant can generate anywhere between 600 and 2,500 seeds. It might look pretty but it colonises quickly; displacing native plants and consequently adversely affecting biodiversity, soil stability and water quality.

Bangor University student, Kelly Evans said, “It was great to be given the opportunity to work alongside Anglesey’s AONB Team on this project. It’s always rewarding to contribute to the health of a valuable ecosystem – especially one as beautiful as the Dingle in Llangefni.”

She added, “All students had a wonderful experience volunteering and we are grateful to Anglesey Council for their partnership and support.”

Ends 12 July 2022