Himalayan Balsam Removal & River Walks: South West Peak

This is an archived website, available until June 2027. We hope it will inspire people to continue to care for and protect the South West Peak area and other landscapes. Although the South West Peak Landscape Partnership ended in June 2022, the area is within the Peak District National Park. Enquiries can be made to customer.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk

The 5-year South West Peak Landscape Partnership, 2017-2022, was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Himalayan Balsam Removal & River Walks

Upstream Thinking

Event Name	Himalayan Balsam Removal & River Walks
Start Date	2nd Aug 2021 9:00 am
End Date	24th Sep 2021 3:00 pm
Duration	53 days and 6 hours
Description	Himalayan Balsam – volunteers needed Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant that grows in damp places, in England that is generally along our riverbanks and canals. An annual can grow up to 3m a year. It shades out our native plants, and then dies back over winter leaving the banks vulnerable to erosion. Each plant can produce 500 seeds so it spreads very quickly. To sign up for any of the the activities below please register with us through our volunteer portal by clicking here. Dates and locations 10^th August Tuesday 10 am till 4 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote Hamps. Walking approx. 8km. Walking up a stream and then down a footpath. A new area this year, so plastic bags for flowering balsam/ seed pods definitely needed 13^th August Friday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Lapwing Hall, Meerbrook ST13 8SR. Please park with the farm machinery or silage bales opposite the campsite Lapwing hall campsite - Bing max 8 people Frith Bottom to Meadows Farm. A narrow, sometimes deep stream with bay willow and figwort. Several barbed wire fences to climb (sometimes deeper than wellies – but don’t worry there’s places to get in and out or stay on the bank) Walking up a stream and then down a footpath/Lane 16^th August Monday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote North Walking approx. 3 km Walking up a stream and then down a footpath round a field and along a road. 20^th August Friday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote West. A beautiful stream sometimes filled with large butterbur. Walking beside farmland areas fenced off for conservation. Walking approx. 5.5km. 24^th August Tuesday 10 am till 4 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote Hamps. Walking approx. 8km. Walking down a stream and then up a footpath. 27^th August Friday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Broad Lea Farm, Gun Hill Road, Meerbrook ST13 8SL max 8 people Oxhay field, Gun Hill Road, Alder Lee. Oxhay field is a beautiful field with ragged robin and greater birds foot trefoil. Walking between 4 and 6 km 6^th Sept Monday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote Hamps. Walking approx. 8km. Walking up a stream and then down a footpath. 10^th Sept Friday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Meet at Lapwing Hall, Meerbrook ST13 8SR. Please park with the farm machinery or silage bales opposite the campsite Lapwing hall campsite - Bing max 8 people Frith Bottom to Meadows Farm. A narrow, sometimes deep stream with bay willow and figwort. Several barbed wire fences to climb (sometimes deeper than wellies – but don’t worry there’s places to get in and out or stay on the bank) Walking up to 6 km Walking up a stream and then down a footpath/lane 13^th Sept Monday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote North Walking approx. 3 km Walking up a stream and then down a footpath round a field and along a road. 17^th September Friday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote West. A beautiful stream sometimes filled with large butterbur. Walking beside farmland areas fenced off for conservation. Walking approx. 5.5km. 20^th September Monday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Onecote, parking at Onecote Village Hall, Douse Lane, Onecote, Leek ST13 7RU max 8 people Onecote Hamps. Walking approx. 8km. Walking down a stream and then up a footpath. 24^th September Friday 10 am till 3 pm. Meet at Meet at Broad Lea Farm, Gun Hill Road, Meerbrook ST13 8SL max 8 people Oxhay field, Gun Hill Road, Alder Lee, Lodge Farm Walking between 4 and 6 km Notes for all Please bring clean wellies (essential to stop the spread of water borne diseases) gloves, lunch and drinks, water proof clothing, thick/ snag proof clothing (balsam frequently grows near nettles and brambles) with long sleeves and long trousers. If you have the following - hi vis jacket and either a walking stick, litter picker or shears, please bring one so there is less sharing of tools, but this is not essential. At this time of year balsam may have started to develop seed pods so a plastic bag would also be useful. Sorry no toilets available. All skill levels welcome. Willingness to walk along streambeds or ditches, climb fences (with landowners’ permission) and banks, and boldly go anywhere balsam might hide. Walks for people who like to get off the beaten track. To sign up for these activities please register as a volunteer through our volunteer portal by clicking here. Contact for all Helen Betts, Vocational Training Office, South West Peak Landscape Partnership. Mobile: 07970237094 Email: Helen.betts@peakdistrict.gov.uk or SWP@peakdistrict.gov.uk Website: Upstream Thinking: South West Peak If you are able to remove it yourself, this is what it looks like. Please can you let us know.