Balsam destroyers alive and well

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Queens59

Queens59

Queen Bee
BeeKeeping Supporter
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
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Location
Dartmoor edge, uk
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
5...2 wooden National, 2 poly Nat & 1 poly nuc...bursting at the seams
Natural England my foot :mad:

In my area of Devon 'Natural England' (and I use the term with GREAT reservation) are holding HB destroyer sessions 4-5 days a week...to 'help' landowners to get to grips with this useless, invasive and damaging plant :cuss:

Yet the same paper who are happily advertising this group often have articles on the struggles of our 'poor, starving honey bee'...:beatdeadhorse5:

How many times do they have to be told that bees are in dire need of HB in certain areas where other late season foods are not so commonly available? :banghead:

Crawls into a corner and sobs...:(

Come on Pulman's Ottery St Mary & Natural England...what other useful and pretty things can destroy this week? I know that HB is invasive - but simply timing the destruction before it seeds would lower the amount around...and a few seeds will always escape to carry on the next year :sifone:
 
Mixed feelings about HB. I hate the fact that it covers my garden in early spring. I like the fact that it's easy to pull up. I love the fact that my bees love it.

There is wasteland at the side of my house that has been colonised by HB and it was amazing to see it multiplying over the last couple of years. TBH it is pushing out nettles and brambles, so if it wasnt for the seeds getting blown onto my garden, it would be all good.
 
Collected some seeds from the Thames last year whlst kayaking from Cricklade to London

Planted them out this year round my pond, plants are currently about 8" high
 
Queens59 said:
Come on Pulman's Ottery St Mary & Natural England...what other useful and pretty things can destroy this week? :sifone:
Click to expand...

A local council near me has removed all the Ivy from a large Victorian graveyard, cut down all the sycamore, sprayed the brambles, rotavated the scrub and weeds and planted rye grass and daffodils

Then asked me to move a bumble nest incase someone using the graveyard got stung....Nope...so they sprayed it
 
Last edited:
MuswellMetro said:
A local council near me has removed all the Ivy from a large Victorian graveyard, cut down all the sycamore, sprayed the brambles, rotavated the scrub and weeds and planted rye grass and daffodils

Then asked me to move a bumble nest incase someone using the graveyard got stung....Nope...so they sprayed it
Click to expand...

Tell the Daily Mail.. they will love the story...
 
Please delete your post...for your own financial protection
 
I thought it was only illegal to plant it in a public place, ok on private land
 
I shoot squirrels, magpies, jays and rabbits but I want balsam! Had it on another site and never had to winter feed my bees, here I spend loads on feed!
E
 
ROACHMAN said:
Collected some seeds from the Thames last year whlst kayaking from Cricklade to London

Planted them out this year round my pond, plants are currently about 8" high
Click to expand...

You'd better make sure none of the seeds escape from your garden into the wild, or you'll be liable for a £5000 fine.

A great deal of money is being spent to control this invasive pest, and despite it's usefulness to beekeepers, it does massive damage to the native fauna when it gets hold.

I think it's irresponsible to encourage it, even in your own garden.
 
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