The Balsam Cup

It is a friendly competition to help manage and eradicate Himalayan balsam, an invasive species which plagues riverbanks and other damp habitats.

Individual Himalayan balsam plants are easy to remove, but due to extremely high densities , managing entire areas can be challenging.

The Balsam Cup aims to rally large groups of people to work together to clear large areas quickly and efficiently.

Himalayan balsam is an invasive species which was introduced to the UK in 1839 as an ornamental garden plant. Its exploding seed pods allowed it to quickly escape from gardens where it is now found across the UK along riverbanks, streams and other damp areas.

The roots of Himalayan balsam are relatively shallow, but the leaves and stalks of the plant grow rapidly, allowing balsam to out-compete our native flora, which in turn negatively impacts native pollinators. Dense monocultures of balsam can form within a couple of years if left unmanaged.