Aliens on the Island!!!

[NickB]

I can see the sense in this . . . but all things change and our power to steward nature is perhaps not as strong as our power to inadvertently change it.

And by the accepted definition we are all members of a non-native species, having escaped from our African cradle a long time ago.

[jimcee]

Coming back to this Balsam thing - this is rather a gloomy prospect that Steve J presents.
My garden - probably 50% wild, must contain thousands of these plants. With the best will in the world and strimming every waking hour , there is no way that I will eradicate every last one, and in the process of attempting this, will potentially kill off all the existing native plants - not that I would be upset to say goodby to gorse and bramble.
And it would appear that only one HB has to survive the cull for the infestation to continue.
Fighting bracken was a dawdle compared to this problem.

[Stevie Jarron]

Getting rid of Himalayan Balsam is one of the more successful INNS eradications you can undertake.

Unlike most other plants, the seeds from HB don't last more than one year. So if you pull the plants this year they will be gone forever.

It is quite fragile, the stems snap easy and the plants are easy to pull whole by the roots.

As you point out, miss a few and they will reseed. But with a concerted community effort over a few years their will be a noticeable reduction each new growing season towards eventual eradication. And with vigilance and local firefighting of new outbreaks from missed plants, an HB free island.

[Allan Coutts]

I think Stevie has made a good point and I support his campaign to stop the spread of this HB and other weeds on the island. Our geography presumably gives us a fighting chance of keeping the invasives at bay but only if we take some action to protect ourselves? Anything that we do can have unintended consequences but on balance it would appear that an attempt to eradicate HB should be at least harmless. Unfortunately I wont be able to make it for the 20th but if a plan is decided I would definitely be interested in assisting with the extermination!

[Stevie Jarron]

Hi All,

Just a reminder that it's the Himalayan Balsam Pull day on the Puilladobhrain path tomorrow.

Meet by the TNT car park at 10:00 am, all you'll need is a pair of strong gardening gloves and yourself.

We can retire to the TNT when we've finished for a drink or some lunch.

See you all there.

Stevie

[Stevie Jarron]

Good few hours of work put in by all yesterday. And well deserved pint afterwards too!

We will need to revisit to clear up the straglers and clear the area properly but we're up for it!

Please can everyone keep an eye out for HB in your own gardens and near where you walk and pull the plants whenver you can.

PM me if you have an area that needs cleared of INNS and we'll organise another Balsam Bash soon.

S

[Stevie Jarron]

Hi All,

We need to organise another coordinated pull. Any ideas for the venue (other than the TnT again) for a HB bash? I've walked the length of Clachan Seil and seen HB quite widely but thinly seeded along the length.

We also need to get a flyer out before we knock on unsuspecting doors to try and get the gardeners to tackle their own while we do the bits in between. We can recruit more people to the effort that way.

Anyone with colour printing capability willing to print off a few flyers I'll put together?

Once we get the flyer out we can then speak to those that respond. Happy to help where needed.

Happy HB bashing!

S

[jimcee]

Steve
In response to your appeal for help.
As this would be in the interests of the community as a whole could I suggest the following -
1) The Kilbrandon Church Office would be prepared to print 360 A5 coloured flyers free of charge - this would be sufficient for a delivery to every household on the island.
The construction of these flyers could also be undertaken by the above with details and illustration supplied.
2) The distribution to each household could be included along with the Seileachan - but two points here - The next issue will not be due out until some time in mid August - and it would need to have approval by the Community Council.
Within these parameters you could have a flyer illustrating the problem with suggestions for dealing with it, in every household by the end of August.
Seumas Anderson (chairman of the Community Council) could probably OK it without recourse to a Council Meeting - next 28th July.

[jimcee]

Steve
In response to your appeal for help.
As this would be in the interests of the community as a whole could I suggest the following -
1) The Kilbrandon Church Office would be prepared to print 360 A5 coloured flyers free of charge - this would be sufficient for a delivery to every household on the island.
The construction of these flyers could also be undertaken by the above with details and illustration supplied.
2) The distribution to each household could be included along with the Seileachan - but two points here - The next issue will not be due out until some time in mid August - and it would need to have approval by the Community Council.
Within these parameters you could have a flyer illustrating the problem with suggestions for dealing with it, in every household by the end of August.
Seumas Anderson (chairman of the Community Council) could probably OK it without recourse to a Council Meeting - next 28th July.

[jimcee]

Apologies for the duplication - computers !!!

[Stevie Jarron]

Hi Jim,

A very generous offer! Please pass on my thanks.

Perhaps in this instance with time against us...

a shorter print run, perhaps only 50 to 100 this year, that can be posted to houses nearest the HB aflicted areas. Allowing a targeted effort against HB before thry go to seed in August. This could encourage people to tacle their own patch as we also get a group effort together.

a wider effort through the Community Council to try and get A+B Council resources and Scottish Water involved for the coming years. This could look at a community wide effort to tackle Japanese Knotweed by the latter 2 by spraying while the community of Seil tackle HB next spring.

happy for more ideas.

S

[jimcee]

Steve,
Just let me know your requirements - we can print at the drop of a hat.
Postage would be expensive.
I have one volunteer deliverer but it would need about 5 or 6 at a guess.
Can also supply number of households in each district.
Just advise.
Jim.

[Stevie Jarron]

Hi Jim,

I'll get back to you soon with a suitable A5 flyer.

I think a run of about 100 will suffice and will hand post them around the target areas we'll be doing a group HB pull for people to also tackle their own gardens.

Thanks again for the offer.

Regards Stevie

[Stevie Jarron]

Hi Jim,

Can you PM me your email address and I'll send you the flyer artwork.

Cheers Stevie

[Stevie Jarron]

Hi Jim,

How did you get on with the flyers?

Cheers Stevie

[jimcee]

Steve,
Delivered to Richard Wesley (as instructed) last Wednesday 15th.
Must be an early season for them as some of mine are flowering now.
Let me know if you need any more printed.
Jim.