Himalayan Balsam Survey

Everything You Need to Know About Himalayan Balsam Surveys

Any indication that your site could be housing Himalayan balsam should appear as a red flag to your development plans, particularly as a failure to identify, acknowledge and address it could be detrimental to your application for planning permission and the continued success of your project.

Dealing with it correctly is possible by instructing our team to conduct a Himalayan balsam survey. Read on to grow your understanding of what Himalayan balsam is, the effect it can have on a development and the environment, and what an assessment would involve.

What is Himalayan Balsam?

Otherwise known as impatiens glandulifera, Himalayan balsam is a type of weed that spreads rapidly in the countryside, especially near watercourses such as alongside canals and riverbanks. Classed as the tallest annual plant in the UK, it can grow as high as between two and three metres.

With seedpods encased within, bees are drawn to Himalayan balsam, and once the pods explode, the seeds are dispersed at a rate of 800 seeds per plant, landing in nearby water as far as four metres from the source and adding to the already fast and widespread nationwide population growth.

History of Himalayan Balsam

Previously exclusively native to the region of the Himalayas between Kashmir and Uttarakhand, Himalayan balsam was eventually brought to the UK by Dr John Forbes Royle after Victorian plant hunters were enticed by its pink petals and seedpods. Although intended to be an ornamental garden plant, it then began to spread throughout the country, earning status as an invasive non-native species (INNS).

Dr John Forbes Royal went on to become superintendent of the Botanic Gardens at Saharanpur in India after working as a professor of medicine at King’s College. Elsewhere, it has been found on the east and west coast of the United States, in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec in North America, as well as in various parts of New Zealand.

Himalayan Balsam in UK Law

As a result of the potential it has to grow uncontrollably and cause any level of damage to the surrounding area, Himalayan balsam is listed as one of several invasive species of plant in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. By featuring within this legislation, it has been made a legal offence to plant Himalayan balsam or in any way cause it to grow in the wild.

It wouldn’t be illegal for Himalayan balsam to grow in a private garden – especially as it can happen without the owner knowing – but efforts should be taken to prevent it spreading elsewhere. Once it is clear that Himalayan balsam is present, it cannot simply be removed without the intervention of an ecological consultant, as it will then be classed as controlled waste and disposing of it incorrectly will also be viewed as a legal offence.

Why is Himalayan Balsam a Problem?

Despite appearing harmless, the effects of Himalayan balsam can be damaging to the local area, the ecosystem and the standard of biodiversity. Considering the usual height of Himalayan balsam, it can leave native plants in the shade, halting their development, and as it produces a higher quantity of nectar compared to native plants, its presence alone can draw away bees and other insects.

The shallow root system of Himalayan balsam actually helps to stabilise river banks in growing season, but that means that when it dies back in winter months, the gaps can leave the banks vulnerable. Another side effect of Himalayan balsam is that it can entirely or partially block water flow, leaving an increased risk of flooding if the affected area experiences particularly heavy rainfall.

More than any other factor, the general behaviour of Himalayan balsam can be a threat to native species and occupy vast sections of the countryside. It can grow and spread extremely fast, moving into various habitats and competing with other plant species for light, nutrients and space. Himalayan balsam can also reach otherwise inaccessible areas and – like other invasive species such as Japanese knotweed – it isn’t easy to control.

Is Himalayan Balsam Dangerous?

The government have issued warnings to all parts of the UK to prevent anyone from eating or even touching Himalayan balsam as a way of avoiding harm to human health and the further spreading of the plant. While it is true that certain parts of Himalayan balsam are edible, it contains calcium oxalate and possesses a high mineral content, making it toxic and capable of triggering health problems.

As previously mentioned, it is also detrimental to the health and continued growth of other plant species. Even Himalayan balsam merely appearing nearby could endanger the native plants, blocking out access to the sun, limiting the amount of room to grow, using up all of the vital nutrients, and drawing away pollinating insects.

How to Identify Himalayan Balsam

Spotting the early signs of an invasive species or even realising that it’s been growing for some time will help to prevent further growth and enable you to contact an ecological consultancy such as ours before it becomes an inconvenience to your development plans.

Japanese knotweed is another form of invasive weed, but despite that, Himalayan balsam doesn’t share many of the same physical attributes. For more information, read the detailed description provided below and extend your knowledge of recognising and identifying the plant.

What Does Himalayan Balsam Look Like?

With large pink, purple and occasionally white flowers in a hooded shape and long narrow green leaves, Himalayan balsam is distinctive in appearance. The stems are thick but hollow and carry a red or pink hue that can sometimes even look translucent, and the seed pods are green and elongated.

Usually reaching heights of between six and ten feet once fully developed, it is much more straightforward to identify in the growing season. The shallow root system of Himalayan balsam also makes it easier to pull up, simplifying the creation of measures to control the spread of the plant.

Where is Himalayan Balsam Found in the UK?

Considering its widespread status, it will come as no surprise to discover that Himalayan balsam has been seen all over the British Isles, including numerous parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Features that commonly attract the plant to grow include:

Reporting Himalayan Balsam

At any point that invasive species have been sighted, the individual has the ability to report it to the local council or the Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS). The same applies to Himalayan balsam, and by opting to report a sighting, any potential issues with future development works can be dealt with early. That said, it is important to understand whether or not you are legally obligated to report Himalayan balsam.

Do You Have to Report Himalayan Balsam?

In the UK, it is not a legal requirement to report sightings of Himalayan balsam. Other actions, however, such as the planting of it or any practices that encourage it to grow in the wild will be classed as a breach of the law. It is also crucial to reiterate that all invasive species listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 including Himalayan balsam should be monitored to prevent future ecological damage.

Both Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam share the similarities that neither strictly needs to be reported, except for the difference that Japanese knotweed has to be controlled to prevent it from spreading whereas Himalayan balsam doesn’t have to be controlled but initiating suitable management and control measures is advised.

Should I Report Himalayan Balsam?

Due to the lack of legal parameters surrounding requirements to report Himalayan balsam, nobody is obliged to submit an account to the local authorities. In certain circumstances, however, it could be worth reporting it anyway, such as:

• If it hasn’t been spotted in the area in question before
• If it is present within a conservation area, nature reserve or any other form of protected site
• If you want to do your bit to prevent the spread

Take the First Step

An invasive weed such as Himalayan balsam will require a sufficiently detailed assessment to ensure that any parameters of relevant legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have been met and the protective measures for such plant species have been delivered accordingly. Falling short of the considerations shown to invasive species, however, could harm the environment and your development.

To help with starting the Himalayan balsam survey process, the section below details how Arbtech can help, the cost of an assessment and how we calculate the price for each client, and available methods for booking an inspection at the best time based on your development schedule.

Can Arbtech Help with Himalayan Balsam?

Part of what has made us the UK’s number one ecological consultancy is our ability to specialise in all areas of ecology, from protected species of animals to invasive species of plants. Himalayan balsam or impatiens glandulifera is among the list of plant species we frequently conduct habitat assessments for, with ecological consultants up and down the country to attend your development site.

Whoever we choose to assign to your site, you are guaranteed to work with a qualified, licensed and trained ecological consultant capable of undertaking a comprehensive and high-quality Himalayan balsam survey. We also see the value in referring to local experts, so instead of making our ecological surveyors travel far distances, you will be issued with a nearby specialist from our team.

When Should I Book a Himalayan Balsam Survey?

Being an annual plant means that Himalayan balsam goes through an entire life cycle within a single year. It starts with germinating from seeds in the spring to fully growing by the end of the summer or the start of the autumn. It then dies back in the winter months. Many native species are also within this category, including chickweed, cornflower, common groundsel, poppies and scarlet pimpernel.

Invasive species surveys over Himalayan balsam can be conducted at any time throughout the year. It is, however, advised by ecological consultancies such as ours to aim for the growing season between late spring and early autumn – particularly between the months of May and October – as it will be easier to identify on river banks and other locations during this period in the life cycle.

How Much is a Himalayan Balsam Survey?

Our prices vary from service to service and client to client, as development sites can differ massively based on the size and specifications, as well as the purpose of the survey. Working in this way prevents us from harshly overcharging clients, and it bodes especially well for developers or homeowners working on small projects because it means they aren’t paying the same as they would for a large project.

The cost for a Himalayan balsam survey starts at the baseline price of £399+VAT before other values are added on to account for the size of the site and the scale of the project. Unlike other ecological consultancies, we subsidise certain additionally unnecessary costs by locating ecologists all over the country, and the price for a Himalayan balsam survey will pay for the desk study, field survey and report.

Book a Himalayan Balsam Survey Today

It doesn’t matter whether you are certain that Himalayan balsam is on your development site, you suspect it could be present or you’re simply being cautious to rule out any probability, the team at Arbtech can help. In a prearranged visit to the site, we can inspect all potential habitats for the annual plant, monitor for other invasive species, and use our findings to create a Himalayan balsam survey report.

Depending on the outcome of the assessment, we may be able to confirm that Himalayan balsam is not on the site, propose mitigation measures to deal with it, or arrange further surveys to obtain more information. Once we’ve done everything possible to confirm or deny the presence of Himalayan balsam and mitigate accordingly, the report we create will then leave the local planning authority with no reason to deny planning permission.

You can speak to our team by visiting our contact page, calling or emailing us directly, messaging us on social media or filling out one of the quote forms on our website. Give us as much detail about your development as possible, and we will send you a free quote for you to mull over. If you’re happy with it, let us know, and we can choose the best time for one of our team to visit your site and undertake a Himalayan balsam survey.