Volunteers are needed for a 'balsam bashing' event on Saturday, July 9 at the Parish Field in Graig Penllyn, Cowbridge. 

Natural Resources Wales has partnered with Dr Jess Minett, WaREN project officer at North Wales Wildlife Trust, to organise the 'balsam bashing' and help wipe out the invasive species from the field. 

Himalayan balsam was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant for gardeners in 1839. Balsam is able to quickly spread due to its fast-growing nature and explosive seed pods, which can fire seeds up to seven metres.  

As seeds can be transported in rivers, the balsam is often found alongside riverbanks. It will out-compete native biodiversity and in winter balsam will die back leaving the river bank bare and susceptible to erosion and flooding. 

Dr Minett said: "Parish Fields is a very unique site. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interested (SSSI) designated for its species-rich neutral grassland and associated habitats, with an unusual mosaic of calcicolous and acidic grasslands.  

"We are just starting to find Himalayan balsam on this site and it is very important that we push it back as far as possible in order to preserve the habitat." 

Invasive species volunteer/training days like this one are running throughout Wales as part of the Wales Resilient Ecological Network (WaREN II) project.  

They are held alongside the WaREN's Ecosystem Invaders campaign which aims to raise awareness of invasive species in Wales and the small things we can do to help tackle them. 

The event will start at 10:00 and finish at 15:00.  

It is advised that people bring food and water as well as wear appropriate footwear and long-sleeved clothing. 

You can contact Dr Minett either by calling 07377 504190 or emailing Jessica.Minett@northwaleswildlifetrust  

Learn more about the project here.