From Canon Allan Swain
Sir, - In embracing Himalayan Balsam, Ronald Blythe (Word from
Wormingford, 21 September) is in danger of being deceived by
surface beauty, as Samson was by Delilah.
This prolific introduction is rapidly taking over our riverbanks
and wetlands, smothering the native plants, such as purple
loosestrife and hemp agrimony, essential food- plants of our
discerning native butterflies. Beneath its towering stems, the
low-growing herbs cannot grow, further threatening the water vole,
the UK's fastest-declining mammal, which depends on them for
food.
When the shallow-rooted annual Himalayan Balsam dies back in
autumn, it leaves no root structure to reinforce the banks, which
are then prone to erosion in heavy rain. The silt released by the
collapse can pollute the stream and clog the gravels of the bed,
which support many mini-beasts and fish spawn.
Being thus shallow-rooted, unlike the tares in the wheat-field,
it can, and should be, gathered up before the flowers fade, and
cast into the flames, before it disperse its verminous
seed.
ALLAN SWAIN
20 Elizabeth Road
Wimborne Minster BH21 1AX