Its flowers are not unattractive but it's a pest! Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is one of the UK's most aggressive, invasive plants. Introduced in 1839, it thrives along riverbanks and in damp woodlands. It outcompetes native flora and causes severe riverbank erosion in the winter. It is illegal to plant or allow it to spread in the wild. It has explosive seed pods that burst and scatter seeds up to 7 metres away. Sadly, it is rapidly taking over the riverside path beyond Saltaire. People periodically do some 'balsam bashing' before it sets seed but that isn't enough to eradicate it. It's now so high that in places it's hard to see the river.
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