Today eight volunteers (including Greg’s helper) went Himalayan Balsam hunting in an little explored area near, and connected to, the marsh.
This is a major HB area totally mixed in with Stinging Nettles and Willow-herb. So we resorted to cutting the HB and the nettles/willow-herb) rather than attempting to pull by hand. We cut a huge amount of HB right across the area and into the northern half of the marsh right up to the main irrigation channel. The reed bed is so high it felt like a scene from The African Queen.
We even took advantage of the dry weather and waded up the stream (well I did) to attack growth along the stream bank. That felt like the African Queen as well.