After just over 6 weeks, the pigs have been removed from Kinver Edge’s woodland. The Himalayan balsam has now reached a point that seeding is starting in a few plants, and as such, the presence of the pigs and follow up work would most likely cause it to spread.
As has been previously stated, we can’t know the results of the project until 2013, when we will survey to assess any reduction of balsam, and germination of more favoured plant species. We also would have to factor in the costs of the project against the alternate methods of balsam control, such as hand pulling and mowing; although both these have their own costs, and their own limitations. Somethings in favour of pigs as the preferred method: they really are all terrain – unlike a tractor mounted mower; and, they don’t weary of tackling balsam – unlike a team of volunteers. In addition, neither alternate method aids germination of the seedbank by turning over the layer of bracken mulch.
Follow up work is required in the sample plots to reduce the chances of balsam seed entering the area. A perimeter has been mown and will be monitored, and the plants of late germinating seed within the plots will need to be hand pulled. The great advantage to hand pulling now, is that bracken cover has been reduced to a level where balsam can be easily seen, and what does need pulling is significantly reduced prior to the project.
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| A 180degree panoramic shot of the pigged area, including a mown boundary. The central foreground shows the first plot, with grass (Creeping Soft Grass) already re-growing. |
We’d like to thank Tim and the young people at the Hay Farm Project who have worked in partnership with the National Trust on this experiment.
