The map shows the latest position. Pink markers show where there is Balsam ready to be pulled now. Amber markers show where work is in progress, while green markers show where we have cleared the Balsam or haven’t found any yet.
If you find some Himalayan Balsam anywhere along the river – please fill in our monitoring form. To update us on Balsam that you’ve cleared, please fill in our progress report form.
You can get involved by emailing troutinthetrym@gmail.com. We will put you in touch with the group that is managing the area you are interested in.
Latest Updates
| Section | Where | What | Details | When | Next steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park -Confluence | Activity Report | Recleared from the Car Park, to the Confluence, the neighbouring field and the 'jungle'. | 10/10 | Done! |
| Grace Garden School Grounds | Field directly below the school | Activity report | Field re-cleared | 7/10 | Done! |
| Trym Cross Road -Dingle Car Park | Area around Millhouse pub | Activity Report | Cleared from Trym Cross Road, across Shirehampton Road, towards Dingle Road bridge. Included clearance of stand visible from Shirehampton Road | 3/10 | Monitor |
| Crow Lane Open Space | By bridge near Aldi Car Park (Crow Lane end) | Activity Report | Reclearance from the Ford to Tormarton Crescent. One plant remaining - waders required! | 1/10 | Get the last plant/monitor |
| Blaise Estate | From Henbury end of Blaise to the Confluence | Activity Report | Entire sections cleared of Balsam and litter (both ways from Stratford Mill) | 26/9 | Monitor |
| Shirehampton Rd-Dingle Car Park | Dingle Car Park | Activity Report | Re-sweep of previously-cleared areas. In particular two stands at Dingle Car Park end | 24/9 12/10 | Monitor |
| Crow Lane Open Space | By bridge near Aldi Car Park (Crow Lane end) | Activity Report | Clearance of bank by bridge nearest Aldi and Crow Lane. Further stand identified at boxer.crash.notes requiring further work. | 30/8 | |
| Footpath alongside Golf Course | Parallel to Falcondale Road | Activity Report | small number of plants cleared from river | 21/9 29/8 | Monitor |
| Blaise/Cherry Orchards | Confluence - Cherry Orchards | Activity Report | Recleared from Confluence towards Cherry Orchards from the river. Plus field next to Confluence | 17/9 | Monitor |
| Blaise/Cherry Orchards | Confluence - Cherry Orchards | Activity Report | Recleared from Confluence towards Cherry Orchards from the river (waders required). Didn't finish | 12/9 | |
| Blaise Estate | Stratford Mill towards Henbury - both banks | Activity Report | Re-clearance of stretch between Stratford Mill and Henbury. Plenty of small seedlings plus relatively small plants in flower. Large plants removed both sides of the river. 'Ranger Max' litterpicker MIA. | 29/8 | Revisit mid-September |
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park -Confluence | Activity Report | Recleared the footpaths from the Car Park and the 'jungle' just North of the confluence | 12/9 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park - Confluence | Activity Report | Finished re-clearance of Confluence and neighbouring field | 27/8 | Revisit the field - odd plants re-emerging - all the way up to the footpath to Canford Lane |
| Southmead Trym Valley | pipes.upper.tell glitz.backup.crab | Activity Report | 2 further plants found and cleared on sweep of river | 15/9 | Monitor |
| Southmead Trym Valley | Activity Report | 5-6 plants found and cleared on sweep of river | 26/8 | Monitor | |
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park - Confluence | Activity Report | Re-clearance around Confluence and neighbouring field. More to do. | 22/8 | Revisit |
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park - Confluence | Activity Report | Re-sweep of area. Clearance around Confluence and neighbouring field. More to do. | 20/8 | Revisit |
| Blaise Estate | Stratford Mill Heading North | Activity Report | re-clearance of area - mostly stragglers. | 18/8 | Revisit |
| Crow Lane Open Space | By bridge near Aldi Car Park (Crow Lane end) | Activity Report | Clearance of bank by bridge nearest Aldi and Crow Lane | 17/8 | |
| Shirehampton Rd-Dingle Car Park | Near the pub just before the two paths join together - ST 555 767 | Activity Report | Large diffuse stand cleared | 15/8 | |
| Shirehampton Rd-Dingle Car Park | Dingle Car Park | Activity Report | Clearance of most remaining stands and sweep of previously-cleared areas | 15/8 | |
| Shirehampton Rd - Dingle Car Park | abode.ready.string 51.491793,-2.641091 | Balsam Found - now cleared | 5 or 6 plants growing high up - that were not tackled on 26/6. Better equipment required (long litter picker?) | Cleared 15/8 | |
| Shirehampton Road - Dingle Car Park | sung.mull.having | Balsam Found - now cleared | not yet in flower and should be accessible via footpath | Cleared 15/8 | |
| Crow Lane Open Space | speaks.young.drips | Balsam Found - now cleared | On slippy bank - near Aldi bridge (Aldi side, heading North) | Cleared 17/8 | |
| Crow Lane Open Space | By bridge near Aldi Car Park (Crow Lane end) | Activity Report | Clearance of bank between bridge nearest Aldi and Crow Lane | Cleared 10/8 | |
| Crow Lane Open Space | Activity Report | River walked and re-emerging Balsam cleared | Cleared 4/8 | ||
| Blaise Estate | Meet by the Museum | Activity Report | Re-clearance of stretch between Stratford Mill and Henbury. Plenty of small seedlings plus relatively small plants in flower | 6/8 8/8 | Revisit in drier weather to get remaining plants (particularly West bank) |
| Badocks Wood | Badocks Wood | Activity Report | River has been checked - no Balsam identified. | Checked 2/8 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate | between the weir at the church end of Blaise and the Mill. | Activity Report | Balsam cleared Most of the balsam is small but some is in flower. There is more to do in this area | 6/8 | Further session arranged |
| Blaise Estate | Confluence Rope Swing (or meet at Dingle Car Park. | Activity Report | Area around the Confluence now largely under control following numerous sessions. Need to revisit mid-August | Revisit Mid-August | |
| Henbury Golf Course | Near 7th Tee. See map for meeting point | Balsam Found - now cleared | 'Masses of Balsam, some in flower'. Should be able to tackle in 1 session - needs to be accessed from the river | Cleared 30/7 (Reported 18/7. Reviewed 23/7) | |
| Shirehampton Rd - Dingle Car Park | factories.crowd.prompting 51.491147,-2.64273 | Activity Report | Masses of Balsam in flower in and on river banks. Some may have set seed | Mostly cleared 3/8 | Further session required to collect stragglers |
| Blaise Estate Stratford Mill - Henbury | West Bank - towards first path switchback | Balsam Found - now cleared | Very large plants in flower. Difficult to access due to crumbly slope. Usual nettles etc. | Cleared 25/7 (one plant remaining ) | Monitor - return for final plant |
| Crow Lane Open Space | Harmer Close/Vimpany Close - Crow Lane | Activity Report | Land clearance required for whole section. River clearance required from point reached 17/7 | Further clearance 28/7. More sessions required. | Next event TBC |
| Blaise Estate | Mill House towards Henbury | Activity Report | Whole area re-cleared | 25/7 | Further events to be scheduled |
| Shirehampton Road - Dingle Car Park | diary.rather.bride | Activity Report | Long patch either side of river. Balsam approx 5 foot and flowering. Lots of nettles/brambles. | Cleared 23/7 | |
| Grace Garden School Grounds | Meet at Road Bridge Cherry Orchard Road off Canford Lane | Activity report | Established stands with massive plants in flower cleared by team of 10 | Friday 23/7 | Return in a month to check |
| Trym Valley Southmead | rubble.deny.book 51.500148,-2.599527 | Activity Report | No Balsam found! | Checked 9/7, 20/6, 22/7 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate | Confluence (or meet at Dingle Car Park. Take middle path to the left of the rope swing | Activity Report | Both banks now tackled - some difficult plants still need to be reached -tall and in flower. | Sunday 18/7 Tuesday 20/7 Sunday 25/7 Tuesday 27/7 | |
| Shirehampton Road - Dingle Car Park | belts.preoccupied.held either.pines.slang spoil.rams.punks | Balsam Found - now cleared | Cleared by 2 people - mainly accessed with waders in the river | Cleared 17/7 | Monitor |
| Crow Lane Open Space | Harmer Close/Vimpany Close - Crow Lane | Activity Report | Cleared river to within 20m of bridge by Aldi. | Saturday 17/7 | Next event TBC |
| Grace Garden School Grounds | Adjacent to Cherry Orchard Road off Canford Lane | Activity Report | Efforts concentrated on western field (closest to Blaise). All flowering Balsam removed, but still some left. | Partial Clearance 16/7 | |
| Blaise Estate | Confluence | Activity Report | some substantial plants in amongst the nettles and in the river. | Cleared 9-13/7 Identified 6/7 | Next event 18/7 11am |
| Crow Lane Open Space | Tormarton Crescent - Harmer Close/Vimpany Close | Activity Report | Banks and river cleared between the two points. Lots in the river, not necessarily visible from banks. Somebody also cleared stand by the bridge next to Aldi. Further session needed to work down from Harmer Close/Vimpany Close to Crow Lane | 11/7 | Next Session 17/7 10am |
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park | Activity Report | Cleared area around Car park and river banks heading into Blaise - towards Confluence. | 6/7 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate - Henbury Golf Club | adjacent to path from Canford Lane at the demolished residential home. 51.494885,-2.636512 | Balsam Found - Now Cleared | A few plants emerging - lots of nettles/brambles. Sian to clear in the next week or so | Cleared 9/7 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate | Dingle Car Park | Balsam Found - Now Cleared | Reported 24/6: 4-6ft plants - established stand with nettles and brambles | Cleared 6/7 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate | Mill House towards Henbury | Activity Report | Further work on the worst stretch. Most cleared from East Bank, although still a need for somebody with waders to cover the whole river section. Further 2 hours or so required on East Bank at far end. | 2/7 | Further events to be scheduled |
| Blaise Estate | Mill House towards Henbury | Activity Report | 227th Scouts session - continuing work of 27/6 - including some large plants cleared from West Bank. | 1/7 | Further events scheduled. |
| Westbury Village | Behind BP garage on Falcondale Road | Balsam Found - Now Cleared | Identified 11/6 - several plants in and around the river. Cleared 25/6 | 25/6 | Monitor |
| Blaise Estate | Mill House towards Henbury | Activity Report | SusWoT/Friends of Blaise Training Event 30 volunteers including the Lord Mayor who pulled the first Balsam of the day. Approximately half the Balsam cleared from this stretch. | 27/6 | Further events scheduled |
| Canford Road Bridge - Dingle Car Park | Activity Report | Sea Mills and Coombe Dingle Climate Action Group Event - 12 volunteers covering Dingle Car Park to just beyond Canford Rd Bridge. | 26/6 | Monitor and return for remaining plants | |
| Shirehampton Rd - Dingle Car Park | length.goal.melon 51.492009,-2.641307 | Balsam Found - Cleared | Cleared on 26/6 | Monitor | |
| Crow Lane Open Space | files.word.visual 51.509312,-2.625932 | Activity Report | Sustainable Henbury and Brentry event. Balsam stands accessed from the river, lots of nettles, more to do. | 19/6 | Further Events Scheduled |
| Location | Status | Site Constraints | 2021 Activity | Resource Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portway to Trym Cross Road | Very little Balsam identified in previous years | Limited scrub | From June 2021 | Monitors |
| Trym Cross Road to Shirehampton Road Bridge | Limited Balsam - increasing density towards Shirehampton Rd. | Limited scrub | From June 2021 | Land Bashers, Monitors |
| Shirehampton Road Bridge - Canford Road Bridge | Some Balsam in stretches - late developing in 2020 | Limited scrub, banks difficult to access. | From June 2021. Clearance has started - Balsam in flower | Land Bashers, Water Bashers, Monitors |
| From Canford Rd Bridge to Dingle Car Park | Dense Balsam - 2 major stands set back from the river. | Limited scrub | Mostly cleared June21. Monitor and return for stragglers | Land Bashers, Water Bashers, Monitors |
| Blaise Estate: Confluence of the Trym and Hazel Brook | Dense and well-established Balsam - some of it well away from the river bank. Far less seen in some areas than in 2020! | Overgrown scrub, some steep banks | Cleared from Car Park to Confluence. Several sessions held at Confluence and more required. | Land Bashers, Water Bashers, Monitors |
| Blaise: Stratford Mill - Henbury Road - West Bank | Well established stands now in flower. Steep slope - difficult to access. | Access from the river or down the slope | Work has started - further action required | Water Bashers, Scrambling Bashers, Monitors |
| Blaise: Stratford Mill - Henbury Road: East Bank | Well established Balsam - limited scrub. | Access from the footpath | Mostly cleared between 26/6 and 2/7 - further work required | Land Bashers, Monitors |
| Blaise: Hazel Brook and River Trym banks from Dingle Car Park to Henbury Road | Where river is shallow, odd plants growing in isolation. | Access from the river | Cleared 6/7 | Water Bashers |
| Henbury Golf Course | Some Balsam - now in flower. Should be manageable in one session | Private Land, events need to be coordinated with Golf Club | Assessed 23/7 | Land Bashers, Water Bashers? |
| From Golf Course through Westbury Village | Limited Balsam due to individual bashers. | Some Private Land, ladder access may be required in Westbury Village | Cleared June 2021. Area being monitored | Monitors |
| Badocks Wood | Well-managed Balsam - limited plants in woodland shade | Nesting birds | Jul-21 | None |
| Westbury Wildlife Park | Well-managed Balsam - limited plants. | Nesting birds | Jul-21 | None |
| Trym Valley Southmead | On the river banks between Trowbridge Road and Shetland Road | Access from the river | Regular checks - Balsam has not appeared this year. Last reviewed 22/7 | Monitors |
| Crow Lane Open Space | Well-established balsam - first tackled 2020. | Limited scrub. Accessible from the river and footpaths. River too deep for wellies in some parts | 3 events now held. Working systematically from Tormarton Crescent towards Crow Lane. - one further river session required | Water Bashers, Land Bashers, Monitors |
| From Open Space to Cribbs Causeway | TBC | Land ownership? | Monitoring walk scheduled before end July | TBC |