At Avro golf club we are fighting an ongoing battle against a non-native plant called Himalayan Balsam, which has invaded the river banks and woodland areas along the footpath running away from the golf course at the back of the 7th green. This is part of a local and national environmental campaign to control the spread of the Balsam which is displacing our native plants and causing severe erosion of river banks.

Each year we organise a Balsam bashing event and ask for volunteers to help control the spread of the Balsam by pulling it up before it flowers and spreads its seeds. Pulling up each stem of the Balsam plant is not a strenuous activity as the roots of the plant are very shallow.

This year's Balsam bashing is on Saturday 29th June - gents, ladies and children are all welcome – bring the whole family!

If you can spare a morning and join in the satisfying task of pulling up the Balsam, then please add your names to the signup sheet on the gents competitions board opposite the coffee machine. Alternatively, you can simply reply to this email.

Schedule: Meet at 9:00 for briefing, balsam pulling from 9:15 to 12:00. Bring your own packed lunch and we will provide FREE Tea/Coffee or soft drink.

Dress code: Sturdy shoes/boots, long trousers, long sleeve top and gardening gloves. If wet, please bring suitable waterproofs.

PLEASE NOTE: The course remains open - volunteers will not be pulling Balsam on the course.

What is it?

Himalayan Balsam is a pesky invasive plant that takes over large areas and stops our native plants from growing. The only way to stop it is to pull it out before it goes to seed.  

How can I help?

Join the team at Avro Golf Club for a satisfying balsam bash session!  It’s easy for anyone of any age to join in, it’s fun and will also really help the local environment.  To find out more about Himalayan Balsam please visit here.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 7

What is it?

Himalayan Balsam is a pesky invasive plant that takes over large areas and stops our native plants from growing. The only way to stop it is to pull it out before it goes to seed.

How can I help?

Join the Friends of the Carrs team for a big Balsam Bashing session!  It’s easy for anyone of any age to pull up, it’s fun and will also really help the local environment.  To find out more about Himalayan Balsam please visit here.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

For more information and to book a place please contact us here

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 7

What is it?

Himalayan Balsam is a pesky invasive plant that takes over large areas and stops our native plants from growing. The only way to stop it is to pull it out before it goes to seed.

How can I help?

Join the Friends of Bowdon Bollin team for a big Balsam Bashing session!  It’s easy for anyone of any age to pull up, it’s fun and will also really help the local environment.  To find out more about Himalayan Balsam please visit here.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

For more information and to book a place please contact us here

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 6

Join expert naturalists for a wild walk through Macclesfield Riverside Park.

We will be looking for and learning how to identify different plant, butterfly, insect and river species, as well as many others.  There will be different workshops taking place throughout the day, including pond dipping, river safari and bug hunting, as well as self-led activities and environmental art you can just drop in and do when you arrive.

The scheduled activities for the day are:

Places on the walks and activities will be booked on the day. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult. It is a first-come first-served booking system.

We hope to see you all there :)

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 5

What is it?

Himalayan Balsam is a pesky invasive plant that takes over large areas and stops our native plants from growing. The only way to stop it is to pull it out before it goes to seed.  

How can I help?

Join us for a big Balsam Bashing session! It’s easy for anyone of any age to join in, it’s fun and will also really help the local environment.  To find out more about Himalayan Balsam please visit here.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Refreshments and gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 4

Join us to help clean up Worsley Brook.

Bring waders/wellies. All equipment and refreshments provided.

Where: Worsley Brook, Salford, M30 8QQ

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 3

Join us for some more botany improvement works on the River Tame.

Bring waders/wellies. All equipment and refreshments provided.

Where: Reddish Vale Visitors Centre, SK5 7HE

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 3

Join us for some more botany improvement works on the River Irk.

Bring waders/wellies. All equipment and refreshments provided.

Where: Springwater Park, Whitefield, M45 7SN

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 2

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

Where: Meet at Woodbank Hall, Stockport, SK1 4JR

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 2

What is it?

Himalayan Balsam is a pesky invasive plant that takes over large areas and stops our native plants from growing. The only way to stop it is to pull it out before it goes to seed.  We will also be working to restore riverbanks where they have become eroded using natural methods and local willow.

How can I help?

Join the National Trust GAP Rangers team for a big working party session!  It’s easy for anyone of any age to join in, it’s fun and will also really help the local environment.  To find out more about Himalayan Balsam please visit here.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mersey Rivers Week - Day 1

Mersey Rivers Week kicks off with a botany improvement event on the River Irwell.

Bring waders/wellies. All equipment and refreshments provided.

Where: Ewood Bridge, Haslingden, Lancs, BB4 6LB

For more information, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

What is it?

Himalayan Balsam is a pesky invasive plant that takes over large areas and stops our native plants from growing. The only way to stop it is to pull it out before it goes to seed.  We will also be working to restore areas of riverbank that are eroding using natural methods and local willow.

How can I help?

Join the Green Academies Project and thier volunteers at the National Trust a big working party session!  It’s easy for anyone of any age to join in, it’s fun and will also really help the local environment.  To find out more about Himalayan Balsam please visit here.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and shoes with proper ankle support, and bring lunch.  Gloves will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.

For more information and to book a place please contact us here

Join us to carry out restoration of a riverbank in Hale with volunteers from Birkin Fly Fishers. We will be restoring areas of riverbank where they have eroded using willow and hazel rods, which also boosts the natural habitat as well as restoring areas where riverbank has been lost.

No experience is necessary and all equipment and PPE will be provided for you.  Please wear suitable outdoor clothing, boots with ankle support and bring lunch.

For more information please contact us here.

Join us to help Re-Green the Bollin.

During the day we will be harvesting native freshwater plants upstream on the Bollin and re-planting them in areas of the Bollin in the Carrs park where there are few green plants in the river.  This work will help support populations of fish and invertebrates by providing oxygen and shelter, as well as restoring areas where biodiversity has been lost.

No experience is necessary and all equipment and PPE will be provided for you. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing, boots with ankle support and bring lunch.

For more information please contact us here.

Join us to dig up a dangerous and aggressive invasive species, Giant Hogweed.

This work will help restore areas of riverbank and woodland where they have been taken over by Giant Hogweed.  By removing this terible invasive species, we are bolstering the natural habitat as well as restoring areas where biodiversity has been lost.

You can find out more about Giant Hogweed here.

No experience is necessary and all equipment and PPE will be provided for you. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing, boots with ankle support and bring lunch.

For more information please contact us here.

Join us to dig up a dangerous and aggressive invasive species, Giant Hogweed.

This work will help restore areas of riverbank and woodland where they have been taken over by Giant Hogweed.  By removing this terible invasive species, we are bolstering the natural habitat as well as restoring areas where biodiversity has been lost.

You can find out more about Giant Hogweed here.

No experience is necessary and all equipment and PPE will be provided for you. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing, boots with ankle support and bring lunch.

For more information please contact us here.

Join us to carry out restoration of habitats in Teggs Nose Country Park with Cheshire East Rangers.

We will be restoring areas of natural habitat where they have sucumbed to old and leggy gorse overtaking.  Cuttong down gorse and opening up these areas boosts native species, as well as restoring areas where biodiversity has been lost.

No experience is necessary and all equipment and PPE will be provided for you.  Please wear suitable outdoor clothing, shoes with sturdy ankle support and bring lunch.

For more information please contact us here

Join us to plant some trees along a riverbank in Ashley with volunteers from Birkin Fly Fishers.

We will be restoring areas of riverbank where they have eroded using native trees, which also boosts the natural habitat as well as restoring areas where riverbank has been lost.

No experience is necessary and all equipment and PPE will be provided for you.  Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and bring lunch.

For more information please contact us here.