Parsonage Bridge to Nightingale Bridge

At this time of year balsam is pushing up above the nettles and producing its distinctive pink flowers making it easier to spot. We started just upstream of Parsonage Bridge where there was a small clump of very tall balsam growing.

We then worked our way through Bridge House, clearing balsam on both sides of the river. The steep banks make access a bit difficult but with some of us on the bank and some working from the river bed we were able to clear this area, stopping only to admire the large purple loosestrife happily growing on a mudbank without competition from balsam.

Purple loosestrife on a mudbank

Led by the intrepid Andrew, we crossed the river to the corner of Hilly Fields where we quickly cleared a largish clump of balsam.

We then headed across the field to Nightingale's Bridge clearing the odd balsam growing on the field edge and one clump in amongst the bushes on the river bank. Just upstream from Nightingale's Bridge the bank is quite steep but with a bit of care on the bank and the river bed we were also able to clear this area.

There were a few plants just downstream from Nightingale's Bridge which we cleared before making our way back, clearing a few more plants which had escaped our attention earlier. We also spotted dozens of red soldier beetles on the hogweed plants along the field edge.