Working on a variety of projects for the River Crane environment
The Friends of the River Crane Environment operate in the lower Crane Valley in Richmond and Hounslow. We work to improve local spaces along the lower Crane and Lower DNR corridors in collaboration with Richmond and Hounslow councils, the Crane Valley Partnership and other stakeholders. We are a community based organisation and work to involve local people in everything that we do to make the green spaces even greener and enjoyable to use!9 GoodGymers have supported Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE) with 2 tasks.
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Stop Himalayan around and pick that balsam
Saturday 26th July
Written by Ken MacKenzie
Five Goodgymers went on a trek along the River Crane to tackle Himalayan balsam for the Friends of the River Crane (FORCE). On a humid summer day we dawned our long sleeves and trouser to pick the invasive balsam out from sky high nettles and brambles. It was prickly business. It seems endless but we managed to clear a large section along the Crane and go home to lick our wounds.
Up to our waist in it!
Monday 7th July
Written by Liz (She/her)
Seven GoodGymers came out on Monday to work on the River Crane. We donned our chest waders and ventured into the mirth not knowing how deep it would be. The rain earlier in the day had raised the River levels considerably but Ken (standing on the bank) assured us that it would only be up to our waists! In we went like moths to a flame…. We were here to manage Himalayan balsam for FORCE (Friends of River Crane) a global invasive species that chokes out natives. We saw them across the river in the reeds and got to work pulling out the annual before it set seed. Ken told us we are part of a experiment to use a biological control in time using a specific rust that infects the balsam but first we needed to dig out some to get the numbers down. And to that we had a great time yanking out the weeds in our waders!