🌿 Three Chances to Help Protect Our Rivers This Week!
We’re back out tackling Himalayan balsam, and we’d love you to join us!
Whether you’re a regular volunteer or it’s your first time, everyone is welcome. No experience is needed, and all equipment is provided.
📅 Upcoming Events
🌱 Thursday 6th August (Morning)
📍 Ardtrasna
🕤 Meet at ATU Sligo at 9:30am, or Jordan’s Bar Car Park at 10:00am.
Sign up @ – Ardtrasna Balsam Bash
🌱 Thursday 6th August (Evening)
📍 Rathcormac
🕡 Meet at ATU Sligo at 6:30pm.
Sign up @ – Rathcormac Balsam Bash
🌱 Sunday 9th August
📍 Diffreen River, near Glencar
🕤 Meet at ATU Sligo at 9:30am.
Sign up @ – Diffreen Balsam Bash
⚠️ Please note that the exact location for Sunday’s event may change depending on site conditions, so please register via Eventbrite to receive the latest updates.
👢 What to bring:
• Sturdy footwear or wellington boots
• Long sleeves and long trousers
• Clothing suitable for the weather
• Waterproofs if rain is forecast
• Sun cream, a hat and plenty of water if it’s warm
☕ As always, we’ll have hot and cold drinks and plenty of biscuits waiting for everyone!
🌧️ Weather Update
The forecast isn’t looking particularly kind this week, so please keep an eye on our Eventbrite pages and your emails for any updates, changes to meeting arrangements or, if necessary, cancellations.
Apologies in advance if plans have to change, but the safety of our volunteers always comes first.Every balsam plant removed helps our native wildlife thrive and protects our rivers from erosion. We’d love to see you there!
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Up Coming Himalayan Balsam Events
Hi everyone,
Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Rathcormac on Saturday.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and thanks to everyone’s hard work, we removed an estimated 5,000–7,000 Himalayan Balsam plants from the site. It’s a fantastic achievement and another big step towards bringing this infestation under control.
There is still plenty more to do in Rathcormac over the coming weeks, but every plant removed before it sets seed makes a real difference to our rivers, wildlife and native habitats. We’ll most likely be returning to the site on alternative weeks until we’ve got the area under control.
For anyone who couldn’t make it, don’t worry—we’ve got plenty more opportunities to get involved over the coming weeks!
Upcoming Events
Wednesday 15th July – Ballindoon, Lough Arrow (Location for those travelling direct – https://maps.app.goo.gl/(Meet at ATU Sligo at 9:15am to carpool)
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/
Thursday 16th July – Cloonagh Evening Session (6:30pm–9:00pm). Couple of small sites along roadsides, We will provide Hi Vis Jackets.(Meet at ATU Sligo at 6:30pm to carpool)
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/
Saturday 18th July – Glencar (10:00am–2:00pm)(Meet at ATU Sligo at 10:00am to carpool)
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/
No experience necessary All equipment and training provided Tea, coffee, refreshments and a few treats included.Please register through Eventbrite so we know how many volunteers to expect and can plan transport and refreshments.
Thank you once again.
The Sligo Rivers Trust Team
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Rathcormac Balsam Bash Update.
The Rathcormac Balsam Bash, held recently in the field next to Rathcormac Church Graveyard, was the begiining of a concerted effort to eradicate Himalayan Balsam from that area.
Far more people came to join us than were anticipated, with nearly two dozen people ‘balsam bashing’ and chatting away in the warm sunshine. Another event in that area is in the planning stage and will be notified soon.
If you live nearby, there is a cluster of blooming balsam behind the bottom of the graveyard wall, which requires urgent attention. A map from the AIS Action Group Team Leader shows where the infestations are –
Plus a few photos from the day –
If you would like to know more, or get involved please get in touch with the SBCRT CLG Secretary at – sligobayriverstrust@gmail.com
Or complete and return the Volunteer Sign up sheet further down this page.
You can also find the sign up form in a link from the ‘About Us’ page.
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Himalayan Balsam Bashing Event
Join us on the 23rd June for the Rathcormac Balsam Bash, part of Invasive Species Week 2026, as we tackle one of Ireland’s most widespread invasive plants – Himalayan Balsam.
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AMERICAN SKUNK CABBAGE
Yesterday, Tuesday 09th June, a practice session took place in Ballinlig, to begin the eradication of American Skunk Cabbage in that area.
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Please find below a link to an article which we hope will soon be published in the local papers.
It is in thanks to everyone who made the inaugural AIS Action Day so successful.
Invasives Volunteer sign-up sheet
Thank you all for attending and contributing to Saturday’s Invasive Species Action Day. Your time, input, and enthusiasm were greatly appreciated and helped make the day both productive and engaging.
A particular thank you goes to the organisers of the morning session at ATU Sligo and all our presenters for sharing their expertise, experience, and advice. The quality of the presentations and discussions, added real value to the event, and we are very grateful for the time and effort involved.
As mentioned on the day, there is a link to the volunteer form for anyone who may have missed it or would still like to get involved.
We would welcome any support, whether through volunteering, monitoring, field studies, practical removal work, or helping spread awareness of the project.
The form can be emailed back to –
martin@sligobaycatchmentriverstrust.ie
For the attention of the Project Development Officer.
Our planned removal of American Skunk Cabbage at Ballinlig has been delayed a little due to the necessary purchase of suitable equipment and further planning.
An update will be shared with you all very soon.
Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to working with many of you moving forward.
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This Saturday, 09th May 2026, there will be an information and training day on the removal of Himalayan Balsam.
You are invited to attend the first event for the volunteer project organised by the Himalayan Balsam Action Group on Saturday 09th May in Sligo ATU.
The brochure below describes this project which is being carried out under the umbrella of the Sligo Bay Catchment River Trust CLG.
The purpose of this event is to familiarise ecologists and serious amateur naturalists about
· The extent of occurrence of Himalayan Balsam, American Skunk-cabbage and Giant-rhubarb (Gunnera) in Sligo and North Leitrim
· How to identify these alien invasive plants
· Experience gained using volunteers for eradication at other locations
· Volunteer organisation in Sligo
· Biosecurity related to this volunteer work
This indoor event will last about 1.5 hours and will end with light refreshments, tea and coffee (please bring your own mug).
Please remember to wear suitable waterproof outdoor clothing (with long sleeves) and hiking type boots, as it will be immediately followed by 3‑4 hours of field visits near Cloonagh, which we also hope you will be able to participate in.
This will provide the opportunity to identify the plants in the field and to see and practice manual eradication techniques unique to each species.
Please keep 09th May free for this event.
Final details regarding the location and start time (tentatively 10.30am) will be confirmed soon.
In the meantime we would greatly appreciate if you could indicate your intention to attend by following the link: invasive-spp-action-day
Thank you. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Hot off the press is the new ‘Himalayan Balsam Action Group’s’ Brochure.
Many thanks to Noel and Martin, for it’s production, with support from Ruth Hanniffy (Sligo Biodiversity Officer) and Chantel Carr (NBDC).
In the Spring of 2026, the Sligo Bay Catchment River Trust CLG is joining forces with Sligo Co Co Biodiversity Officer, Ruth Hanniffy and Chantel Carr of the National Biodiversity Centre of Ireland.
Invasive Alien Species in Ireland The National Biodiversity Data Centre
With the help of a local naturalist, we will be developing an Action Plan to eradicate one Alien Invasive Species from around our waterbodies. This is the highly invasive Himalayan Balsam, a beautiful plant, but out of control in many places throughout Co Sligo and beyond. Ballisodare Fishing Club and others are also coming onboard. More information on this campaign will follow, including details of training ahead of the planned Balsam Bashing Events.