Connect with our team
Whether its planned works or emergency response, our team is on hand to deliver fast, reliable water storage solutions.
Recently, a team of volunteers from Selwood and Siltbuster invited key water sector partners - JN Bentley, VolkerStevin, and United Utilities - to take part in a hands-on 'Balsam Bashing' session at Bowland Country Park in Preston.
Balsam bashing is the physical removal of invasive Himalayan Balsam from riverbanks. The session was organised alongside local environmental NGO the Ribble Rivers Trust as part of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) Week - an annual UK awareness campaign that encourages businesses, communities, and volunteers to take action against invasive species that threaten native wildlife and habitats.
Originally introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in 1839, Himalayan Balsam has become a widespread issue along British riverbanks. It outcompetes native flora due to its rapid growth and 'explosive' seed pods, which can propel seeds up to 7 metres from the parent plant. Because Himalayan Balsam has a shallow root system and dies back completely each winter, it leaves riverbanks exposed and highly vulnerable to severe erosion, particularly during heavy rainfall.
Removing Himalayan Balsam helps restore long-term river health by allowing native vegetation to re-establish. These native species form deeper, stronger root systems that stabilise riverbanks and prevent erosion. In turn, this reduces the volume of sediment entering watercourses, improving raw water quality and supporting healthier, more resilient aquatic ecosystems.
This targeted volunteering initiative provided clear environmental, social, and governance (ESG) benefits:
Environmental: Supports local biodiversity recovery and significantly improves habitat quality along vulnerable river corridors.
Social: Encourages active volunteering, community involvement, and collaborative working with key industry stakeholders.
Governance: Demonstrates proactive environmental stewardship and a commitment to responsible catchment management, directly aligning operational practices with long-term sustainability and regulatory goals.
It was a rewarding day for everyone involved. While the physical work was demanding, the event offered a fantastic opportunity to connect face-to-face with industry peers and partners while making a tangible contribution to protecting and restoring our natural water systems.
Henry Badman, ESG Manager at The Workdry Group, said:
This is exactly the type of activity we envisaged when we introduced our new Volunteering Programme earlier in the year. A chance to get away from the desk to make a positive impact in our local community, but also an opportunity to spend a day with our partners. It's great to see our teams collaborating to make the most of their volunteering days and deliver meaningful social value.