Volunteer Opportunity: South Queich Balsam Bash

Wed 10th Jun 2026 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM. Meeting Point: Loch Leven NNR car park, KY13 8UF.

Join the Leven Catchment Collective team and NatureScot volunteers for a day of tackling Himalayan Balsam along the South Queich, a river within the Leven catchment. Himalayan Balsam is an invasive non-native plant that spreads rapidly along rivers and waterways, outcompeting native vegetation and increasing erosion risk. During the day, you will learn more about the impacts of invasive species, how Himalayan Balsam can be managed, and gain hands-on experience helping to remove it and prevent further spread.

This is a great opportunity to contribute to practical nature restoration in the Leven catchment, spend time outdoors, and meet like-minded people interested in caring for local landscapes.

This event is also taking place as part of Great Big Green Week (6 to 14 June 2026), a national celebration of community action for nature and climate. This year’s theme, “Together for Good”, highlights the positive change that can happen when communities come together to take practical local action.

Practical Information 

• Lunch & Snacks: Lunch & snacks will be provided. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know in the form when booking the tickets. 
• What to Bring: Please wear long sleeves and trousers bring plenty of drinking water and any additional snacks you might need to keep you going. Waterproofs, suncream and midge repellent are recommended too, to be prepared for everything! We can provide gloves, but if you have your own gardening gloves you are welcome to bring these too.
• Health & Safety: We will give a health and safety briefing before the task, with a risk assessment available to review and sign, before the activity commences.

Overview of the Day

• 9.30-10am: Meet at Loch Leven NatureScot Nature Reserve where we will be departing from to reach the balsam bash sites on the South Queich
• 10-10.15am: Introduction to Himalayan Balsam, and it’s ecological as well as wider impacts
• 10.15-12am: Balsam Bashing
• 12-12.45: Lunch Break
• 12.45-2pm: Balsam Bashing & End-Of-Session Reflections
• 2pm: Depart back towards Loch Leven NNR

Attendance is free – but please register attendance. This allows us to plan for car spaces when transporting to and from the balsam bash sites and ensures we can feed you your lunch!

If you have any questions, please get in touch by email at hello@forthriverstrust.org.