York Scouts Himalayan Adventure

All Scouts promise to help other people so both young Scouts and adult volunteers make a difference in local communities all year long.

Heslington Scouts aged 10-18 have been doing their bit to improve the local environment by helping Fulford Parish Council to remove Himalayan Balsam, an invasive non-native weed, from Germany Beck in Fulford. On 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd May, around 15 members of the group got to work.

David Assistant Scout Leader said:

“I’m really proud of the effort that the Scouts put into helping out. Working with the Greener Cleaner group of Fulford Parish Council has been a pleasure and I hope to put on more sessions like these in the future where the Scouts can give back to their community by making it a nicer place for everyone to live. So far, we’ve helped plant wild flowers along Heslington Road, and cleared invasive weeds from Germany Beck to encourage biodiversity within our city.”  

“We walked around through the bushes along Germany beck collecting Himalayan balsam. Himalayan balsam is a very invasive plant and will spread its seeds up to 7 metres. We helped to clear a large area and we made a huge difference to stop the spread and invasion of this weed. 

What I like about the Fulford balsam bashing: I like discovering hidden areas and exploring the facts about Himalayan balsam. I also enjoyed the satisfaction of helping a community and the sound of the balsam when we split the stems. being with my friends, chatting and learning about the area and how we can help” - Henry, 11

“I enjoyed removing the weeds that shouldn’t be there because it helps the environment and my favourite part was when my friend slid over in the mud” - William, 12 

Like all Scout Groups, Heslington Scouts Group has seen an increase in demand from young people since the pandemic, so we are also appealing for new helpers to help us create more wonderful memories for our young people now.  If you can help, either regularly or just occasionally, please visit our website to find out more.  https://eborscouts.org.uk/become-a-volunteer/. 

The more adult volunteers we get, the more young people we can welcome into Scouting.