Janice Brabban has been back in touch after she first contacted me looking for consistent advice on the control of the invasive species Himalayan Balsam that had found its way on to her land.
She says: “What a wealth of information your column has produced re. the Himalayan Balsam. I am so pleased I got in touch.”
She was delighted that there were contributions from fishermen and bee-keepers: “As much as I like honey I wouldn’t go for the Balsam type, it would seem unpatriotic!”
She was also very impressed with the advice from Chloe Lawrence, Invasive Species Project Manager at Tees Rivers Trust: “Really good that they have got other groups involved. I think that’s what’s needed and maybe the £3m grant means more publicity for Himalayan Balsam…It was interesting that if plants are removed from site, it is considered controlled waste and needs a licence. I will have to remember that – and how would that tie in with the advice from Darlington Borough Council to put it in a garden skip? But yes – burning on a woodland site, well, you just wouldn’t do it!… Some of the verges round here now seem to have been cut right back to hedge, so that should help. Thanks again for mentioning HB in your column!”
Mick Garratt also contacted me to share his experiences. “Last winter, the Tees Rivers Trust was actively seeking local volunteers to help survey and remove Himalayan Balsam along the River Leven. Unfortunately, I was away when the training was scheduled, and the opportunities didn’t happen after I returned…However, I did record sightings on the INNS Mapper app, as they had requested (INNS = invasive non-native species).
“I also know of a property-owner in Yarm along the riverbank who has chosen not to remove the plant because they think it looks pretty!”
That is one of the drawbacks. Its prettiness means people do not appreciate the damage it is doing to our riverbanks and the flora and fauna that surrounds them. They may also be mistaking them for similar-looking more welcome plants, such as Rosebay Willowherb and Purple Loosetrife, which have similar leaves and flowers.
On another note, I’m delighted when people find my old columns which trigger memories prompting them to get in touch. Regular reader Les Myers wrote me a message after reading some of my archive pieces (which can be found at www.countrymansdaughter.com). He came across one from February 2018, published following the death of well-known Daleswoman Hannah Hauxwell.
Les wrote: “I met Hannah Hauxwell when she must have been near the end of her life. She lived in a tiny cottage in Cotherstone next to the Red Lion pub. I was a meter reader.”
One day, Les had gone inside her house to take her readings. “She was a person who never threw anything away if she thought it would come in useful. She must have had 100 Utterly Butterly tubs piled up, as well of lots of other junk. She wore a pair of trousers with at least six patches on them.”
Hannah was from that ‘Make Do and Mend’ generation where lack of money and scarcity of materials, alongside a very stoic attitude, meant that rather than throw anything away, you fixed things that were broken, and darned or patched worn out clothes. In her day, these skills were essential for survival and so everyone learned them, bar of course the most wealthy who could afford to employ help.
The world is recognising the value of second-hand clothes, and it is now a badge of honour to declare your outfit is made up of charity shop finds. I’m due to attend a wedding in Spain soon and need several outfits. With the cost of the flights and hotel, I can’t justify spending even more money on new clothes. Therefore I’ve been glued to Vinted (the online platform that allows people to buy and sell unwanted clothing). I’ve got some fantastic bargains, unworn items at a fraction of the cost of new.
The downside is that it is addictive, and I am am not sure I have actually saved any money, for hanging on the back of my bedroom door now are several ‘new to me’ dresses that don’t even fit.
I will have to sell them on Vinted!
Do you have opinions, memories or ideas to share with me? Get in touch with me using the ‘Contact’ button on the top right.
This column appeared in the Darlington & Stockton Times on Friday 2nd Oct and the Ryedale Gazette and Herald on Wednesday 30th September 2026
