An alien threat to lakes

ONCE the crowds have gone as summer gives way to autumn, I always spend time in the Lake District.

One of my favourite birdwatching areas is at Rydal Water, which is situated on the main road between Ambleside and Grasmere.

As I reached the lake shore the sun was shining, which is something of a surprise in 2004 when pleasant days have been hard to find.

Rydal Water was loved by Wordsworth who lived at nearby Rydal Mount, one of his favourite houses. He loved his wildlife and so did his sister, Dorothy, who wrote lots of good prose in her diary.

I followed in their footsteps but then came a surprise - and not a pleasant one.

Growing on the banks of the River Rothay, which runs out of Rydal, I found Japanese knotweed. It is already beginning to smother the other vegetation and this is a real worry.

Japanese knotweed was introduced as a garden plant in Victorian times. It has since spread throughout Britain. Its white flowers obviously produce seeds but its deep roots spread and the huge leaves shade many of our native plants.

In many parts of Britain, including East Lancashire, unsuccessful attempts have been made to control or even kill off the knotweed but it does seem to be a losing battle.

It would be a great shame if the knotweed starts to dominate one of our most beautiful little lakes.

Plant that offers some sweet relief

Meadowsweet, which is also known as Queen of the Meadows, is found in damp areas and its flowering period can last from July well into autumn.

The tiny white flowers grow in clusters and have a very sweet smell.

They have been used as a flavouring for drinks, including mead, popular with the Celtic tribes of the ancient Britons.

The plant also contains salicylic acid, which we know better as aspirin. It was therefore used in the treatment of headaches and pain relief.

The leaves vary considerably in size and a close look at the tiny flowers shows the plant is a member of the rose family.

The old herbalists loved meadowsweet because it is so common and found in all damp areas throughout Britain.