Until yesterday (2nd August 2025 and according to the CFG website – https://www.cumbriabotany.co.uk/ ), only two plant species, Impatiens parviflora and Lysimachia vulgaris, had ever been recorded in SD3999.
It’s understandable, as despite the square being largely dominated by the shoreline of Lake Windermere, there’s no actual public access, which makes botanical recording a real challenge. So I took to the water, paddling over from Rayrigg Car Park, and managed to record 64 species along the shoreline and the short navigable stretch of the Troutbeck.
The sheer extent of Himalayan Balsam was incredibly disheartening. However, there were some real highlights, most notably Saw-wort. Other notable finds included Ragged Robin, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Sneezewort, Betony, both Enchanter’s-nightshade and Upland Enchanter’s-nightshade, Marsh Woundwort, and plenty of Purple-loosestrife.
Saw-Wort
The sheer extent of Himalayan Balsam was incredibly disheartening!
Marsh Woundwort (c) Andrew P. Chick
Andrew Chick Ecology 
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