Swan Upping on the River Thames

This year’s annual census of the swan population on the Thames took place in record temperatures. The colourful and unique ceremony is among the oldest of Royal traditions and is carried out in traditional boats and costumes, dating back to medieval times.

Read about this year’s events, and learn more about the Royal tradition of Swan Upping.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/swanupping/

Hottest Day in England

July 19 2006 was hottest July day in England ever, with a temperature of 36.3C (97.3F) recorded at Charlwood in Surrey, near Gatwick Airport. The temperature, recorded by the Met Office at 1432 BST, beat the previous record from July 1911 when temperatures reached 36C (96.8F) in Epsom, Surrey.

Schools across England have been forced to close early because of “unbearable” heat.

Gritting lorries have been sent out to spread crushed rock dust on melting tar to create non-stick road surfaces.

The previous hottest July day was in 1911, when Epsom, Surrey, reached 36C. The highest UK temperature recorded was 38.5C (101.3F) in Faversham, Kent, on August 10, 2003.

River Thames begins to dry up as drought takes hold

Drought in England
England is presently experiencing a drought. The current hot dry weather has led to a drop in river flows, reservoirs and groundwater levels.

Last month, just 0.6in of rain fell in the London area – just 27 per cent of the average. South-east England has received just over a third of average rainfall. Eastern England has been dry with just 9 mm (19% of average) of rain falling so far in July. South-west England have received over 40 per cent of the monthly average.

Eight water companies companies across south-east England have a full hosepipe and sprinkler ban in place. Nearly 13 million people must not use a hosepipe to wash their cars or water their gardens.

Thames Water’s reservoirs that supply London have remained at about 90 per cent full. A third of all rivers in England and Wales having lower than average levels of water.

The River Thames
A lawyer who is attempting to swim the length of the Thames said there was not enough water to begin at its source. He had to run 20 miles before finding water deep enough to swim in.
This is very different from April 2006 when we took photos of the Thames from its source to sea.

The amount of water flowing over Teddington Weir has also dropped dramatically. The daily torrent of 178million gallons falling to just 44million gallons in times of drought.

When should we use the word British?

The following is an email we received today. We invite you to leave your comments.

Dear Sir,
I love the website as it is NOT pc but allows everyone to have their say. However I do take exception to the confusion caused to children and outsiders by insisting on the misuse of the word ‘British’. It is NOT interchangeable with English as seems to be suggested.
There is no such nationality as British, it is simply a flag of convenience like the tired old colonial flag (union jack). Britain is a complex constitutional and political construct designed to weld the disparate and often antagonistic nations of England, Scotland, Wales and N, Ireland into unit to further the interests of Empire after the ‘Act Of Union in 1707’. There never was a British nation. In fact the meaning is further made meaningless post 1997 devolution when Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland broke away from the union to create their own parliaments and assemblies.