Matt Carter, the EA’s Upper Thames Waterways Manager

We need to get started on those flood defences

Time to re-energise the diversion plans that have stagnated

An oarsome relationship

I knew from a very young age that I loved the water. It didn’t matter whether it was pottering about in a small rowing dinghy on the Thames at Twickenham where I was born or flinging myself through breaking waves on the beach at Holland on Sea in Essex where we used to stay with my uncle and aunt most summers – I just loved the water.

Invasion of the water weeds

Invaders from foreign lands have generally not proved to be much of a problem for us British since the arrival of William the Conqueror more than 1,000 years ago.