Rewilding project aims to give Thames its flood plain back

Flooding scheme on Arcadian stretch of river hopes to show water and people can co-exist in harmony Just a few minutes from Richmond station, the River Thames flows past a parade of royal palaces, stately homes and well-groomed parks. Known as the Arcadian Thames, or London's countryside, this is where the capital begins to transform into the wilderness beyond it.But this is a wilderness that has been tamed and controlled over time, much like the rest of the river. To help boats moving along it and to protect riverside communities from flooding, much of the Thames has been straightened and canalised - the natural flood plain either side has been built over and water has been penned in with flood defences. Continue reading...