Swan Upping begins in England today. The Crown owns all unmarked swans residing in English open waters, and during July and August a group of Swan Uppers, wearing uniforms and flying flags, row along the River Thames and count them. One year while lunching at The Ferry Inn, a riverside pub in Cookham, many of the boats pulled in for refreshments. You can read more about the tradition, which has continued since the 12th century, here.
Download a children's brochure from the www.royal.gov.uk site.
