I went out on a walk yesterday, which took me through Hambleden village (just outside Henley on Thames) and was very surprised to see the (chalk stream) Hambleden/Hamble Brook running at full flow. Always a hit and miss affair (can remain dry for a year or more) as it is fed by groundwater in the underlying chalk, and with this current dry spell I expected it to remain dry this year, but there it was, just racing along!
I walked a fair length of it and noticed some the adjacent grasslands were a really bright green, but not over its whole length, which means either the main stream leaches into these areas or separate underground streams feed them? The grass in these areas was in fine fettle, a situation not missed by the cows who roam the field!
Such a pity the water flow is not constant as it would make a very pretty trout stream and I could well see the likes of Sherringham, who loved his small stream fishing, making hay along its length......
Give it a few weeks and it will be dry again, I expect.....................................
As for rain; Don't ask!!!