Water, water everywhere

We usually do Barkmatic photoshoots on the beach at Whitstable in Kent, keeping our fingers crossed for rain and dark clouds, and the terrible British weather that sets off our bright coloured dachshund coats so nicely.  Heavy rain during photoshoots is not so great for our photographer, who has to lie for hours on the wet sand, but that’s why he’s our hero.

This time, we decided to explore the Thames foreshore at low tide for our newest dog coat. We already knew Rotherhithe - a hidden gem in London - from our trips to the Scandinavian Christmas Market, which takes place on Albion street between the Finnish and Norwegian Churches in Rotherhithe. From Rotherhithe station it’s a couple of minutes walk to the Thames, the wonderful Brunel Museum, the 400 year old Mayflower Pub, and a fascinating walking route along the Thames Path in both directions. 

Access to the Thames foreshore

The foreshore on any river is the part of a shore between high- and low-water marks, and at certain points of the Thames in London this can be surprisingly wide. But before you even think about going onto the Thames foreshore, you’ll need to check the Port of London Authority tide tables to find low tide times where you want to go, and read their essential notes on safety.  Check too to see precisely what you are allowed to do on the Thames foreshore, which is private property.

We picked a day where there was a low tide at Rotherhithe at 8.45 in the morning, giving us two or three hours to safely use the foreshore before the tide rose. The River Thames Society publishes the most comprehensive guide to public access to the Thames foreshore by borough, telling you which access points are locked or unsafe.  We prepared carefully, and wore sensible clothes and shoes, knowing that there are hazards underfoot everywhere. 

London’s history laid out in the mud

The foreshore was wide and deserted, except for a group of three people doing T’ai Chi by the waters edge. A constant stream of runners passed by above us along the Thames Path. Of course we dreamt of living by the riverside. By the time you get to Rotherhithe the Thames is quite wide, and the wharves of Wapping HIgh Street opposite seemed a long way off.  With the 1620 mooring point of the Pilgrim Fathers Mayflower ship just metres away, and dozens of centuries old broken stems of clay pipes underfoot, you can close your eyes and imagine London when the Thames was the main thoroughfare and place of trade. 

Mudlarking is all about searching the foreshore for treasures left behind by the tides.  Serious mudlarkers who dig and use search equipment must be registered, but everyone else can enjoy looking at the surface finds so long as nothing is taken away.  As well as clay pipe stems, we found oyster shells, bones, rounded bricks, and a precise size-graded array of charcoal pieces on the Rotherhithe foreshore. 

Modeling in the mud

Sunny, our standard dachshund, knows what is expected of him during photoshoots by now.  The trick is to get the work done before he realises there are nibbly fishy things to eat on the beach or foreshore. Once he goes into hunting mode his head stays down.  Our photographer Andy did the necessary, and lay down on the foreshore to get the right perspective.  Who knew that underneath the pebbles was an invisible layer of pale grey sticky mud? Thanks Andy, you’re a trooper!  

In fact by the time we had finished the photoshoot we were all covered in mud.  Sunny’s feet and legs were encrusted, and the dog coats we had being photographing were sticky piles sealed in plastic bags.  Nothing that a good machine wash won’t get out though!  A pint on the deck over the river at The Mayflower Pub was the perfect finish to a morning on the foreshore.

Happy mudlarking!