The River Crane flows into the Thames at Isleworth next to Richmond Lock. You have to walk along the Thames at low tide through squelchy mud and turn up into the mouth which forms a cascade of fast-flowing water over steeply stepped concrete.
On day 1, wondering how I was going to get up the slightly treacherous looking steps and not wishing to be washed out to sea on my first attempt, I walked along the far bank and lowered myself onto the top step. The water was waist deep and I hoped my waders would come up high enough. They did.
I am very grateful to be borrowing waders from a friend. With steel reinforced soles, they feel like you have weights attached to your ankles, but the river is very deep in places and the riverbed is uneven, with large, slippery boulders that you do not see until you are nearly falling over them. The heavy waders kept me dry and helped keep my feet on the ground!
I took way too much with me: bucket, trowel, large garden spade, gardening gloves, sketchbook, art materials, water bottle, phone, credit cards(?!) and large stick to help keep upright. Next time it’s going to be phone, sketchbook, large stick.
The first thing you notice is how high the manmade walls are. At low tide the river is ankle to knee deep but waist deep in places. But it has 3, 4 or 5 metre high banks to contain the tide when it comes in.
Many of the marginal plants were hanging upside down over the edge, having been almost washed away but gripping on for dear life. Grey from the river mud.
I came across this small plant growing close to the water’s edge. I was struck by how arbitrary its existence was: sure to be submerged at high tide, it was rooted in soft mud, half its roots exposed and washed by the river. I decided it would be my first drawing – and took it back to my studio. I am not sure what it is – Google Lens suggests it could be false oxlip, a hybrid of cowslip and primrose.
I thought I only had about an hour at low tide so made my expedition quick – I have discovered since I have about a 4 hour window at least. Happy days!
