One GoodGymer (me!) went to the Habitats and Heritage River Thames Drawoff clean-up.

This is a long running project that happens every November when the Port of London opens up Richmond Half Lock for maintenance in November. Richmond Lock normally closes the sluice gates 2 hours after high tide to keep water back and make the River Thames navigatable between Richmond and Teddington Locks at low tide. In November they carry maintenance out in the sluice gates so they are left open. So at low tide the river empties exposing huge sections of the River Thames foreshore that is normally several metres under water even at low tide. So on went the wellies and into the mud to look for treasure. In no time I had filled a bin bag full of old nails, screws, plastic and broken glass. I also saw the old Tudor wooden posts that are only visible during drawoff that were once the dock to Richmond Palace for the likes of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. Just some sticks in the mud. Come out next year as this is a fun and interesting project.