Elmbridge River Secrets –
From Wey and Mole Ecologies to Thames Mudlarking Adventures.
Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem (45 mins)
Recounting over 2,000 years of London history through the flotsam and jetsam of everyday objects washed-up on the river’s shore, Lara Maiklem conjures an intimate insight into the world of mudlarking, the lives of long-gone Londoners from all walks of life, and the Thames itself.
Lara Maiklem is a licensed mudlark with over 20 years of experience searching the Thames. Her first book, Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames was published by Bloomsbury in 2019. An instant Sunday Times Bestseller and Radio 4 Book of the Week it also won the Indie Award for Non-Fiction 2020. She was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 2023, for her work in bringing the Thames and its treasures to public attention.
The Rivers Mole and Wey: Surrey's Vital Nature Highways by Dr Lewis Campbell (30 mins)
The Mole and the Wey wind through some of Surrey's most familiar landscapes, yet most people have little idea of the rich ecosystems these rivers support. In this talk, Dr Lewis Campbell takes us beneath the surface to explore the ecology of these two chalk and clay rivers, from the fish, invertebrates, and plants that call them home, to the water voles, kingfishers, and other wildlife that depend on them. Drawing on his work at South East Rivers Trust, Lewis will touch on the character of Surrey’s two largest rivers, the pressures they face, and what's being done to protect and restore them for future generations.
Dr Lewis Campbell is a freshwater ecologist and Catchment Manager at South East Rivers Trust, with over 15 years' experience restoring rivers across the UK and USA. His specialisms are working with a wide range of stakeholders to effect positive change for rivers and using DNA-based techniques to monitor rare and elusive wildlife.
No interval between the two talks