As clear as mud

FOR centuries, people have combed the banks of the Thames, picking through the stony foreshore whenever the tide permits it, searching for treasure. Once, mudlarks were among London’s poorest inhabitants, sifting through piles of washed-up waste in the hope of finding something to sell. Today, London still has a thriving community of mudlarks, but those who roam the riverside are more likely to be archaeologists, history-lovers or people seeking a respite from the bustle of the capital.

One of the river’s more frequent visitors is Lara Maiklem, who has been mudlarking for nearly 20 years, exploring the length of the tidal Thames from Teddington right out to the mouth of the estuary. Having grown up