Thames Young Mariners changes

I took a similar picture to this one in 2007 and I was interested to note the changes; the floating quay is larger, the embankment in the centre has been cleared of vegetation and there are new railings at the lock. There is also a lot more vegetation on the left side which has recovered from the major clearance done in 2009.

Garden boat

This garden boat at TYM looks much neglected, which is a shame as the one at the bottom of Richmond Hill shows just how effective using a boat as a planter can be.

Inlet

This is the section of TYM that lies immediately next to the towpath, you can see several people on the path immediately above the lock just to the right of the centre of the photo.

Lake at Thames Young Mariners

The whole point of TYM is that it has a lake and this is the view along it from the main slipway towards Riverside Drive. The greenery on the unused parts of the site, on the left and at the far end, is an important part of the continuity of Ham Lands and the lake itself is another precious habitat.

Dragon

This is one of the first things you see when entering the Thames Young Mariners site. It is a simple building used for storage made something special by the dragon guarding it.

Tents

The recent consultation on a proposed development at TYM gave me the first opportunity to go into the site that I had had for many years and of course I took a few photos. 

These tents were not there the last time that I was in there either. They are in the south-west corner of the site and that is an adventure playground in the foreground on the left.

Taking the long view

It seems like a long time ago now (it was 2009) that Friends of Ham Lands was first formed in response to the whole-scale clearance of part of Ham Lands sitting within the Thames Young Mariners site. Since then the land has been left to do its own thing and the area has been quietly reclaimed by shrubs and trees.

A clear view of Thames Young Mariners

I have taken several photos of Thames Young Mariners over the years but not one as clear as this before. Often the scrub in the foreground obstructs part of the view and moored boats some of the rest. While I like the boats it was nice to get a clear view of the pontoon for a change.

New railings at Thames Young Mariners

I do not walk past Thames Young Mariners that often as I prefer to plough through the middle of Ham Lands pretending that I am in the countryside well away from people and buildings.

But I do take the long walk from Teddington Lock to Ham House along the towpath from time to time just to see if anything has changed. And it has.

There is a new fence by Thames Young Mariners. It's simple and I like it.

Keeping an eye on Thames Young Mariners

It is a few years now since the grounds at Thames Young Mariners were stripped of their trees and anything else that dared to grow on the land. Every time I walk along the towpath I have a good look at the land to see how well it is recovering. Progress is being made but it will be many a year before there are mature trees there again, and that assumes that they are allowed to do so.

Fat heron

Keeping a watchful eye on the fish swimming in the lake at Thames Young Mariners is a statuesque heron who needs feeding, like we all do, to fight the deep chill of this winter.

Solitary gull

A solitary gull perches above the lock at Thames Young Mariners and intelligently turns its back on the havoc wrecked on the north bank of the lake.

Land clearance at Thames Young Mariners

An otherwise enjoyable walk in an around Ham Lands was rather ruined by the discovery of major works at Thames Young Mariners that have cleared a large area of trees and bushes.



The cleared area is a brown scar on the edge of the lake where trees used to be.



The extent of the clearance can be seen through this charming but wonky gate. The gate used to be hidden too but part of Ham Lands was cleared to make an entrance to the site.



The main entrance makes a very depressing view with large mature trees cut down and surrounded by destruction. This is not a pretty sight.

Lake at Thames Young Mariners

This is an unusual view of the lake at Thames Young Mariners looking along the length of the lake towards the boathouses by the Thames. I suspect that the gap in the fence that I used to get here was created by locals keen on fishing but curious photographers find it useful too.

Lake at Thames Young Mariners

This is view from the tow path of the north-west corner of the lake at Thames Young Mariners where a shallow bank attracts birds.

Lock at Thames Young Mariners

The lock gates at Thames Young Mariners remove the impact of the tide on the boating lake while also allowing access to the Thames, not that I have ever seen the gates open for this.

Lake

There is a path, of sorts, that skirts the north side of Thames Young Mariners and from this path you get glimpses of the lake through the chain-link fence.

Thames Young Mariners

Hidden in the wilds of Ham Lands is the Thames Young Mariners sailing centre. This photo was taken from the towpath which is the only place that you can see it from. TYM splits Ham Lands into two parts and to get round it you either have to go on the river path or up to Riverside Drive.