A trip back to the maps commissioned by Caught by the River and in this case one of my favourite linocuts of the series. The subject is the River Wandle in South West London, a short river that flows into the tidal River Thames at Wandsworth, near its source the river is rural but for much of its course it flows past allotments, through parks, shopping centres and gardens. I was intrigued by the thought of having a river as productive as this just beyond my garden gate, brown trout, barbel, roach, dace, perch chub and gudgeon available to you just yards from your shed and back door. I have a sneaking feeling that not much gardening would get done. The result of all these musings was that the back garden gate had a graffiti map of the river, it would be your personal reference point every time you looked over your shoulder as a fresh cup of tea arrived. Or a beer. Well you can but dream.
The River Wandle. A map to accompany a chapter written by Roy Wilkinson. Linocut printed in one colour on 300gsm Fabriano Artistico Brilliant White HP.
John Richardson Lino Prints 
That’s amazing, John. I used to be a member of the Morden Hall Park angling club when I was teaching in Merton and Sutton – small world! I caught coarse fish but no trout. I saw them though. Very nice to see them in such an urban setting but no reason why they can’t thrive there- and kingfishers, too. Used to see them in the park., also.. The greener things get, the more there’ll be of both (fingers crossed)….
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Gareth, When you think how polluted it all was the revival is incredible, there were dye works and all sorts of polluters along the banks. Really heartening to see a true revival. there are a lot of rivers that have revived in the same way in Wales, Yorkshire and Lancasshire. All the best, John
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