Rivermead Island
Rivermead Island is a flat grassy island in the River Thames on the reach above Molesey Lock at Sunbury-on-Thames. The main island forms part of Middlesex, while the formerly separate island of Swan's Rest forms part of Surrey. The fishing rights to the latter were anciently conferred to the parish south of the river.
Geography
The island is a meadow lightly covered with trees with dense patches, shrubbery and reeds at each end. The former common land meadow is publicly open and part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.[1] It is a long area of open riverside on the side of the river opposite the Thames Path — from here the point of Sunbury Lock Island can be seen. It is connected to the bank by an elegant arched footbridge with simple metal balustrades and separate painted round handrails and in dry periods four-wheel vehicle access is possible via a ford of the narrow backwater separating it from the land.
Rivermead was originally two islands, the much smaller, downstream part being Swan's Rest, since the late 20th century completely joined.
Flood risk
At 30 ft above Ordnance Datum sea level whereas residential roads in Sunbury are at predominantly more than 33 ft,[1] the island floods often when there is other non-tidal Thames flooding. In February 2014 the island was briefly completely submerged providing the main emergency flood meadow dealing with copious rainfall across the flood plain on the 'Sunbury stretch' of the Molesey Reach reach. Hurst Park on the 'Hampton stretch' of the reach is the other main flood meadow. Most other inhabited islands have more elevated plots preventing or reducing the extent of fluvial (riparian) flooding.[2]
Annual event
The Sunbury Amateur Regatta which is a major Thames Skiff regatta takes place (as to its land activities) approximately in late August each year, attracting a funfair and local dignitaries.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Interactive Maps Surrey County Council. Accessed 2015-04-15
- ↑ Rivermead Island in January 2014. Get Surrey (The Surrey Advertiser/Herald Group website). Accessed 2015-04-15
- ↑ "Crowds Enjoy Oarsome Day Out". Get Surrey (The Surrey Advertiser/Herald Group website). Accessed 2015-04-15
Outside links
- Location map: 51°24’25"N, 0°24’4"W
- The Thames from Hampton Court to Sunbury Lock
- Sunbury Amateur Regatta website
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Rivermead Island) |
