How to Go Mudlarking: Fun Summer Adventure for Families
If you’re searching for an easy, budget-friendly summer activity to get your kids outside, mudlarking might be your new favorite adventure. In this guide to mudlarking with kids, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this fascinating hobby—what it is, where it comes from, how to get started, and why it’s the perfect way to spend a hot afternoon by the water. In this post, Jessie Lehson of Wineberry Woods covers the origin of mudlarking, where to go mudlarking, and what you’ll find when mudlarking with kids. Let’s grab our collecting bags and head to the creek!
Perfect family-friendly summer nature activity: mudlarking
It’s hot. It’s sticky. Getting outside in the height of summer can feel like more trouble than it’s worth. Where we live it routinely soars into the 90s and beyond. We do not live near a beach. What’s a nature loving family to do?
Head to your local creek, stream, river or lake and go mudlarking!
What is Mudlarking?
mudlark: a person who grubs in mud (as in search of stray bits of coal, iron, rope)
specifically : an urchin who grubs for a living along the tide flats of the English
mudlarking: the activity of searching the mud near rivers trying to find valuable or interesting objects.
History and Origins of Mudlarking
History & Origins of Mudlarking
Mudlarking has surprisingly gritty origins? Back in 18th and 19th century London, “mudlarks” weren’t just hobby treasure hunters—they were usually impoverished folks (sometimes kids) who made a living scouring the Thames River at low tide for anything they could sell: bits of coal, scrap metal, bones, you name it. It was a tough, dirty way to survive.
These days, mudlarking has thankfully evolved into more of a quirky pastime than a matter of life or death. Modern mudlarks still comb riverbanks in England (and all over the world) hoping to discover little pieces of history—a centuries-old clay pipe, a Victorian coin, or, in our case, a nicely frosted chunk of river glass. So, when you head out mudlarking with your kids, you’re participating in a tradition that spans generations, just with a lot more sunscreen and snacks.
Modern day mudlarking wtih kids
We love to search along rivers and streams for river glass, bits of pottery, fossils and interesting rocks in the summer. I was talking to a British friend about our treasure hunts recently and she said, “oh, you are mudlarking!” I was immediately taken with that descriptor, it sounds so much more exciting and whimsical than “looking for stuff in the mud,” which would have been how I described it. (Not that there’s anything wrong with playing in the mud, mind you.)
After some more research, I discovered that mudlarking was once a source of income for impoverished Londoners during the 18th and 19th centuries. It has since come to mean something much less serious, but I don’t let that stop me from calling my children urchins.
Why Mudlark?
- Everyone loves treasure hunting!
- You are jealous of people who live near beaches and have huge sea glass collections (possibly speaking from experience here.)
- You can find a stream, creek, river, or lake nearly everywhere.
- It’s a great way to entertain kids who are boooooored…
- It’s something different to do in a park or natural area.
- Mudlarking is great for mixed age groups and mixed attention spans.
- It’s a great way to spend time outside and will keep kids occupied for quite a while.
- Streams (especially in wooded areas) are often ten degrees cooler than the ambient air temperature.
- This is a perfect activity for more urban areas– most mudlarking treasure begins its life as trash.
- It requires little or no preparation/supplies.
- It doesn’t require much in the way of advance planning.
What is River Glass?
River glass is my favorite thing to look for while mudlarking. It is exactly like sea glass, except it comes from a river (or stream/creek) rather than the ocean. It’s actually easier to find too because it was common until painfully recently to just dump glass and other trash into bodies of water. As the glass gets broken up and churned around in the water for years, its edges smooth over and it takes on that distinctive frosty patina.
How Do You Get Started Mudlarking?
One of the best things about mudlarking is that it’s extremely simple to do.
- Find a stream/ river/ creek etc near you
- Go there
- Look for stuff
- You’re doing it!
You don’t need to spend hours researching the best places, you don’t need to go someplace exotic, you just need to get outside and look for cool stuff!
What Sorts of Treasure Can You Find?
The area that you live in will largely determine what treasures you might find. We find tons of river glass, but we’ve also found fossils, pottery shards and so many interesting rocks. Sometimes we get distracted by interesting fish, but we leave them where they are! Arrowheads and other historic artifacts, crystals, and even lost jewelry can be found mudlarking. There are quite a few freshwater mollusk shells you might find too– we collect huge shiny river mussel shells! I have even heard of a place in England where a lego shipment was lost and legos now wash up on shore! Treasure is in the eye of the beholder…
What Supplies Do You Need to go Mudlarking?
- You’ll probably want to bring something to collect your finds. We like to use what we call “collecting bags.” They are just cheap mesh drawstring bags. They hold on to treasures and let dirt and muck sift out. They are also great for no waste goody bags at parties! Pockets will do in a pinch. You can of course look and not collect if you prefer.
- Definitely bring a snack, my kids would never forgive me if I didn’t bring a snack. I thought they might outgrow that… they have not.
- Boots or water shoes are a good idea, I don’t have this problem, but my children always seem to end up in the water.
- Young kids might enjoy a magnifying glass. (It’s not at all necessary though.)
- Some people bring metal detectors. We don’t, but if you have one it might be fun, especially for older kids. (magnet fishing too)
- If you have a quieter child in your group, a nature journal is a great way to get some down time and draw treasures rather than running around looking for them.
Where can you Mudlark?
The short answer is anywhere where there is water. Flowing water is usually best, but big lakes and ponds can work too. I find places that are really rocky seem to have the best success. (And by rocky I mean strewn with lots of little rocks, not big bouldery ones.) Practically, I like streams with trees and thereby shade in the summer, but that is of course, optional. I am not aware of any mudlarking regulations in the U.S. (you need a permit in the U.K.) but it’s always best to check for any local regulations.
If you know that there have been settlements near the water at one time or another that is a good clue that there might be artifacts to be found. Sadly, people still drop glass bottles into the water today though, so it’s not a requirement. You might also check to see if there is a nearby fossil or mineral deposit or other point of interest.
Finding the Best Mudlarking Spots
While you can technically mudlark anywhere there’s water and a bit of shoreline, some spots tend to be richer in hidden treasures. Look for places where people have gathered (and accidentally dropped stuff) for a long time—old bridges, picnic areas, fishing spots, or near historic towns. Bends in rivers are also great because the current naturally deposits debris there.
We’ve found our best hauls in shallow, rocky stretches with lots of little stones to sift through. Shady spots under trees are a bonus in summer, both for keeping cool and for prolonging the stamina of small, easily-overheated urchins. If you’re not sure where to start, pull up Google Maps satellite view and look for accessible riverbanks or creek beds close to home. Just make sure you’re not trespassing, and always check if collecting is allowed in your chosen spot.
Identifying and Cleaning Your Finds
Part of the fun of mudlarking is figuring out what you’ve actually picked up. Is that a fossilized shell or just a weirdly shaped rock? A piece of pottery or a chunk of cement? (We’ve had debates.) For river glass, you’re looking for that smooth, frosted surface, shards that have been tumbled around long enough to lose their sharp edges.
If you think you’ve found something old or special, a quick internet search can usually help you identify it. As for cleaning, it doesn’t have to be fancy, warm soapy water and an old toothbrush will get most of the grime off. Just be gentle if you suspect something is fragile. Once cleaned, you can admire your treasure hoard, proudly display it, or stash it away in a jar to remind you of your summer adventures.
What Can You Do with Your Treasures?
You can treasure them, display them, or make arts and crafts with them! You can read more about different ways to display treasures on nature tables on my blog Wineberry Woods here. You can also find tutorials to make a river glass mobile or suncatcher!
About the Author
Jessie Lehson is the author of seasonal children’s books and nature-focused curricula. She is the founder of a public nature school in Baltimore, MD, and the former director of an educational farm owned by Baltimore City Public Schools. A longtime teacher and professor of sculpture, Lehson is an illustrator and environmental artist. Lehson is an avid chicken keeper, urban homesteader, master gardener and permaculture designer. She is mom to two adventurous little boys who love nature.