Testwood Lakes

Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve

Testwood Lakes[1] (grid reference SU348153) is the name used to refer to a group of three lakes near the River Blackwater and River Test on the northwest edge of Southampton, Hampshire, England. The lakes were built by Southern Water to provide drinking water for the Southampton area and are named Little Testwood Lake (completed in 1997), Testwood Lake (completed in 2002) and Meadow Lake. There is a visitor centre at the site.

Scouts

The lake was opened for boating activities managed by Eling Sea Scouts in late summer 2005; the current boating licence runs between 1 March to 31 October. The lake is available for hire to scout troops and other recognised youth groups.

The 4th New Forest North (Eling) Sea Scout group has built a new headquarters building alongside Testwood Lakes and the lake is their base for watersport activities.

Nature, conservation and recreation

Study centre at Testwood Lakes

Southern Water is working in partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust at the site to manage the nature, conservation and recreational aspects of Testwood Lakes.

Events and activities

The Testwood Lakes Centre is open to the public most week days and weekends in the summer and at various times during the week. Guided walks, events and activities take place throughout the year. The Centre, which has a permanent exhibition featuring themes of water, wildlife and conservation is open to schools, community groups and individuals, with facilities such as a well-equipped classroom for up to 60 children and two function rooms available for hire.

There is Coarse fishing on Little Testwood Lake by permit from the TVAC&SPS Angling club. The lake is 30 feet deep in the middle and contains large bream, tench, pike, perch, roach, chub and eels.

Wildfowl

The Lakes are attracting increasing numbers of wildfowl during the winter, including mallard, Eurasian teal, northern shoveller, tufted duck, common pochard, gadwall and Eurasian wigeon. Eurasian oystercatcher have already bred and it is hoped that northern lapwing and common redshank will too.

Flora

The ground flora of Alder Gully is very rich including lesser spearwort, bluebell, yellow pimpernel, moschatel, red campion and foxglove.

Nearby

The grounds of Totton & Eling F.C. and A.F.C. Totton are just to the south of Testwood Lake.

References

  1. ↑ "Testwood Lakes". Southern Water. Retrieved 22 December 2017.

Coordinates: 50°56′10″N 1°30′22″W / 50.93610°N 1.50612°W / 50.93610; -1.50612

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