Testwood Lakes Centre © Ed Merritt Ed © Centre Lakes Testwood

bluebells in spring. in bluebells

Wetrans Copse is carpeted with with carpeted is Copse Wetrans

ies. The adjacent adjacent The ies. butterfl skipper and

in insects, particularly meadow brown brown meadow particularly insects, in the highest tidal reach of the river. river. the of reach tidal highest the

resulting in a tall summer meadow rich rich meadow summer tall a in resulting its journey towards the estuary. This is is This estuary. the towards journey its

This enables it to be grazed in winter, winter, in grazed be to it enables This meandering across the nature reserve on on reserve nature the across meandering

Test nature reserve. reserve. nature Test slower and deeper as it starts starts it as deeper and slower

grassland than Lower Lower than grassland G the river here becomes becomes here river the Test: River

is a much drier area of of area drier much a is

the banded and beautiful demoiselles. beautiful and banded the

the left. the

J this this Park: Testwood

redpolls. In summer look out for both both for out look summer In redpolls.

completed in 1796, can be glimpsed on on glimpsed be can 1796, in completed

ocks of siskins and and siskins of ocks fl attract cones

the boardwalk. boardwalk. the old Southampton to Andover Canal, Canal, Andover to Southampton old

spotted woodpecker. In winter alder alder winter In woodpecker. spotted

ies are often seen basking on on basking seen often are ies dragonfl which once operated here. Part of the the of Part here. operated once which

trees, home to both great and lesser lesser and great both to home trees,

tailed skimmer and common darter darter common and skimmer tailed of the old water meadow system system meadow water old the of

River Test is lined with mature alder alder mature with lined is Test River

(particularly in spring). In summer black- summer In spring). in (particularly of ridges and furrows, a remnant remnant a furrows, and ridges of

D

this tributary of the the of tributary this Blackwater: River

and the pinkish plumage of water pipits pipits water of plumage pinkish the and and you can make out the pattern pattern the out make can you and

noisy stonechats perched on brambles, brambles, on perched stonechats noisy elds are waterlogged waterlogged are elds fi these winter

oystercatcher and little ringed plover. plover. ringed little and oystercatcher

views of little egret hunting in wet pools, pools, wet in hunting egret little of views meadowsweet and ragged robin. In In robin. ragged and meadowsweet

nesting waders including lapwing, lapwing, including waders nesting

From the boardwalk there are often good good often are there boardwalk the From ower, lesser spearwort, spearwort, lesser ower, fl cuckoo

of ridges and ditches, created to attract attract to created ditches, and ridges of

owers such as as such owers fl wild for look

Meadow Lake and the Scrapes, an area area an Scrapes, the and Lake Meadow

can be found here. found be can

in spring spring in Meadows: Test Lower

F

through the viewing screens to see see to screens viewing the through tidal water. Signs of water vole and otter otter and vole water of Signs water. tidal

C

look look area: Conservation Nature

to counteract the salt levels in the brackish brackish the in levels salt the counteract to blackthorn, gorse and ash. and gorse blackthorn,

eshy leaves are able to store water water store to able are leaves eshy fl Their spindle, dogwood, dogwood, spindle,

crested grebe. crested

such as sea aster grow in these ditches. ditches. these in grow aster sea as such

eld maple, oak, elder, elder, oak, maple, eld fi hazel, duck, coot and great great and coot duck,

I Salt-tolerant plants plants Salt-tolerant grasslands: Coastal nd 10? Hawthorn, Hawthorn, 10? nd fi you Can

birds such as tufted tufted as such birds

birds and small mammals. mammals. small and birds

and winter shelter for for shelter winter and

for migration. for

an important food source for for source food important an

species to provide nesting sites, food food sites, nesting provide to species

for swallows and sand martins preparing preparing martins sand and swallows for

are rich with berries providing providing berries with rich are

banks have been planted with wetland wetland with planted been have banks

is also an important autumn roost site site roost autumn important an also is

of tree and shrub. In autumn they they autumn In shrub. and tree of

which were last worked in 2001. Its Its 2001. in worked last were which

territorial singing in spring. The reedbed reedbed The spring. in singing territorial

made up of at least 10 different species species different 10 least at of up made

of the 4 lakes, formerly gravel pits, pits, gravel formerly lakes, 4 the of

warblers. Listen out for their distinctive distinctive their for out Listen warblers.

The old hedgerows along the lane are are lane the along hedgerows old The

B

this is the largest largest the is this Lake: Testwood large numbers of reed, sedge and Cetti’s Cetti’s and sedge reed, of numbers large

reeds provide ideal breeding grounds for for grounds breeding ideal provide reeds sher. sher. kingfi and wagtail

8am-5pm (summer). (summer). 8am-5pm

reedbeds on the south coast. The tall tall The coast. south the on reedbeds and attracts trout, grey grey trout, attracts and

day between 8am-4pm (winter) and and (winter) 8am-4pm between day

name as it overlooked one of the largest largest the of one overlooked it as name river is rich in insect life life insect in rich is river

volunteers. Car parks are open every every open are parks Car volunteers.

south. Formerly ‘reedbridge’, it got its its got it ‘reedbridge’, Formerly south.

owing water. The The water. owing fast-fl and Sunday afternoons staffed by by staffed afternoons Sunday and

H Redbridge can be seen to the the to seen be can Redbridge Reedbed: chalk stream with clear, clear, with stream chalk

open to the public most weekdays weekdays most public the to open

River Test, a classic classic a Test, River

to learn about wildlife, the Centre is is Centre the wildlife, about learn to

1960. Beneath it is the the is it Beneath 1960.

Short-eared owl © John Hilton John © owl Short-eared a great place place great a Centre: Lakes Testwood A

stopped working in in working stopped

This former grain mill mill grain former This Points of interest of Points

E Mill: Nursling at Test River

Welcome to the How to fi nd us Exit M27 at Junction 2, take A326 Fawley/ Lower Test Valley Totton road, take the fi rst exit to Totton (A36) and proceed towards Totton. At the Nature Reserves fi rst roundabout turn left into Brunel Road. Testwood Lakes is situated 300m down on Testwood Lakes the left hand side. This is the start of the trail. is a mixture of open For more information, please water, grassland and Lower Test Valley woodland on the call: 023 8066 7929 Self Guided Trail edge of Totton. Steeped in or visit www.hiwwt.org.uk Bronze Age history, it forms part of the internationally important Test Valley fl oodplain. The lakes support large numbers of overwintering wildfowl and Smith heron © Darin image Grey cover Front waders, which can be viewed from the viewing screens and bird hides. In summer the grassland is a blaze of colour with wildfl owers.

Lower Test is 400 acres (162 hectares) of saltmarsh, reedbed, marsh and meadows. The regular saltwater fl ooding protects the grasslands from freezing in Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust cold winters, attracting huge numbers of Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, feeding wildfowl such as wigeon and teal. Hampshire SO32 2DP. tel 01489 774400 The reserve is also very rich in wild fl owers fax 01489 774401 with over 450 species recorded, including email [email protected] web www.hiwwt.org.uk southern marsh and green-winged orchids. Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve Owned by the Barker Mills Estate and tel 023 8066 7929 managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, it is Testwood Lakes nature reserve is designated as a managed by Hampshire & Isle of Site of Special Wight Wildlife Trust in partnership Distance approx. 5 miles (8km) Scientifi c with Southern Water.

Interest (SSSI). guarantee and registered in England No. 676313 Limited by Company CharityRegistered No. 201081, January 2017 Trust. Wildlife Wight Hampshire & Isle of Copyright Time: allow 2.5 – 3.5 hours

www.hiwwt.org.uk Protecting wildlife, inspiring people

Testwood Lakes Centre © Ed Merritt Ed © Centre Lakes Testwood

bluebells in spring. in bluebells

Wetrans Copse is carpeted with with carpeted is Copse Wetrans

ies. The adjacent adjacent The ies. butterfl skipper and

in insects, particularly meadow brown brown meadow particularly insects, in the highest tidal reach of the river. river. the of reach tidal highest the

resulting in a tall summer meadow rich rich meadow summer tall a in resulting its journey towards the estuary. This is is This estuary. the towards journey its

This enables it to be grazed in winter, winter, in grazed be to it enables This meandering across the nature reserve on on reserve nature the across meandering

Test nature reserve. reserve. nature Test slower and deeper as it starts starts it as deeper and slower

grassland than Lower Lower than grassland G the river here becomes becomes here river the Test: River

is a much drier area of of area drier much a is

the banded and beautiful demoiselles. beautiful and banded the

the left. the

J this this Park: Testwood

redpolls. In summer look out for both both for out look summer In redpolls.

completed in 1796, can be glimpsed on on glimpsed be can 1796, in completed

ocks of siskins and and siskins of ocks fl attract cones

the boardwalk. boardwalk. the old Southampton to Andover Canal, Canal, Andover to Southampton old

spotted woodpecker. In winter alder alder winter In woodpecker. spotted

ies are often seen basking on on basking seen often are ies dragonfl which once operated here. Part of the the of Part here. operated once which

trees, home to both great and lesser lesser and great both to home trees,

tailed skimmer and common darter darter common and skimmer tailed of the old water meadow system system meadow water old the of

River Test is lined with mature alder alder mature with lined is Test River

(particularly in spring). In summer black- summer In spring). in (particularly of ridges and furrows, a remnant remnant a furrows, and ridges of

D

this tributary of the the of tributary this Blackwater: River

and the pinkish plumage of water pipits pipits water of plumage pinkish the and and you can make out the pattern pattern the out make can you and

noisy stonechats perched on brambles, brambles, on perched stonechats noisy elds are waterlogged waterlogged are elds fi these winter

oystercatcher and little ringed plover. plover. ringed little and oystercatcher

views of little egret hunting in wet pools, pools, wet in hunting egret little of views meadowsweet and ragged robin. In In robin. ragged and meadowsweet

nesting waders including lapwing, lapwing, including waders nesting

From the boardwalk there are often good good often are there boardwalk the From ower, lesser spearwort, spearwort, lesser ower, fl cuckoo

of ridges and ditches, created to attract attract to created ditches, and ridges of

owers such as as such owers fl wild for look

Meadow Lake and the Scrapes, an area area an Scrapes, the and Lake Meadow

can be found here. found be can

in spring spring in Meadows: Test Lower

F

through the viewing screens to see see to screens viewing the through tidal water. Signs of water vole and otter otter and vole water of Signs water. tidal

C

look look area: Conservation Nature

to counteract the salt levels in the brackish brackish the in levels salt the counteract to blackthorn, gorse and ash. and gorse blackthorn,

eshy leaves are able to store water water store to able are leaves eshy fl Their spindle, dogwood, dogwood, spindle,

crested grebe. crested

such as sea aster grow in these ditches. ditches. these in grow aster sea as such

eld maple, oak, elder, elder, oak, maple, eld fi hazel, duck, coot and great great and coot duck,

I Salt-tolerant plants plants Salt-tolerant grasslands: Coastal nd 10? Hawthorn, Hawthorn, 10? nd fi you Can

birds such as tufted tufted as such birds

birds and small mammals. mammals. small and birds

and winter shelter for for shelter winter and

for migration. for

an important food source for for source food important an

species to provide nesting sites, food food sites, nesting provide to species

for swallows and sand martins preparing preparing martins sand and swallows for

are rich with berries providing providing berries with rich are

banks have been planted with wetland wetland with planted been have banks

is also an important autumn roost site site roost autumn important an also is

of tree and shrub. In autumn they they autumn In shrub. and tree of

which were last worked in 2001. Its Its 2001. in worked last were which

territorial singing in spring. The reedbed reedbed The spring. in singing territorial

made up of at least 10 different species species different 10 least at of up made

of the 4 lakes, formerly gravel pits, pits, gravel formerly lakes, 4 the of

warblers. Listen out for their distinctive distinctive their for out Listen warblers.

The old hedgerows along the lane are are lane the along hedgerows old The

B

this is the largest largest the is this Lake: Testwood large numbers of reed, sedge and Cetti’s Cetti’s and sedge reed, of numbers large

reeds provide ideal breeding grounds for for grounds breeding ideal provide reeds sher. sher. kingfi and wagtail

8am-5pm (summer). (summer). 8am-5pm

reedbeds on the south coast. The tall tall The coast. south the on reedbeds and attracts trout, grey grey trout, attracts and

day between 8am-4pm (winter) and and (winter) 8am-4pm between day

name as it overlooked one of the largest largest the of one overlooked it as name river is rich in insect life life insect in rich is river

volunteers. Car parks are open every every open are parks Car volunteers.

south. Formerly ‘reedbridge’, it got its its got it ‘reedbridge’, Formerly south.

owing water. The The water. owing fast-fl and Sunday afternoons staffed by by staffed afternoons Sunday and

H Redbridge can be seen to the the to seen be can Redbridge Reedbed: chalk stream with clear, clear, with stream chalk

open to the public most weekdays weekdays most public the to open

River Test, a classic classic a Test, River

to learn about wildlife, the Centre is is Centre the wildlife, about learn to

1960. Beneath it is the the is it Beneath 1960.

Short-eared owl © John Hilton John © owl Short-eared Testwood Lakes Centre: Lakes Testwood a great place place great a A

stopped working in in working stopped

This former grain mill mill grain former This Points of interest of Points

E River Test at Nursling Mill: Nursling at Test River

Welcome to the How to fi nd us Exit M27 at Junction 2, take A326 Fawley/ Lower Test Valley Totton road, take the fi rst exit to Totton (A36) and proceed towards Totton. At the Nature Reserves fi rst roundabout turn left into Brunel Road. Testwood Lakes is situated 300m down on Testwood Lakes the left hand side. This is the start of the trail. is a mixture of open For more information, please water, grassland and Lower Test Valley woodland on the call: 023 8066 7929 Self Guided Trail edge of Totton. Steeped in or visit www.hiwwt.org.uk Bronze Age history, it forms part of the internationally important Test Valley fl oodplain. The lakes support large numbers of overwintering wildfowl and Smith heron © Darin image Grey cover Front waders, which can be viewed from the viewing screens and bird hides. In summer the grassland is a blaze of colour with wildfl owers.

Lower Test is 400 acres (162 hectares) of saltmarsh, reedbed, marsh and meadows. The regular saltwater fl ooding protects the grasslands from freezing in Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust cold winters, attracting huge numbers of Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, feeding wildfowl such as wigeon and teal. Hampshire SO32 2DP. tel 01489 774400 The reserve is also very rich in wild fl owers fax 01489 774401 with over 450 species recorded, including email [email protected] web www.hiwwt.org.uk southern marsh and green-winged orchids. Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve Owned by the Barker Mills Estate and tel 023 8066 7929 managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, it is Testwood Lakes nature reserve is designated as a managed by Hampshire & Isle of Site of Special Wight Wildlife Trust in partnership Distance approx. 5 miles (8km) Scientifi c with Southern Water.

Interest (SSSI). guarantee and registered in England No. 676313 Limited by Company CharityRegistered No. 201081, January 2017 Trust. Wildlife Wight Hampshire & Isle of Copyright Time: allow 2.5 – 3.5 hours

www.hiwwt.org.uk Protecting wildlife, inspiring people M27 to M27 to Ringwood Portsmouth Lower Test Valley Heron Hide Meadow Lake Sand Martin C Hide Self-guided Trail Getting around The Testwood Lakes: paths are Nursling Education Scrapes surfaced and relatively fl at but Centre & Mill Test Way North Distance approx. 5 miles (8km) RiverR BlackwaterBlac there is one steep slope on ToiletToiletsts 4 MillM Lane HillHHil Street E TiTime: allow ll 2.5 2 5 – 3.5 hours the north and south side of the A 1 D kwkwat main lake. There are benches B 2 3 at regular intervals. If you have i er P TestwoodTestwoodd r 5 a large buggy or wheelchair Lakee you may need a RADAR key for PumpingP old canal Station the gates (available from the i F Centre by arrangement). Please P Little Testwood note some paths regularly fl ood Education LakeLake during winter. Centre & Toilets SuSurfacedrfaced path BrunelBBrr Road Lower Test and adjacent ununeell 12 Viewing Hide MainMain entraentrancencce Rooaad 6 areas: paths are generally Parking to Testwood LakesLakes LowerLLower TestTTe st unsurfaced and there are P UnUnsurfacedsurfaced 7 papathth NatureNNature ReserveReserve G a number of stiles, kissing i Information Point gates, stepping stones and boardwalks to cross. There are Viewing Screen Test Way Lower Test Valley 111 LongLong Distance self guided trail North no benches or toilet facilities Pub FootpathFootpath rorouteute WeWetransttrans CoCopsepse J H after leaving Testwood Lakes nature reserve. 9 I River Test 10 8

Walking the trail Test Lane Dogs TestwoodTestwo ooddPd ParkPark Testwood Lakes: responsible 1 Railway line Starting from Testwood Lakes Centre, take the dog walking is permitted gravel path down towards Testwood Lake, River Test around Testwood and Little following the path around its northern side. Testwood Lakes. Dogs are not 2 Continue along the path adjacent to the River permitted around the Testwood Blackwater (NB. path regularly fl oods in winter). 8 At the end of the boardwalk leave Lakes Centre or in the Nature 3 Leaving Testwood Lakes, cross the Blackwater River Lower Test nature reserve via the kissing gate. Conservation Areas. over the footbridge and continue along the footpath 9 Turn right over the bridge to follow the lane Salmon Lower Test: due to breeding over the River Test, to a stile at Nursling Mill. past the Fishing Cottage. Walk along the edge Leap and over-wintering birds here, 4 Leaving the Mill, follow the road for half a mile of a wood formerly part of the ornamental dogs are only permitted on (1km) along Mill Lane. gardens of Great Testwood House. the Test Way footpath and 5 10 Enter Testwood Park at the fi rst kissing gate must be under close control. Just past the left turn (signposted on right ‘Lee & Lower Test Romsey’) cross the white road bridge and enter on the right. Bear right immediately through a Hide Responsible dog walking is Lower Test nature reserve via the kissing gate on second gate and walk diagonally across the fi eld P permitted in Testwood Park. Compton Old Redbridges right. This path is part of the long distance ‘Test to a corner, on the edge of Wetrans Copse. Road Car Park Way’ which runs for 44 miles from Inkpen Beacon 11 Follow the informal path to the right, through Tides in Berkshire to Eling. Wetrans Copse, until the edge of Brunel Road. A36 to Southampton Lower Test nature reserve 6 Continue along the Test Way, turning right at the 12 Continue along the road and at the junction with is tidal and footpaths and fi rst kissing gate next to the railway crossing, until Nutsey Close, look for a footpath sign on the A36 to Totton boardwalks regularly fl ood at you cross the River Test. right. Take this path over a stile crossing the River & Lyndhurst high tide. Always check the tide 7 Follow the path turning left through the next gate, Blackwater. Walk diagonally across two fi elds until timetables before starting out and after 200m join the start of the boardwalk which the next stile, turning left to rejoin the path leading on a long walk. crosses the southern, tidal half of the reserve. back into Testwood Lakes near the pumping station.