Testwood Lakes
Encyclopedia
Testwood Lakes is the name used to refer to a group of three lake
s near the 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. The three lakes are called: Little Testwood Lake (completed in 1997), Testwood Lake (completed in 2002) and Meadow Lake.
There is a visitor centre at the site.
The 4th New Forest North (Eling) Sea Scout group is planning a new headquarters building alongside Testwood Lakes. The lake will be the base for their watersport activities.
.
During the month of May the first seeding of the new football pitches have begun.
at the site to manage the nature, conservation and recreational aspects of Testwood Lakes.
, Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler
, 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.
, Yellow Pimpernel
, Moschatel
, Red Campion
and Foxglove.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s near the River Test
River Test
The River Test is a river in Hampshire, England. The river has a total length of 40 miles and it flows through downland from its source near Ashe, 10 km to the west of Basingstoke , to the sea at the head of Southampton Water...
on the northwest edge of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The lakes were built by Southern Water
Southern Water
Southern Water is the utility responsible for wastewater collection and treatment in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent, and for water supply and distribution in the approximately half of this area...
to provide drinking water for the Southampton area. The three lakes are called: Little Testwood Lake (completed in 1997), Testwood Lake (completed in 2002) and Meadow Lake.
There is a visitor centre at the site.
Sea Scouts
The lake was opened for boating activities managed by Eling Sea Scouts 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. Testwood Lakes will also host the annual Solent Scout Regatta with Canoe and Pulling Races.The 4th New Forest North (Eling) Sea Scout group is planning a new headquarters building alongside Testwood Lakes. The lake will be the base for their watersport activities.
Local Football team building works
Starting in the early weeks of October 2009 there will be the early clearing in readiness for the building of the new location of Totton's two football teams Totton & Eling and A.F.C. TottonA.F.C. Totton
A.F.C. Totton is a football club based in Totton, Hampshire, England. Totton Football Club was founded in 1886 and changed its name to A.F.C. Totton in 1975. The newly established club was among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. They are currently members of the Southern League...
.
During the month of May the first seeding of the new football pitches have begun.
Nature, conservation and recreation
Southern Water is working in partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife TrustHampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, England.They are the leading local wildlife conservation charity in Hampshire and the Island...
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 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.Wildfowl
The Lakes are attracting increasing numbers of wildfowl during the winter, including MallardMallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
, Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
The Northern Shoveler , Northern Shoveller in British English, sometimes known simply as the Shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America, and is a rare vagrant to Australia...
, Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck
The Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula, is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds.- Description :The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name.The adult female is brown with paler...
, Common Pochard, Gadwall
Gadwall
The Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
and Eurasian Wigeon. Eurasian Oystercatcher
Eurasian Oystercatcher
The Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, also known as the Common Pied Oystercatcher, or just Oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurasia,...
have already bred and it is hoped that Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing
The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....
and Common Redshank
Common Redshank
The Common Redshank or simply Redshank is an Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...
will too.
Flora
The ground flora of Alder Gully is very rich including Lesser Spearwort, BluebellBluebell
-Plants:* genus Hyacinthoides** Common Bluebell ** Spanish Bluebell * genus Mertensia** Virginia Bluebell * Scottish Bluebell...
, Yellow Pimpernel
Yellow pimpernel
Lysimachia nemorum is a flowering plant of the genus Lysimachia in the family Myrsinaceae....
, Moschatel
Moschatel
Adoxa moschatellina is the sole member of the genus Adoxa. It grows in hedgerows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, in cool forests, at low altitudes in the far north, to high altitudes in mountains in the south of its range...
, Red Campion
Red Campion
Red campion is a flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native throughout central, western and northern Europe, and locally in southern Europe....
and Foxglove.