The town surrounded by water

Took a step back from the tidal boating creek at Eling today to view the wildlife area behind it at Bartley Water.
You can see the masts of yachts on the water through the trees, but this part of Totton and Eling is much more a wildlife haven.  If you’re lucky you’ll spot kingfishers here, maybe come across the odd otter by the water and in parts of the river you’ll find trout.
Some say the town of Totton and Eling combined is built around water because as well as this noted stretch with its own sailing club, and a base for enthusiasts on jet skis, the town is alongside the estuary of the River Test where it flows into Southampton Water and another nature reserve. And the there are the Testwood Lakes, a few miles inland and the home of another nature reserve.

It is the flow of waters of the Bartley River and the lake that is formed by the causeway that drives the historic Eling tide mill which, though closed for restoration at present, is one of the few water driven tide mills in the country which still produces flour.