Lower Test Valley
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| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
| Location | Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SU 364 144[1] |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 142.0 hectares (351 acres)[1] |
| Notification | 1986[1] |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Lower Test Valley is a 142-hectare (350-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Totton in Hampshire.[1][2] It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site[3] and Special Protection Area,[4] and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation.[5] It is a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.[6]
The valley has extensive reed beds, tidally flooded creeks, unimproved grassland and scattered willow trees. More than 450 flowering plants have been recorded, including the nationally rare green-flowered helleborine. The reed beds have large populations of wetland breed birds.[7]
There is no access to the reserve at high tide.[6]
