This is the lower part of the River Stour just before it flows into the estuary at Cattawade. The channel on the left is the River Stour and forms the Suffolk/Essex border. Most of the image is actually in Essex. The right hand channel is tidal. The photograph was taken at low tide when the mudflats were exposed. The channel is braided and on the islands you can see areas of salt marsh. The raised river bank on the right has a man made embankment to protect the fields from flooding. The channel on the left is part of the same river but is not tidal. The land is close to the water table and is mainly used for grazing cattle.