Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve

A winter view across The Shallows at Lackford Lakes

The Shallows Lackford Lakes Jesse Walker

Lackford Lakes centre

Lackford Lakes centre

shoveler by Mike Andrews

shoveler by Mike Andrews

Lackford Lakes nature reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust

By Steve Aylward

Lackford Lakes nature reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust

By Steve Aylward

Lackford Lakes nature reserve Suffolk Wildlife Trust

By Steve Aylward

Lackford Lakes is a wildlife oasis with a landscape of lakes, reeds, meadow and woodland. There is wildlife in close-up all year round with iridescent kingfisher, dazzling dragonflies and colourful ducks.

Location

Lackford Lakes
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP28 6HX

OS Map Reference

TL 801706

Reserve is about ten minutes from Bury St Edmunds on the A1101, Bury to Mildenhall road.

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A static map of Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
161 hectares
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Entry fee

We do not charge for entry or for car parking, but in order to keep us running, we suggest a donation of £3 per person.

Bicycle parking

Yes

Grazing animals

Sheep graze all your round. Seasonal cattle grazing.

Please refer to the link in walking trails below for more information.

Walking trails

Do’s and don’ts when walking with livestock       
​​Very good, mostly surfaced paths.

Three trails and eight wildlife viewpoints to explore.  All trails start at the visitor centre.  Maximum stay of 1 hour at the viewpoints.

Trail map

See all events

Access

Fully accessible visitor centre with allocated parking and toilet for disabled people.

Short Stay viewpoint (Bernard’s hide) This is one of our best viewpoints on the blue trail. To help ensure all visitors feel welcome and have the chance to visit this hide, we ask that visitors spend a maximum of 1 hour here between the hours of 9:30am and 4:30pm.

The 1.5km blue trail is surfaced and barrier free, with ramped access to four hides.
Parts of this reserve are accessible by mobility scooter.

No drone flying without express permission.
(Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances)

If you'd like to visit this reserve as a group, please contact us in advance.

Find out why we ask you to keep your dog on a short lead at most of our reserves and why this is important for wildlife conservation. Why we ask dogs are kept on a lead

Dogs

Assistance dogs only

Other dogs on a lead permitted on red trail only.

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Facilities

Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Outdoor play area
Electric car charging point
Wifi
Disabled parking

When to visit

Opening times

Reserve and car park open daily 8am to 5pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm weekends.

Toilets open 10am to 5pm

Catering open 10am to 4pm

The shop is open from 10am to 5pm

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

Listen to the sound of singing birds in spring with the arrival of nightingales and warblers from Africa. The first bees and butterflies start to make appearances on bright spring days.  

Later in summer, the reserve is alive with damselflies and dragonflies. Swallows and martins sweep over the water's surface feeding on small flies. The lakesides are busy with nesting great-crested grebe, kingfisher, tufted duck and water rail. Bright stems of purple-loosestrife, common fleabane and gipsywort create colour at the water's edge.        

Gold and red colours mark the coming of autumn with the arrival of a wide range of wildfowl. Birds including shoveler, lapwing, goosander, bittern and goldeneye depend on the lakes during the winter months.    

The visitor centre, shop and café are open 7 days a week. There's always someone in the centre to help you plan your visit, identify anything you've spotted or chat to you about the work we do and how you can support us.

The cafe sells hot and cold drinks, a range of toasted ciabattas and sausage rolls as well as delicious local cakes from Sponge, ice cream from Saffron and Lickety Ices and crisps from award winning Two Farmers.

We have a range of items for different dietary requirements and preferrences, chat to the team to find out more.

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Explore Lackford Lakes from the air

Daily activities at Lackford Lakes

Make the most of your visit to Lackford! We have a range of activities and equipment for families such as:

Hire our discovery pack - £6. Packed with ideas and kit to get you out closer to nature, all in our handy carry bag.

Try our seasonal spotter sheet - £2. Changed each season, gets you looking closer at some of our resident wildlife and the place they call home.

Want to try out some binoculars?

Binocular hire - £3. A great choice if you don't want to bring yours out or if you're on holiday, have forgotten yours at home or simply want to test out a new pair. Different sizes available for big or small hands.

 

 

Wildlife update - February 2024

February is a great month to visit Lackford lakes.  The first singing birds can be heard around the reserve and wintering ducks look best at this time of year.  Small birds feeding away by the trails give an added interest as you walk around the reserve.

In recent days, song thrushes have become very vocal as they set up territories around the reserve.  Other resident birds thinking about the breeding season already include robins, blue tit and great tits.  Look and listen for them this month.

Siskin are still around, try the area by the raised pond or down towards Bess’s. In amongst them, the odd lesser redpoll can be found.  Our Bullfinches can still be seen, try the area by the raised pond for them.

The wintering ducks are also thinking about the breeding season.  The males are looking the smartest and there is a bit of displaying too.  Look out for wigeon, shoveler, teal, tufted duck, pochard and gadwall out on our lakes. 

The edges of the slough are a great place to watch birds sitting around, look out for snipe and lapwing from Paul’s, Bernard’s or Double Decker.

February normally brings a mixed bag of weather – some cold days, some warm days etc.  You never know what you might find this month at the lakes.  Please let us know what you see by adding your sightings to our daily sheet in the centre.

What's happening at Lackford

Group visits

If you are visiting as a group, no matter how big or small, please email us at lackford.centre@suffolkwildlifetrust.org in good time before your visit.

We will then provide you with a booking form to help ensure you get the most from your visit.

Guided walks, teas and coffees and introductory talks can be made available by request in advance, this can be discussed further once you have made your enquiry.