"The reserve can provide a magical 'close encounter' with nature, be it the turquoise flash of a Kingfisher, the call of the Turtle Dove, the splendour of a fishing Osprey or the sheer charm of a brood of new ducklings."

Lackford Lakes lie beside the River Lark and have been created from former gravel pits. The potential list of birds here seems never ending, with rarities like Black Necked Grebe occurring alongside more common species such as shelduck.

A superb site for wildfowl in both winter and summer, Lackford attracts tufted duck, teal, pochard, gadwall, shoveler and goosander. There is a large winter gull roost and one or two pairs of redshank nest here - unusual so far from the coast.

Passing birds of prey include the majestic osprey, whilst buzzard and sparrowhawk can be seen regularly. In the summer months, hobby can be seen in hot pursuit of sand martin, swallows and an array of dragonflies. This is one of the best places in Suffolk for kingfisher, and cormorant are often seen fishing at the sailing lake or roosting in the tall trees by the river. Almost any migrant bird can turn up - black tern are regulars but species like Little Egret and the more uncommon waders are also seen.

       Golden eye (male)                                Gadwall (male)                      Great Crested Grebe with fish                        Teal (male)

This reclaimed site has been quickly colonised by plants. Gipsywort, figwort, common fleabane and purple loosestrife occur by the water’s edge and common centaury and common stork’s-bill and biting stonecrop appear in the drier areas. Encroaching willows need to be kept in check so that the open water, which hosts clouds of blue damselfies, is not lost. The otter has become a frequent visitor here. Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s original 11 hectare reserve at Lackford was donated by Bernard Tickner in 1976. In 2000 RMC donated a further 90 hectares of land to form the Lackford Lakes reserve.

Dragonflies and damselflies at Lackford Lakes

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Other Trust reserves nearby: Norah Hanbury-Kelk Meadows, Rex Graham