Jesse Walker
Catherine Curley
Simply C Photography
Nathan Greening
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Dogs on a lead are only permitted on the red Sayers Breck path.
When to visit
Opening times
Visitor Centre 10am - 4.30pm (café 10am - 4pm)Car park 9am - 5pm
Nature Reserve open dawn to dusk
Best time to visit
All year roundAbout 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.
Open seven days a week, there is always someone in the visitor 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 coffee shop sells barista coffee and a range of snacks including toasties, soup, scones, local ice creams and delicious locally-made cakes. Vegan and Gluten-free options are available, chat to the team to find out more.
Contact us
Environmental designation
What's On at Lackford Lakes
Workshop: Willow Weaving for Gardeners
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Nightingale Open Evening
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Workshop: Spring wildlife photography
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Connect: For adults with a learning disability
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Families: Hedgehog home building
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wildlife update - 1st May 2026
As we head into early May, we are probably entering our peak time for singing birds and finding those warblers on the reserve. Butterflies are currently good for this time of year and quite a few damselflies are emerging.
Starting with singing birds, listen and look for are blackcap, garden warbler, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, reed warbler and sedge warbler. The star bird is nightingale. We think we have up to 10 singing birds this year. Best time to visit is the morning for these birds.
Other spring arrivals to look out for include cuckoo, hobby, swallow and swifts.
On the slough, look out for avocets, little ringed plover and common sandpiper.
For butterflies up to 12 different species can be seen. Look out for brown argus, small copper, green hairstreak, orange tip, green-veined white, brimstone and more.
Lastly, the first damselflies and dragonflies are now appearing around the reserve. Look out for large red damselfly, common blue damselfly, hairy dragonfly and four-spotted chaser.
May is a great month to explore, Lackford Lakes nature reserve for a range of wildlife from singing birds to dragonflies.
Paul Harris/2020VISION
Activities & binocular hire
Hire our discovery pack - £6
Packed with ideas and kit to get you out closer to nature, all in our handy carry bag.
Seasonal spotter sheet - £2
Look out for seasonal visitors and resident wildlife that call Lackford home.
Binocular hire - £4
Get a closer look at Lackford's wildlife. Different sizes available for big or small hands.
John Ferguson
Group visits
We welcome groups of all sizes at Lackford Lakes and can provide guided walks, introductory walks and refreshments. If you are looking to arrange a group visit, please email us and we will help you get the most from your visit:
Kingfisher © Malcolm Brown
Become a member
The support of our members helps us care for wildlife-rich landscapes such as Lackford Lakes. Join today, or renew your membership, and help protect and restore Suffolk's wildlife and wild places.