Lackford Lakes - Michael Andrews
Mike Andrews
Lapwing by John Langford
Brimstone butterfly by Mike Andrews
View from Double Decker viewpoint at Lackford Lakes
By Steve Aylward
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
No access with dogs to the lakes or hides. Dogs on leads allowed on Sayer's Breck and Church Walk Trails only. This is to protect the wildlife and delicate habitats of the reserve.
When to visit
Opening times
Visitor Centre 10am - 5pm (cafe open til 4pm)Car park 9am - 5pm
Nature reserve open dawn til 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
Upcoming events
Workshop: The Nature of Clay
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Walk: Bird I.D with Paul Holness
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Tots at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Binocular Demo Day
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Young Wardens at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
East Anglian Storytelling Festival
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Nightingales Guided Walk
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Nightingales Guided Walk
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Workshop: Swallow and dragonfly willow sculpture weaving
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , SuffolkWildlife update – 23rd April 2025
This past week, we have seen more and more birds arriving back from Africa. Cuckoo, reed warbler, whitethroat and lesser whitethroat all arrived back over the last week or so. This means that most of our spring arrivals have now made an appearance on the reserve.
Over the coming weeks, more and more of these songsters will arrive back on the reserve making the end of April and the beginning of May a great time to come, spot and learn the songs of lots of different birds.
Birds of prey wise, hobby has now arrived back and have been seen regularly on the Eastern lakes. Our marsh harriers are still showing well at the centre and over the slough. Look out also for kestrel, sparrowhawk and red kite.
Water birds – numbers have dropped as we head into the breeding season and we say goodbye to the ones that have spent the winter here. Common tern have now turned so look out for them on our lakes. Look out for shelduck, great crested grebe, tufted duck, lapwing and oystercatcher.
Watch out over the water too for swallows, sand martins and house martins. These can be seen whizzing over the water on windy days.
Butterflies – speckled wood, orange tip, brimstone, green-veined white, small white, small copper and small heath can be seen as you walk our trails.
Lastly our first damselfly has been seen with large red damselfly been recorded from various parts of the reserve. As we move into May, more damselflies and dragonflies will make an appearance.
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.
Green Snape Community Group visiting Martlesham Wilds. Image credit: Lesley Walduck
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.