The Shallows Lackford Lakes Jesse Walker
shoveler by Mike Andrews
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Non-assistance dogs on a short lead are permitted on the Sayer's Breck trail only.
When to visit
Opening times
Weekdays 8am - 5pmWeekends 9am - 5pm
Visitor Centre 10am - 5pm (cafe closes at 4pm)
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.
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.
Species
Contact us
Environmental designation
Warden's update - April 2024
April is the month when many of our birds arrive back from Africa to raise a family. Almost as soon as they are back they start singing to attract a mate. Then it is onto nest building and raising a family. This past week, reed warbler and cuckoo have returned to the lakes.
Here is our latest spring arrival list:
- w/c 1st April - little gull, willow warble, little ringed plover
- w/c 8th April - nightingale, common tern, house martin, garden warbler, sedge warbler, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, reed warbler
- w/c 15th April - cuckoo
Over the coming weeks, numbers of all these birds should increase so it's a great time to come and listen to them singing around the reserve. Some of our water birds are also thinking of the breeding season and down at Steggall’s viewpoint – we have some already on eggs including great crested grebes and oystercatchers.
It is not just the birds that are great at this time of year, spring butterflies have been off to a good start with nine species already recorded including: brimstone, peacock, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, speckled wood, orange tip, green veined white, holly blue, comma
Many more insects should start making an appearance over the coming months so it is a great time to explore our reserve at Lackford Lakes.
Upcoming events
Wild Walk: Bird I.D with Paul Holness
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Nightingales Guided Walk
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
Nightingales Guided Walk
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Young Wardens
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Nightingales Guided Walk
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
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 - £3
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.