Lackford Lakes by Mark Gosbee
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve
COVID-19 update
The car park and trails are open from 8am to 5pm.
Hides currently closed.
Takeaway catering open 10am to 3:30pm.
Toilets are open 10am to 3:30pm
The shop is open from 10am to 3:30pm
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706Reserve is about ten minutes from Bury St Edmunds on the A1101, Bury to Mildenhall road.
Know before you go
Entry fee
Lackford Lakes is free to visit, however if you wish to support our work on the nature reserve, please consider making a donation or becoming a member of Suffolk Wildlife Trust.Bicycle parking
YesAccess
Fully accessible visitor centre with allocated parking and toilet for disabled people.
The 1.5km blue trail is negotiable by wheelchair, with ramped access to four hides (currently closed).
Parts of this reserve are accessible by mobility scooter.
No drone flying without express permission.
(Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances)
Dogs
Facilities
When to visit
Opening times
Reserve and car park open daily 8am - 5pmToilets open 10am to 3:30pm
Takeaway catering open 10am to 3:30pm
The shop is open from 10am to 3:30pm
Hides are currently closed.
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 and café is open 7 days a week and sells hot and cold drinks, pre-packed sandwiches, hot and cold savouries, ice cream, lollies and a variety of cakes and snacks, some of which are gluten free.
Species
Contact us
Environmental designation
Location map
Spotter sheets
Why not start your day out with us by downloading and printing our trail and spotter sheets below!
Easter trail to download and print
Group visits
If you are visiting as a group, please contact us on 01284 728706 in advance to check availability. Guided walks may be available if requested at the time of booking.
Upcoming events at Lackford Lakes
Wild Tots at Lackford Lakes - 12th may
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Wild Babies at Lackford Lakes -12th May
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Wild Babies at Lackford Lakes -13th May
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HXLackford Lakes Blog
Lots of birds now arriving back from Africa
I thought I would do a quick update about birds arriving back at Lackford Lakes as things are changing rapidly with many birds already…
Spring has begun at Lackford Lakes
The first of our birds have now returned from Africa and are now singing around the lakes. The first butterflies are flying on a nice…
Winter at Lackford
It has been very wet here at Lackford, this winter. Many areas of the reserve have been flooded on a regular basis including the…
School visits to Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes by John Ferguson
Lackford Lakes by Mark Gosbee
Lackford Lakes visitor centre by John Ferguson
