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
The cutting of the slough area of the reserve will continue on Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th September.
This will be in front of Paul's, Bernard's and Double Decker hide.
It is likely to be some burning of the reeds during those times.
Lackford Lakes has a fully accessible visitor centre and café with views of the reserve, open 7 days a week.
Please be aware there is limited access for dogs around Sayers Breck, with no access to the lakes or hides. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the centre and around the reserve.
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 Kingfisher Trail is negotiable by wheelchair, with ramped access to four hides.
The Winter Hide, reached by a firm 150m path from the car park, offers easy access for all visitors.
Parts of this reserve are accessible by mobility scooter.
Please note - Bernard’s Hide is a short stay hide
We ask visitors to spend a short while in this popular hide.
Stays are for a maximum of 1 hour with no return for 1 hour.
Quick-view seating provides short waiting times to ensure all visitors have the chance to enjoy wildlife from this hide.
Dogs
Facilities
When to visit
Opening times
Visitor Centre : Open 7 days a week 10am to 5pm. Refreshments available 10am to 4:30pmReserve open from dawn until 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.
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
Our seasonal trails!
Early Autumn is a great time to look for butterflies at Lackford Lakes. Almost half of the butterflies recorded in the UK have been seen here. Follow the blue trail to find out some facts about butterflies.
For a suggested donation of £3 visitors can borrow a pair of binoculars. For a small donation children can try the spotter sheet.
Just head inside when you arrive to find out more!
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 teens: Creative wet felting workshop at lackford lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Family course: Creative wet felting workshop for 6-11 year olds
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Caught in the act - mid Suffolk otters on trail cameras
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Bird song and Id guided walk
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Autumn Discovery day at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Young wardens- Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Lackford Lakes weekend wildlife club
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Monthly morning guided walk at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Naturally Art - Treemendous colours
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
My Naturewatch Camera course
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
B.T.O. Project Owl: Secrets of the night
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Monthly afternoon guided walk at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HXLackford Lakes Blog
Lizards, dragonflies and butterflies enjoying the summer
It has been very sunny this summer at the lakes and the result is much of our smaller creatures have been showing really well. Common…
Grebes and colourful butterflies
As we move into August at the lakes the young grebes are now fairly big and there seems to be an explosion of colourful butterflies…
Beautiful butterflies and Lackford dragons (dragonflies / damselflies)
As we move into the middle of summer at Lackford Lakes we enter the time when our smaller creatures become really active around the…
School visits to Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes by John Ferguson
Lackford Lakes by Mark Gosbee
Lackford Lakes visitor centre by John Ferguson
Sir David Attenborough by Tom Marshall
"England’s wildlife is under great and ever growing pressure. It is vital that we restore our land on a landscape scale so that it can support more wild plants and animals. "
-Sir David Attenborough
