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 reserve and car park is open daily from 8am to 5pm.
The car park gate will be locked at 5pm.
Toilets available 10am to 3:30pm.
Takeaway catering available 10am to 3:30pm.
The visitor centre, hides and the summer trail remain closed.
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.
Parts of this reserve are accessible by mobility scooter.
The Winter Hide, reached by a firm 150m path from the car park, offers easy access for all visitors.
Dogs
Facilities
When to visit
Opening times
Reserve and car park open daily 8am - 5pm (temporary restriction).Toilets open 10am to 3:30pm
Takeaway catering between 10am and 3:30pm.
Shop open between 10am and 3.30pm.
The visitor centre, summer footpath and 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!
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
Pond Dipping Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Pond Dipping Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HX
Pond Dipping Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Lackford Lakes, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk, IP28 6HXLackford Lakes Blog
Go on a minibeast hunt at Lackford Lakes!
Summer has definitely arrived at Lackford Lakes and the reserve is literally buzzing with excitement. It is a great time of year to go…
Look out for butterflies, dragonflies and other insects
Summer is a great time to look at our other residents. Almost anywhere you go at Lackford Lakes you will see our butterflies,…
Summer is for dragonflies and butterflies
Since our last update, the sun has continued to shine so I am going to call it summer even though it is the last few days of spring.…
School visits to Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes by John Ferguson
Lackford Lakes by Mark Gosbee
Lackford Lakes visitor centre by John Ferguson
Bird spotter sheet