
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
Location
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Reserve and car park open daily 8am - 5pm.Toilets open 10am to 5pm
Catering open 10am to 4pm
The shop is open from 10am to 5pm
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
Daily activities at Lackford Lakes
There is always something going on at Lackford Lakes, we have a range of activities for you to get involved with on your visit.
To help you get more from your visit we currently provide the following activities with the suggested donations:
. Borrow a pair of binoculars to spot all our creatures hiding out there £3
. Children can pick up our seasonal spotter sheet £2
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.
What's happening at Lackford
Lackford Lakes Blog
Dragonflies, butterflies and young birds – it is July at Lackford Lakes
It is the middle of summer at the lakes and there is lots to be found and seen around the reserve. Dragonflies and butterflies are…
Summer wildlife at Lackford Lakes
June is a great time of year to witness all sorts of wildlife that we have at Lackford Lakes. It is not just the birds that flying…
The warblers are back
It certainly now feels like spring at Lackford with many of our warblers now back at the lakes. As you wander around you will hear lots…