
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
During the current COVID-19 restrictions, this nature reserve is only open for local people.
Catering, shop and hides currently closed.
Toilets are open 10am to 3:30pm
The car park and trails are open from 8am to 5pm.
Location
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.
Dogs
Facilities
When to visit
Opening times
Reserve and car park open daily 8am - 5pmToilets open 10am to 3:30pm
Takeaway catering, shop 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
Lackford Lakes Blog
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…
Moods of Lackford
Winter at Lackford has its many moods and this year has been no different. As we have moved into winter, we have already experienced…
Autumn really gets going at Lackford in October
These last few weeks have started to feel a lot more like autumn here at the lakes. Lots of ducks are now arriving to spend the winter…
School visits to Lackford Lakes
Bird spotter sheet