Slough - November 11th 2025
Lackford Lakes centre
John Langford
Lackford Lakes - Michael Andrews
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Dogs on a lead are only permitted on the red Sayers Breck path.
When to visit
Opening times
Visitor Centre 10am - 4.30pm (cafe open til 4pm)Car park 9am - 5pm
Nature Reserve open dawn to 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.
Open seven days a week, there is always someone in the visitor centre to help you plan your visit, identify anything you've spotted or chat to you about the work we do and how you can support us.
The coffee shop sells barista coffee and a range of snacks including toasties, soup, scones, local ice creams and delicious locally-made cakes. Vegan and Gluten-free options are available, chat to the team to find out more.
Contact us
Environmental designation
What's On at Lackford Lakes
Connect: For adults with a learning disability
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Willow Workshop: Bird feeders
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Workshop: Winter bird photography
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Tots at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Warden Walk at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Workshop: The Nature of Clay
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , SuffolkWorkshop: Winter bird photography
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Connect: For adults with a learning disability
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Tots at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , SuffolkWildlife update – Early January 2026
It has been an exciting start to January at the lakes, with our starlings, crossbills, siskins, redpoll all being seen in good numbers around the reserve.
We have now seen 73 species of birds around the reserve in 2026. The smaller birds have been stealing the show, especially around the centre and in ash carr. The feeders at the centre have been busy with finches like greenfinches and tits like long-tailed tit. In the trees around the centre, good numbers of siskin and redpoll can be seen. Ash Carr has been good for crossbill, treecreeper, nuthatch and siskin. Crossbills have also been good on the path to Steggall’s viewpoint.
Water birds have a bit more of tricky time, with most of our lakes frozen for a few days. The Sailing Lake and long reach from Bess’s has kept open water so our water birds have gathered there. We are now beginning to melt so our water birds should start to spread out throughout our lakes. Look out from teal, tufted duck, pochard, little egret, great white egret, grey heron and wigeon. We seem to have a bittern spending the winter on the reserve - best chance of seeing this is down at steggall's viewpoint.
The starlings at the end of the day have been amazing for the start of 2026, with around 7000 gathering over the reedbed towards the end of the day. We are now sure how long they will do this so best to visit soon if you wish to catch the starlings. With daylight stretching, they could appear anytime after 3pm. Yesterday they made a late appearance so expect to stay until dark (currently 4:30pm).
Mammal wise – we have now recorded five species of mammal on the reserve including hare and regularly sightings of otter. For otter you will have to be lucky, your best chance will be from Steggall’s viewpoint.
For a winter visit, we recommend an afternoon visit to the reserve. This will allow you to see the best of our winter wildlife – water birds, smaller birds and to finish with the starlings towards dusk.
Paul Harris/2020VISION
Activities & binocular hire
Hire our discovery pack - £6
Packed with ideas and kit to get you out closer to nature, all in our handy carry bag.
Seasonal spotter sheet - £2
Look out for seasonal visitors and resident wildlife that call Lackford home.
Binocular hire - £4
Get a closer look at Lackford's wildlife. Different sizes available for big or small hands.
Green Snape Community Group visiting Martlesham Wilds. Image credit: Lesley Walduck
Group visits
We welcome groups of all sizes at Lackford Lakes and can provide guided walks, introductory walks and refreshments. If you are looking to arrange a group visit, please email us and we will help you get the most from your visit:
Kingfisher © Malcolm Brown
Become a member
The support of our members helps us care for wildlife-rich landscapes such as Lackford Lakes. Join today, or renew your membership, and help protect and restore Suffolk's wildlife and wild places.