Lackford Lakes - Michael Andrews
Mike Andrews
Lapwing by John Langford
Brimstone butterfly by Mike Andrews
View from Double Decker viewpoint at Lackford Lakes
By Steve Aylward
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Assistance dogs only on all trails except on the Sayer's Breck trail where all dogs are permitted. All dogs must be kep on leads at all times to protect the wildlife and delicate habitats.
When to visit
Opening times
Visitor Centre 10am - 5pm (cafe open til 4pm)Car park 9am - 5pm
Nature reserve open dawn til 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, shop and café are open 7 days a week. There's always someone in the 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 cafe sells hot and cold drinks, a range of toasted ciabattas and sausage rolls as well as delicious local cakes from Sponge, ice cream from Saffron and Lickety Ices and crisps from award winning Two Farmers.
We have a range of items for different dietary requirements and preferences, chat to the team to find out more.
Contact us
Upcoming events
Winter Bird photography
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
'Build a nestbox' week at Lackford Lakes
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
Holiday Club at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Walk: Bird I.D with Paul Holness
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
'Build a nestbox' week at Lackford Lakes
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
Young Wardens at Lackford Lakes
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 – February 2025
This month our ducks are looking best, and some birds are thinking about the breeding season with displaying and singing beginning.
Ducks
Late winter / early spring is the time when our ducks look best as they start showing off on our lakes to impress the females. The sailing lake and the eastern lakes are best for watching the diving ducks like the pochard with its smart red head and silver back. The slough is best for the noisy teal and wigeon. Others to look for include gadwall and tufted duck.
Other water birds
Snipe and lapwing continue to be present on the slough. Look out for little egret and great white egret too. We had our first oystercatcher of the year today so another hint that spring is just around the corner.
Birds of prey
Are also thinking about the breeding season so worth looking to the sky over the reserve and you might get some displaying sparrowhawks, buzzards and marsh harriers. Other birds of prey around include kestrel and red kite.
Resident birds
They are beginning to sing and search for nesting sites on the reserve. Song thrush, dunnock, robin, wren, marsh tit and even siskin are beginning to sing. February and March offer a good opportunity to get to know these songs as they start singing before they are joined my all the warblers in April. Listen out also for drumming great spotted woodpeckers as you walk about the reserve.
Looking forward to March
- More of our resident birds start singing
- The first migrant birds from Africa return – chiffchaff, blackcap and sand martins expected.
-Early butterflies on nice days – look out for brimstone, peacock and comma.
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.