The Shallows Lackford Lakes Jesse Walker
shoveler by Mike Andrews
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Non-assistance dogs on a short lead are permitted on the Sayer's Breck trail only.
When to visit
Opening times
Weekdays 8am - 5pmWeekends 9am - 5pm
Visitor Centre 10am - 5pm (cafe closes at 4pm)
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 preferrences, chat to the team to find out more.
Species
Contact us
Environmental designation
Wildlife update - May 2024
May is a great month to look for wildlife at Lackford Lakes. The migrant birds like nightingale have arrived, butterflies are about, and the first dragonflies are emerging.
Spring migrants
The ones that arrived during March and early April, are now starting on their first broods so are now less vocal. These include blackcap, chiffchaff and sedge warbler. The others that arrived from the middle of April, are now in full song. These include nightingale, whitethroat, reed warbler and garden warbler so now is a great time to visit to listen to these. The red route (Sayers Breck path) is best for these. Other migrants to look out for include swallow, cuckoo, house martin and swifts. Check out the sailing lake for these.
Resident birds
Many are now feeding young around the reserve and some are even thinking about their second broods like song thrushes and blackbirds. On Wednesday our blue tits on the camera hatched and at the side of the building great tits are also feeding young in one of our boxes. The moorhens have young in the centre pool and down at Steggall’s viewpoint, great crested grebes have also got some young.
Birds of prey
Hobby are back after their summer in Africa. Look on the sailing lake and down the eastern lakes for these. Our male marsh harrier continues to show well, particularly around the centre. We think the females are on nests so watch out for the food pass, where the male passes food to the female. Red kites are also continuing to show well on the reserve.
Butterflies
Spring has been great for butterflies and many more species are beginning to emerge now. Look out for orange-tip, brimstone, holly blue, small tortoiseshell, speckled wood, small white and more.
Dragonflies and Damselflies
This month should see the emergence of dragonflies as many take to the wing. We would expect reports any day now. Damselflies are already coming out with some blues out there and the large red damselfly.
So May is a great month so explore all sorts of wildlife at Lackford Lakes. Please let us know in the centre what you have seen when you next visit.
Upcoming events
Nightingales Guided Walk
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Young Wardens
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Nightingales Guided Walk
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
Wild Walk: Bird I.D with Paul Holness
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
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 - £3
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.