Events at Lakenheath Fen
Discover exciting events all year at Lakenheath Fen. Why not take part in our seasonal winter wanders or book your place on our spring-time Hobby or Bittern walks?
Days out
Lakenheath Fen
Hockwold cum WiltonClosed | Opens tomorrowSee opening timesOnce a stretch of farmland, this wetland reserve is now a rich mix of reedbeds, marshes and woodlands where Kingfishers and Otters thrive.
About
On Thursday 12 February the visitor centre and toilets will be closed. The car park, trails and Mere Hide will remain open as usual.
Come to Lakenheath Fen and see how the RSPB has transformed former carrot fields into a wetland home for Kingfishers, Common Cranes, Otters and Water Voles. Where once there was farmland, now there is a vast stretch of reedbeds and grazing marshes bursting with life, as well as rich woodlands that come alive with song in spring.
Since 1995, we’ve created early 500 hectares of reedbeds, grazed fenland and wet grasslands where wildlife abounds. We make sure wildlife continues to thrive by grazing grasslands to keep grass at the right length and controlling the water levels to benefit different birds at different times of year. Now the reedbeds are established, we cut them back to maintain a mosaic of old and new reeds.
This Suffolk nature reserve forms part of a network of fenland nature reserves close by. These include The National Trust’s Wicken Fen, the Woodland Trust’s Chippenham Fen and Woodwalton Fen, which is managed by Natural England.
These, together with the washlands of the rivers Great Ouse and Nene, ensure some of the region’s natural character and variety of wildlife are protected.
At a glance
80 spaces
6 Accessible spaces Accessible parking spaces 700 m from visitor centre. No drop off point. Loose gravel surface. Stone pathway between car park and centre smooth and level with limited gradient.
Pass system in the visitor centre for those with mobility difficulties to take a car down to the first viewpoint (limited to 6 cars, speak to a member of staff).
Lighting is in car park after dark. No height restriction barrier. No overnight parking or camping. Bicycle racks available (four spaces).
Accessible car park at New Fen open all year. Closing at 4pm in winter and 5pm in summer.
Our accessible toilet is open daily and is located in a separate block next to the visitor centre entrance.
Our baby changing facilities are located in our accessible toilet.
Parts of the reserve are pushchair-friendly, such as the picnic area by the Visitor Centre, Brandon Fen trail and the central hard track through New Fen to Joist Fen.
The riverbank footpath is more uneven, with two kissing gates, making it generally unsuitable for pushchairs.
Brandon Fen Family Trail - 1.8m wide circular, flat walk of 1.1km/0.75 mile. This is the most suitable trail for easy mobility. Rolled surface with fine stone.
Our toilets are open daily and located in a separate block next to the visitor centre entrance.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Dogs are welcome on the Washland Footpath. Please keep to the designated rights of way only.
When on the Washland Footpath, please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here.
Brandon Fen trail, Trial Wood trail, the East Wood trail and the Main Circular trail are not public footpaths, so sorry, no dogs are permitted here other than assistance dogs.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.
See what’s here
Plan your visit
Recent Sightings at Lakenheath Fen
BIRDS
- Bittern - Two 'grunting' (like practice booming) males on 8 March - one at Joist Fen, one at New Fen. One seen on the Washland - 7 March
- Blackcap - 1 singing near the Visitor Centre - 8 March
- Cattle Egret - 2 in Humphrey's Paddock with the ponies (check by looking south-east from Joist Fen Viewpoint) - 8 March
- Siskin - Daily in small flocks, sometimes with Goldfinches in the trees between the Visitor Centre and the car park. 30 on 8 March
- Reed Bunting - 2 at the Visitor Centre feeders - 8 March
- Water Rail - Seen around the edge of the Washland - 7 March
- Stonechat - Daily perched on riverside vegetation- 1 seen on 7 March
- Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3 on the Washland - 7 March
- Tufted Duck - 2 on the Washland - 7 March
- Shelduck - 1 on the Washland - 7 March
- Pintail - 2 on the Washland - 7 March
- Marsh Harrier - 1 in flight over the Washland - 7 March
- Mute Swan - 8 on the Washland - 7 March
- Great White Egret - 2 on the Washland - 7 March
- Curlew - 14 flying over the reserve - 7 March
- Whooper Swan - Starting to leave on migration but a smaller overnight roost may still gather. 12 seen at midday on 7 March
- Great Crested Grebe - 2 on a trackside pool between Mere Hide and Joist Fen - 6 March. 2 displaying at Mere Hide - 5 March.
- Oystercatcher - 7 on the Washland - 6 March
- Chiffchaff - 1 in East Wood - 6 March
- Gadwall - 8 on the Washland - 6 March
- Teal - 26 on the Washland - 6 March
- Cormorant - 1 on the Washland - 6 March
- Wigeon - 70 on the Washland - 6 March
- Redshank - 1 on the Washland - 6 March
- Shoveler - 65 on the Washland - 6 March
- Little Egret - 1 on the Washland - 6 March
- Buzzard - 5 flying over Joist Fen - 5 March
- Greenfinch - 1 at the Visitor Centre feeders - 4 March
- Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 at the Visitor Centre feeders - 4 March
- Redpoll - 1 on the Visitor Centre feeders - 3 March
- Grey Heron - 2 on the Washland - 3 March
- Egyptian Goose - 2 on the Washland - 1 March
- Lapwing - Social groups flying over the reserve often- usually between 50 and 150 birds.
- Common Crane - 3 pairs seen on the reserve recently. We expect them to be here most days now, but they are elusive- keep an eye on them flying overhead!
- Redwing and Fieldfare - Still both seen regularly on the reserve, particularly in the taller trees near the Visitor Centre.
- Cetti's Warbler - Calling across the reserve frequently, from damper areas
- Marsh Tit - Daily at the Visitor Centre feeders
OTHER WILDLIFE
- Common toad - singing males heard from Joist Fen Viewpoint - 8 March
- Oak beauty moth - two caught in the moth trap along with 99 other moths - 6 March
- Small tortoiseshell butterfly - 1 seen for the first time this year - 6 March
- Roe deer - 4 along the entrance track (one buck) - 26 February
- Peacock butterfly - First seen on 24 and again on 25 February
- Brimstone butterfly - First seen on 25 February
Contact Lakenheath Fen
lakenheath@rspb.org.uk Lakenheath Fen, Station Rd Lakenheath, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 9AD 01842 863400