Events at Lakenheath Fen
Discover exciting events all year at Lakenheath Fen. Why not join us to see what's in our moth trap, or book your place on our spring-time guided 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
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
- Great Reed Warbler - first seen around 9:30am on 1 May (between Mere Hide and Trial Wood) and has been singing on and off (and seen occasionally) all day so far.
- Cuckoo - singing daily across the reserve, with the odd female seen too now - 1 May
- Common Buzzard - 2 soaring high over New Fen - 1 May
- Black-tailed Godwit - 7 on the Washland - 1 May
- Common Sandpiper - 2 on the Washland - 1 May
- Hobby - first reported on 18 April. 22+ seen from Joist Fen Viewpoint especially - 1 May
- Curlew - 1 on the Washland - 29 April
- Lapwing - 2 on the Washland - 29 April
- Nightingale - 1 heard singing along the riverbank, halfway from Joist Fen to Botany Bay - 27 April
- Cattle Egret - 1 on the Washland - 27 April
- Bittern - 13+ booming males on our last survey (28 April) - and seen regularly during the daytime now.
- Avocet - 2 on the Washland - 27 April.
- Swallow - 2 seen in flight over the Washland - 22 April
- Garden Warbler - beginning to sing across the reserve now, along with Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler and Whitethroat these can be heard often in scrubby areas
- Lesser Whitethroat - Scarcer than Whitethroat but present here now.
- Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler - singing across the reserve now, frequently heard.
- Nightingale - one in sub-song (quiet, understated, practice-type singing) near the Washland Viewpoint on 19 April
- Swift - the first of 2026 seen flying over the Washland (just the one!) - 19 April
- Lesser Whitethroat - one singing north of the river at East Wood - 19 April
- Redshank - 2 on the Washland - 1 May
- Garganey - 1 on the Washland (1 May), 1 on the pool at Joist Fen (30 April)
- Little Egret - 1 on the Washland - 1 May
- Lesser Black-backed Gull - 4 on the Washland - 19 April
- Egyptian Goose - 2 on the Washland - 19 April
- Oystercatcher - 1 on the Washland - 1 May
- Mute Swan - 8 on the Washland - 1 May
- Shelduck - 4 on the Washland - 1 May
- Osprey - 1 flying over the Washland - 18 April
- Grasshopper Warbler - one singing near the Washland Viewpoint - 27 April
- Sand Martin and House Martin - look out for these in sometimes large groups with Swallow flying over wet areas and reedbeds anywhere on the reserve - daily.
- Great White Egret - 1 on the Washland - 1 May
- Willow Warbler- first heard on 9 April (near the Washland) and another in Brandon Fen - 14 April
- Grey Heron - 1 in flight over Mere Hide - 1 May
- Stonechat - Daily perched on riverside vegetation.
- Blackcap and Chiffchaff - singing all over the reserve, daily now.
- Reed Bunting - Sometimes on the feeders at the Centre and the Photo Station too.
- Marsh Harrier - Sky-dancing and hunting across the reserve, daily.
- 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!
- Cetti's Warbler - Calling across the reserve frequently, from damper areas
- Skylark and Meadow Pipit - seen flying overhead on occasion.
OTHER WILDLIFE
- 10 species of moths in our trap on 30 May, including the first Lychnis, Seraphim, White Ermine, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Pale Prominent and Figure-of-Eighty of 2026.
- Banded Demoiselle damselfly - first record of the year - 26 April
- Four-spotted Chaser - seen near Joist Fen for the first time in 2026 on 23 April
- Large Red Damsefly - the first of the year seen basking near the Dogwood hedge near the Visitor Centre - 19 April
- Otter - 2 seen in the river together early morning on 17 and 19 April
- Small tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange-tip, Small White, Holly Blue and Brimstone butterflies are regularly sighted now.
Contact Lakenheath Fen
lakenheath@rspb.org.uk Lakenheath Fen, Station Rd Lakenheath, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 9AD 01842 863400