Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve

About the reserve

There are exciting changes taking place at Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve
 

LEADER are giving us a grant of £44,044.20 which will be spent on:

• Wildlife cameras
• A revamp of the education centre foyer
• Sensory garden landscaping and new seating
• An information hub near the education centre
• A new welcome sign

Veolia Environmental Trust, with money from the Landfill Communities Fund, are giving us a grant of £225,698 which will mainly be spent on:

• A new Tern hide
• A new pond and boardwalk
• A new Welcome Hut 
• Wildlife Sculpture Trail
• Signage
• New picnic benches

Find out more

The Reserve

It’s hard to believe that Blashford Lakes nature reserve used to be a series of lifeless gravel pits when you consider the brilliant array of wildlife it now supports. The woodlands, lakes and grasslands at Blashford hum with life and vitality, attracting a plethora of wild birds such as redpolls, bitterns, bramblings and kingfishers. 

With six bird hides and 8km of rolled gravel paths, bird-watching has never been easier. Up to 5,000 birds can been seen at Blashford Lakes during the winter - some birds travel all the way from Scandinavia to spend their winters here! Common terns, lapwings and oyster catchers are often seen feeding on the lakes.

During the spring you may be lucky enough to catch a starling murmuration. Summer is also an excellent time to visit; great clouds of dragonflies and damselflies sparkle like jewels in the sun and bluebells and daffodils carpet the woodland floor. Blashford Lakes is a wonderful place to visit, whether you’re a veteran birder, a keen walker or simply enjoy being among nature.

Blashford Lakes has its very own Education Centre, a hive of activity and learning, fully equipped with a large classroom, toilet facilities and two mobility scooters which can be hired out by prior arrangement. To find out more, please visit the Blashford Lakes Education Centre webpage.

Download the trail guide