Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve

Welcome to Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve – a new nature reserve in the heart of the Flit Valley, between Clophill and Chicksands, offering wetlands, flower-rich grasslands and woodland. Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve lies in Greensand Country, defined by the Greensand Ridge forming the backdrop to the north.

  • The Lakes: As a former Fuller’s Earth quarry, the site has been shaped by its industrial heritage. Warren Lake and Castle Lake lie where the quarry extraction took place, and the whole site has become a haven for wildlife.
  • Habitats: the nature reserve offers a mosaic of habitats such as wetlands, flower-rich grasslands and woodland which support a wide range of species including otters, dragonflies and damselflies and wetland birds. important haven for wildlife. It includes the Cainhoe Lakes County Wildlife Site (CWS), recognised for its habitat mosaic of semi-improved acid and neutral grassland, plant species, woodland, scrub, hedgerows, marshy grassland, swamp, ditches, ponds and lakes. It is also recognised for its wintering birds – both waders and wildfowl. Areas of the site are part of the Flit Valley County Wildlife Site and River County Wildlife Site.
  • River Flit: the site lies in the heart of the Flit Valley and is carved by the River Flit which runs with through it.
  • Dog walking at the park: Responsible dog owners are welcome to walk their dogs at Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve but we ask that they remain ON LEAD at all times to protect both the wildlife and heritage of this special site. We have a dog fun area specifically for our canine friends where they can be let off lead.
  • Cainhoe Castle Scheduled Monument: with its associated moated site, fishponds, and field systems is a prominent landscape feature to the south. A footpath goes through the site towards the A507, and all of the archaeological features can be clearly seen from the footpath. Please stick to the footpath as the archaeological earthworks are extremely fragile and are vulnerable to erosion and damage if they are walked over.
  • Facilities: The Riverside Visitor Centre with its Riverside Café serving barista coffee from local suppliers Wooden Hill and light snacks.

Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve will OPEN 9am – 5pm daily

Riverside Cafe open 10am – 3pm (card or contactless payment only please)

Please make sure you exit the nature reserve before closing time as we don’t want any visitors to be locked in!

Please note that our Ranger team try their hardest to open up and close at the advertised times but there may be times where circumstances do not allow this. We will try to keep these to a minimum.

  • Car park – 9am – 5pm
  • Riverside Café – 10am to 3pm
  • Toilets – 9am – 5pm

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY ONLY