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.

Establishing it as a Nature Reserve, The Greensand Trust’s vision is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and rich heritage of this remarkable site, whilst providing sensitive, sustainable access and promoting understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of this landscape. With much of the reserve being recognised as a County Wildlife Site, the Nature Reserve is managed to provide 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. 

Managed by The Greensand Trust the nature reserve is run on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of both visitors and wildlife. 

If you would like to bring an educational group to Clophill Lakes, you will need to book.

Please email:  [email protected]

We hope you enjoy your visit!

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Opening Times

Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve OPEN 9 am - 6 pm daily (last entry 5.30pm)

Find us at Shefford Road, Beadlow, Beds SG17 5TR (off the A507 just outside Clophill village)

Many sat nav systems are taking visitors to Webber Close in Shefford which has a similar postcode SG17 5TA - please search using our name or use the What3words app 'twice/half/protrude'. For more information on how to find us visit here.

Riverside Cafe open 9.30 am - 4 pm daily (card or contactless payment only, please - hot food finishes at 3pm)

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 when circumstances do not allow this. We will try to keep these to a minimum.

• Car park - 9 am - 6pm 
• Riverside Café - 9.30am - 4pm
• Toilets - 9am - 5pm

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY ONLY

What the site has to offer

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. It's an 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 through it.

Dog walking

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.

Dog walking at the park

Cainhoe Castle Scheduled Monument

With its associated moated site, fishponds, and field systems, 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.

Clophill Lakes history

Facilities

The Riverside Visitor Centre with its Riverside Café serving barista coffee from local suppliers Wooden Hill and light snacks open 9.30am - 4pm daily (hot food until 3pm).

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Parking at the Nature Reserve

We operate an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) parking system  - you must pay for your parking before you leave the car park.

Payment onsite via payment machine located in the car park, where you can pay by card or contactless or scan the QR code on the signs, which will take you directly to the Your Parking Space payment page - you don't need to download the app or create an account.

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Contact Us at Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve

Email us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

You can also send us a message via our Clophill Lakes Facebook page or our Greensand Trust Facebook page, but we may not be able to respond immediately.

You can contact the office during opening hours on 01525 623098.

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Things to note               

• Follow the paths and keep dogs on a lead at all times
• Please take all rubbish home, as no general waste bins are provided
• Site is partially wheelchair accessible (more paths coming soon)
• Cycling to the reserve is possible but through the main entrance only (you can leave it at our bike rack), but no cycling or bikes are allowed around the reserve.
• No fishing
• No swimming
• No BBQs 
• No horse riding
• No drones, metal detectors, kites or model aircraft, please
• No open fires and no camping
• No geocaching

Please follow The Countryside Code at all times