Clophill Lakes

The Greensand Trust is delighted to offer a new Nature Reserve at Clophill Lakes featuring otters, sand martins and colourful dragonflies in the wetlands, and skylarks and wildflowers in the grassland areas. We are now open daily (9am to 6pm) providing public access in a sensitive and sustainable manner which conserves and enhances these emerging habitats, whilst enabling visitors to share in the benefits this very special environment provides.

Please note: dogs on lead and cashless payment only. No cycling or fishing.

Find us at Shefford Road, Beadlow, Beds SG17 5TR

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.

Your ongoing support of our fundraising for the site is very much appreciated - please visit our Clophill Lakes Appeal

Clophill Lakes marks first anniversary with completion of new boardwalk!

The Greensand Trust invites you to visit Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve this Spring as it celebrates its first year open to the public with the completion of a new boardwalk funded by the local community.

The Trust wishes to express its sincere thanks to local people for the support, care and consideration shown by visitors to the site over the past year, since it opened on 5^th April 2025. Their respect for the site has helped wildlife continue to flourish within the reserve, while enabling visitors to access and enjoy this beautiful location.

Thanks to the incredible support shown by the local community, the 70m boardwalk, destroyed by an arson attack last August, has now been restored and is open for use. Well over 800 individuals, community groups and companies made donations, raising over £100K.

Chief Executive Gill Welham commented:

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of so many, we’re pleased to announce that the new boardwalk has now been built. Contributions from our supporters enabled us not only to rebuild the boardwalk, but also to create a fully surfaced path linking to it, completing a fully accessible circular route around Castle Lake. Together, in under 8 months, we have created an even more accessible route which provides fantastic views of both lakes and is suitable for all pedestrians, including buggy, mobility scooter and wheelchair users. At approximately 1 mile long, this loop will once again become a firm favourite for visitors. We’re humbled by the support of the community, both near and far, who came together to make this happen. Thank you.

The accessible route between both lakes now comprises a steel framed boardwalk with viewing platform separated by a causeway (which acts as a firebreak) and approximately 500 metres of surfaced path. Advice was taken to create the most resilient structure with the funds available, using a mixture of techniques and materials.

New Opening Hours Coming

Summer Opening times commence from Saturday 28^th March with the arrival of British Summer Time meaning the reserve will be open 9am – 6pm daily with the Riverside Café operating from 9.30am to 4pm, enabling visitors to enjoy the reserve for longer.

Come and make the most of the arrival of Spring with a visit to the reserve in Shefford Road, Beadlow, to see tufted ducks, coots, skylarks, kingfishers, otters and so much more amazing wildlife.

Visit our website for details of what’s happening this Spring