Why Bunnies are the Reserve’s Best Friend
Meet Landguard Nature Reserve's bushy-tailed eco-warriors!
LANDGUARD NATURE RESERVE
Felixstowe
A Very Special Safe Haven for Plants, Birds & Wildlife
1.5 Miles of Stunning Coastline & Rare Wildlife Habitats
Landguard Nature Reserve is a precious vegetated shingle spit, grassland and scrub on the southern most tip of the Suffolk Heritage Coast.
For time out in nature-on-sea, with family, friends or just the binoculars, get to the point – Landguard Point, Felixstowe.
What will you discover?
Discover Landguard Nature Reserve
Felixstowe’s best kept secret – but what makes Landguard Nature Reserve so special?
Its rare vegetated shingle, plants and flowers? Its moths and migrating birds? The concrete reminders of wartimes past, abandoned where nature seems so accepting? And all this, so close to Felixstowe’s bustling seaside resort and one of the biggest cargo ports in the world…
Every visitor sees a different beauty in Landguard Nature Reserve, but the real beauty of the place is that somewhere so special is open to all.
Ecology Experience & Enjoy Bird Observatory
So many ways to explore
Escape a while and see where the board walk path takes you. Sit on the shingle, binoculars to hand, and see what bobs by… a Pied wagtail, a seal even, or perhaps a sailboat, making way for a giant cruiseliner or cargo ship?
Follow the King Charles III England Coast Path from Felixstowe Pier to Landguard Point. Or park up by the fort to wander along the sea wall, past submarine mining jetty remains to Bruff’s awesome feat of Victorian engineering – the Haven’s great protective groyne.
Walks & TrailsVisit, experience & enjoy responsibly
Landguard Nature Reserve is a joy to explore, but we need your help to keep it that way and take best care of its precious habitats and species.
Information boards around the Reserve remind about any restrictions in place to safeguard wildlife and support responsible visiting. These include advice for dogwalkers, notices to anglers and guidance on activities and paths. Further details are available on this website.
Visit Responsibly FAQs
Share the Love – Get Involved Now
If you have love of the outdoors and appreciate the value of Landguard Nature Reserve to the community, why not get involved and become a ‘Landguard-ian?’ Being active through conservation work can support a healthy mind and body, develop new skills and be great for meeting new people too.
There’s a hands-on something for everyone from seal-watching to building fences, beach cleaning or ‘bramble-bashing’, mowing and more!
Find out moreLandguard Nature Reserve Educational Visits
Find out about our ‘Coastal Discovery’ sessions now on offer FREE of charge to primary-aged children (KS1 and KS2) in schools, community groups and organisations clubs in the Felixstowe and East Suffolk area. This special invitation to dive deep into the wonders of the coastal and maritime world, is made available through our partnership with Harwich Haven Authority.
Biodiversity * Environmental Protection * Maritime Industry
Landguard Nature Reserve
As fascinating & fun as it is naturally precious
Visit the unique Landguard Nature Reserve, situated on the southern tip of Suffolk’s stunning coastline. This 33-hectare (81-acre) shingle spit offers a diverse array of flora, fauna and birdlife, making it a must-see destination for nature enthusiasts. Discover a fascinating location with a truly unique history, dotted with unusual and rare plants, shared with migrating birds, military archaeology, where huge ships pass by every day, arriving and departing at Britain’s busiest container port.
A Site of Special Scientific Interest
Landguard is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its rare vegetated shingle habitat. It is of high wildlife conservation value and supports many botanical species. A haven for wildlife, it is home to over 600 flora species alone. Its shingle spit plays host to ground-nesting birds which also feed along the shoreline. Cordons are placed around specific areas of the Reserve at certain times to benefit and protect ground-nesting birds and the fragile plants that make up the vegetated shingle. For this reason, access for dogs and anglers is restricted from April to the end of July.
A Designated Local Nature Reserve
Landguard’s wild shoreline and mix of vegetated shingle, grassland and scrub is a designated Local Nature Reserve (LNR) due to its value to the local community. The reserve is open to all and includes a network of accessible paths for all to enjoy.
Some locals show how much they care about this special place by becoming a ‘Landguard-ian’, joining the hands-on volunteer team which supports life on the Reserve. If you love the great outdoors, fancy a bit of fresh air and have a few hours to spare from time to time, why not get in touch?
