About the reserve

Nestled in the Wylye Valley between Salisbury and Warminster, Langford Lakes nature reserve is an ideal place for bird watching. The four lakes and wet scrape provide a vital stopping off point and resident habitat for about 150 different bird species. The reserve has a relaxing atmosphere with good level paths and you can enjoy watching wildfowl from five hides overlooking the lakes. You may even see some rarities, such as osprey. Residents include kingfisher, water rail and gadwall.

There is an on-site cafe, open Wednesdays to Sundays 10am - 4pm.

When gravel was excavated during the 1960s and 1970s the process left behind holes that filled with water and were turned into a commercial fishery. Since we acquired the lakes in 2001, we have created islands, ponds and wader scrapes that provide habitat for birds such as redshank and sandpiper that probe the mud for food. We have improved the 800m stretch of Wylye River for fish, designated a Special Area of Conservation. And we have transformed a neighbouring field into the Great Meadow wetland, which opened in September 2012.

We are excited to announce that construction of a sand martin nesting bank was completed in 2024, funded by National Highways Environment and Wellbeing Designated Fund as part of the Network for Nature programme. Watch the live nest cam here.

In spring watch for great-crested grebes shaking their heads in courtship. Reed warbler, waders and terns drop in on their summer migration. As winter advances shoveler and wigeon join the other ducks present all year round and occasionally the endangered and secretive bittern pays a visit.

We run family and educational activities from The Brockbank Centre, which hosts the Kingfisher Cafe, and is also available to hire.