Needham Lake

Needham Lake in Needham Market is a great walk, whatever the weather. Needham Lake is man-made, having originally been rough, open meadowland. During the 1970s gravel was extracted during the construction of the nearby A14 and the pit was flooded to form the lake, which is now managed by Mid Suffolk District Council.

During the extraction, Ice Age discoveries were made and numerous evidence of pre-historic life was found! There’s a board near the Needham Lake Suffolk car park giving more information on this, which makes a fascinating read!

In 1986 the lake was extended to create a pond which attracts and encourages more wildlife. King’s Meadow was also added to the site creating an area of 27 acres. There are numerous varieties of trees alongside the lake including White Poplar and Rowan or Mountain Ash. Walnut trees can be seen at King’s Meadow. Along the river are Alder and Elder trees and conifers such as Larch and Scots Pine.

The lake is well stocked with Tench, Roach, Perch, Carp, Bream, Chub and the predatory Pike which has been known to snatch and eat ducklings as they paddle across deeper waters! There are marsh plants and reeds which provide shelter for water fowl and where Reed Warblers are known to nest. A great variety of birds visit the lake and its environs making it a splendid venue for bird spotters.

The lake has loads of parking space and picnic areas. It is a favourite place for residents of the town and attracts many visitors from further afield, including many of my guests, who always feed back on how nice it is. Events are organised for children during school holidays and parties of schoolchildren often visit the lake during termtime.

The surrounds of the lake have also been used for Open Air Theatre and Local Dog Shows and the lake was even used as part of the Paralympic Flame Celebrations during the 2012 Olympics.

There’s a wonderful wooden sculpture of a mother and child, bizarrely with a goose and a fish! Not sure what the story is here but it’s very interesting and well worth a look. You can watch our video around Needham Lake for a bit more of an insight.

It’s not a long walk round so can be done with kids quite easily. You can bring a picnic but there is a great little tea room serving a range of food and drink, including ice creams, homemade cakes, light lunches, etc., which helps fund youth work in the local community with The Mix Stowmarket. The Needham Lakes cafe and visitor centre opened in May 2022.

If you’re a car boot sale fan, then the Needham Market car boot is held here. The Needham Lake car boot is a long standing fixture of the local car boot scene!

We have another blog post covering Needham Lake play area and walks, with a video on it from our YouTube Channel. This is the gist of the video, which you may find interesting in conjunction with what you’ve already read.

Discovering the Tranquillity of Needham Lake: Suffolk’s Hidden Treasure

Hello, it’s Carl, here to introduce you to one of Suffolk’s lovely, lesser-known spots – Needham Lake. This picturesque lake sits right on the edge of Needham Market, an aptly named location that feels like a well-kept secret!

As you approach, you’ll find a charming tea room and a family-friendly playground to the left. Conveniently, there’s a large, free car park behind it, so parking is easy and stress-free.

Wander Over the River Gipping

Just ahead, a quaint bridge takes you over the peaceful River Gipping. Fun fact: at Woodfarm, all our Barns in the meadow are named after Suffolk rivers, including this one! While the playground buzzes with activity, the river adds a touch of calm to the area.

A Stroll Around Needham Lake

Needham Lake itself is a peaceful oasis filled with local wildlife. A circular walking path hugs the lake, offering a gentle 20- to 30-minute stroll, ideal for a nature escape and some birdwatching. Located just 10 minutes from Woodfarm HQ, it’s the perfect spot for a quick getaway to recharge and enjoy Suffolk’s natural beauty.

All the above is our subjective opinion, but Needham Lake is also listed on TripAdvisor, which is also very much part of our industry too, as we have tonnes of their reviews as part of the spreading of the reputation of Woodfarm.

As I type this in October 2024, they are listed as #1 of 9 things to do in Needham Market, which is cool, but I will point out for legal reasons that as at today there are 131 reviews, and TripAdvisor performs checks on reviews. Each one is the opinion of a TripAdvisor member and each review is their subjective opinion, not that of TripAdvisor LLC. I guess you could ask them for a transparency report to learn more, but that’s probably going a bit OTT!

Needham Lakes is easy to get to – you will stumble across it as you enter Needham Market from the A14, just ten minutes from Woodfarm Barns.

Needham Lake, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8NU.