EXPERIENCE SUMMER
Join us for a spectacular summer day out at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens.
In the summer, visitors are welcomed by the beauty and tranquillity of the gardens.
Visit the beautiful woodland gardens to see the summer wildflowers, Emperor Dragonflies, colourful Damselflies, wandering wallabies, deer and more.
Visitors can expect to see the later flowering Polar Bear Rhododendrons and the sweet smelling Viscosum Azaleas. Marvel at the many rare Acer trees, with their unusually shaped, colourful, feathery leaves and their attractive bark.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is home to roughly 100 different species of Oak trees, with a collection of 30 different Oak trees from around the world.
“The garden is a true paradise and in summer has many species of wild orchids and wildflowers apart from the amazing collection of trees, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Camellias.”
SUMMER WILDLIFE
If one sits still and quietly observes, a myriad of wildlife can be seen, including Stoats, Weasels, Field Mice and various types of deer with their young. There are several wild Wallabies in the gardens, and these can very often be seen in the area of Oak Walk.
BIRDS
Bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts will love visiting Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens during the summer months.
To date, we have recorded 65 different bird species thriving in the gardens. Among the chorus of young birds, you might even spot baby owls being fed, and in some areas of the garden, a pair of Red Kites can be spotted flying overhead.
Ornithologists and bird photographers love the gardens because of the variety of our feathered guests drawn by the abundant insect life. Across the lake from the Engine House Café you will find our Oak Walk. The open woodlands are ideal for flycatchers - and of course all around the lakes.
Green woodpeckers are often spotted, whilst herons enjoy the shallow lakeside water where large carp feed on the surface. Birds regularly sighted in summer include electric blue kingfishers, yellow Wagtails and even Buzzards, who have taken to nesting in one of the giant Sequoia (Redwoods) from California.
INSECTS
Explore the areas around the lakes and see how many butterflies you can spot. So far we have seen white and red admirals, skippers, tortoiseshells, silver washed fritillary’s and purple hair streaks. The dragonflies and damselflies sparkle in the light as they skim the waters across the lakes.
JOEY WATCH
Leonardslee is home to both free-roaming wallabies and wallabies in the breeding enclosure to keep the young joeys safe. With the joeys growing up fast pouch life is starting to get a little tight and their need to explore the world around them grows stronger.
LIVE LIFE IN FULL BLOOM
For less than £1 per week, per adult in a joint membership.
Follow our journey on Instagram.
