Published: Tuesday, 19th November 2024
The restoration of a much loved park and lakes in Sevenoaks has taken a step forward with the appointment of a project manager for the ‘Bradbourne Re-bourne’ scheme.
Lina Madsen took on the role of managing the £2.1 million project in November 2024. She has previously worked on heritage, ecology and community schemes in Glasgow and London.
The ‘Bradbourne Re-bourne’ improvements, managed by Sevenoaks District Council, will see the biggest overhaul of the Lakes since they were built nearly 300 years ago.
The five ornamental lakes date back to around 1740 and formed part of the Bradbourne Estate. Water from the Lakes feeds the River Darent, one of a handful of ecologically important chalk streams in the country.
The Lakes are well maintained, but now are in need of major capital investment.
Bradbourne Re-bourne will restore the 300 year old engineering marvel of interconnecting lakes and waterfalls.
The Lakes will be dammed, drained and de-silted. Sluices and leaks will be fixed. The silt will be reused to form new reedbeds and areas for vegetation, improving biodiversity. This will also improve water quality, supporting wildlife in the River Darent. Green spaces will be planted with wildflowers.
Paths will be improved, making the Lakes accessible to all. A new natural play area with benches, volunteer hub and boxes for bats and birds will be installed.
Project Partners, The Kent Wildlife Trust, South East River Trust, Mind and Historic England, will run projects to promote conservation, protect the heritage and support residents’ mental health.
Development funding of £253,000 has already been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help the Council progress its plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £1.6 million at a later date.
The remaining £502,000 is funding secured by the Council from housing developers.
Lina Madsen says: “I am really excited to be involved in this once in a generation restoration project. It combines our heritage, nature and the local community to improve a much loved jewel in the heart of Sevenoaks.
“With the funding and the people in place, we can really move forward with this exciting project.
“Over the coming months, we will produce the necessary ecological and structural surveys and apply for various approvals and permissions in preparation for spades in the ground in early 2026.
“During the extensive improvement works, the Lakes may be closed to the public. But I’m confident it will be worth the sacrifice as we’ll have a public space that’s brilliant for people and wildlife that we can all be proud of.”
Cllr Irene Roy, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Cleaner and Greener, adds: “Bradbourne Lakes is a very special place, so I am very excited about Bradbourne Re-bourne moving to the next stage. With her wealth of experience, we are very fortunate to have Lina managing the project.
“Bradbourne Re-bourne will make this site more accessible to all. The other changes will support nature, including new trees and hedges, helping to do our bit to tackle climate change.
“We want to thank the Bradbourne Residents’ Association who have given up much of their time to contribute to our plans. We look forward to working with them to deliver this exciting project.”
Notes to editors
The Council employed leisure experts, Land Use Consultants, to seek the views and priorities of visitors, the Bradbourne Residents’ Association and the wider community on the future of the Lakes.
The public wanted action to desilt the lakes and repair the lake edges, repair broken structures and the paths, cut back overgrown vegetation and make changes to support wildlife along with other improvements.
Based on the community’s priorities, Land Use Consultants wrote a detailed vision for the site, which was the basis of the ‘Bradbourne Re-bourne’ project.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Bradbourne Re-Bourne has initially been granted round one development funding of £253,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £1.6 million.
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
- More articles in the news archive
- Sevenoaks District Council news RSS feed