Published: Tuesday, 17th March 2026
Sevenoaks District Council has secured a grant in excess of £1.6m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver major improvements to the much-loved Bradbourne Lakes in Sevenoaks.
This significant investment marks a major milestone in the Council’s long-term ambition to restore and revitalise one of the District’s most cherished public spaces.
The £1,633,549 of funding will support the Council’s Bradbourne Re bourne project — the most extensive overhaul of the lakes since their creation nearly 300 years ago. This investment represents one of the largest heritage and landscape restoration projects ever carried out in the Sevenoaks District.
The site, originally part of the Bradbourne Estate, comprises five interconnected ornamental lakes dating back to 1740 that feed the ecologically important River Darent.
The grant, combined with more than £500,000 of funding secured from housing developers, will enable a wide programme of heritage, ecological and community-focused improvements.
Preparation works, including designs, surveys, tree works and securing planning permission, have already taken place so the project is ready to move ahead.
The majority of the works are scheduled to begin in autumn 2026 and include:
- Draining and restoring all five lakes, using reclaimed and locally sourced materials where possible
- Repairing and upgrading sluices, bridges, leaks and lake banks
- Removing silt and repurposing it to create new reedbeds and vegetation zones, boosting biodiversity and improving water quality
- Enhancing green spaces with new wildflower planting and improved pathways
- Developing a new natural play area, installing an accessible toilet, and new homes for bats and birds
- Supporting wildlife in the River Darent through improved water flow and quality
Throughout the project and after the restoration works have finished, a programme of volunteering, community engagement, educational and wellbeing-focused activities will be delivered in partnership with organisations including the Kent Wildlife Trust, West Kent Mind, South East River Trust and Historic England’s Rejuvenate project.
Cllr Irene Roy, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Cleaner and Greener, welcomed the announcement, and says:
“Everyone at the Council wish to wholeheartedly thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund for this substantial grant. This project would simply not be possible without their help.
“Bradbourne Lakes are a jewel in the heart of the community, and this funding means we have the green light to move ahead with our ambitious plans to restore and enhance this unique heritage landscape.
“These improvements will make the site more accessible, more sustainable, and better for wildlife, while creating new opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the area.
“I want to give credit to the Bradbourne Residents’ Association, who have been campaigning since 2011 to regenerate the lakes. Thanks to their hard work, determination and input into our plans, we’ve successfully secured this important source of funding so residents now, and into the future, can enjoy this wonderful park.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, adds: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support Sevenoaks District Council in restoring Bradbourne Lakes. This project will not only protect an important part of Sevenoaks heritage but also rejuvenate a much‑loved green space for both people and wildlife. By improving biodiversity, enhancing public access and creating new opportunities for learning, wellbeing and volunteering, Bradbourne Lakes will continue to be a place local people can be proud of for generations to come.”
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
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 £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
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