Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Encyclopedia
Leybourne Lakes Country Park is near Snodland
, in Kent
, England
. The park, which opened in 2004, was created from disused gravel pits
that have been flooded and landscaped
to make fishing and wildlife lakes.
, led past the small hamlet of Lunsford (part of Larkfield) and then past Ham Hill (part of Snodland) to feed into the River Medway
.
Snodland was once a centre of industry along the river, with papermaking
and chalk quarries being the main employers in the town. One of the former chalk pits located near to the River Medway, became Brookland Lake.
A public footpath leads from Snodland, past Brookland Lake into Leybourne Lakes.
The village of Larkfield (to the south of the lakes) has expanded rapidly since the M20
motorway was constructed in the 1970s and it continues to grow, with new housing developments being built. Mineral extraction also ceased in the 1970's. The gravel pits and surrounding area were designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest
(SNCI).
The site was identified in the 'Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan' for development into a country park
, with the partnership of Berkeley Homes.
The housing development of 'The Lakes in Leybourne' by Berkeley Homes (seen in the photo),was created beside one of the disused gravel pits that had been turned into man-made lakes. The decision to build on this area was unpopular with some Larkfield residents, but the remaining lakes were turned into a country park and nature reserve to offset the impact of this new housing.
The lakes and reserve were later handed over to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
in 2004.
They are the current owners and maintain the lakes and paths.
Around the lakes are a series of woods and gentle trails, popular with dogwalkers and recreational walkers.
A small charge is payable for use of car parking, situated close to the visitor centre. Mobile caterers provide refreshments during the summer.
The nearby lakes (to the west and north of the park) are mainly used for private angling
.
Snodland
Snodland is a small town in the county of Kent, England, located on the River Medway between Rochester and Maidstone. It has a population of about 12,000 people....
, in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The park, which opened in 2004, was created from disused gravel pits
Gravel pit
Gravel pit is the term for an open cast working for extraction of gravel. Gravel pits often lie in river valleys where the water table is high, so they may fill naturally with water to form ponds or lakes. Old, abandoned gravel pits are normally used either as nature reserves, or as amenity areas...
that have been flooded and landscaped
Landscaping
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#...
to make fishing and wildlife lakes.
History
In the 1930's a river fed from LeybourneLeybourne
Leybourne is a small village in Kent, England situated off Junction 4 of the M20 Motorway. Leybourne is adjacent to Larkfield and West Malling....
, led past the small hamlet of Lunsford (part of Larkfield) and then past Ham Hill (part of Snodland) to feed into the River Medway
River Medway
The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters the Thames Estuary....
.
Snodland was once a centre of industry along the river, with papermaking
Papermaking
Papermaking is the process of making paper, a substance which is used universally today for writing and packaging.In papermaking a dilute suspension of fibres in water is drained through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibres is laid down. Water is removed from this mat of fibres by...
and chalk quarries being the main employers in the town. One of the former chalk pits located near to the River Medway, became Brookland Lake.
A public footpath leads from Snodland, past Brookland Lake into Leybourne Lakes.
The village of Larkfield (to the south of the lakes) has expanded rapidly since the M20
M20
M20 or M-20 may refer to:In transportation:* M-20 , a state highway in Michigan* M20 motorway , a road in Kent* M20 motorway , a road, part of the N20 national primary road* M20 highway...
motorway was constructed in the 1970s and it continues to grow, with new housing developments being built. Mineral extraction also ceased in the 1970's. The gravel pits and surrounding area were designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest
Site of Nature Conservation Interest
Site of Nature Conservation Interest is a designation used in many parts of the United Kingdom to protect areas of importance for wildlife and geology at a county scale...
(SNCI).
The site was identified in the 'Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan' for development into a country park
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
, with the partnership of Berkeley Homes.
The housing development of 'The Lakes in Leybourne' by Berkeley Homes (seen in the photo),was created beside one of the disused gravel pits that had been turned into man-made lakes. The decision to build on this area was unpopular with some Larkfield residents, but the remaining lakes were turned into a country park and nature reserve to offset the impact of this new housing.
The lakes and reserve were later handed over to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is the second level local authority for the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, United Kingdom.-History:...
in 2004.
They are the current owners and maintain the lakes and paths.
Facilites
The lakes now provide a peaceful location for wildlife and birdwatching, whilst also allowing watersports enthusiasts the opportunity to windsurf, canoe and kayak in the man-made lakes. Diving also takes place in one of the lakes.Around the lakes are a series of woods and gentle trails, popular with dogwalkers and recreational walkers.
A small charge is payable for use of car parking, situated close to the visitor centre. Mobile caterers provide refreshments during the summer.
The nearby lakes (to the west and north of the park) are mainly used for private angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
.