A popular wildlife visitor centre for families and wildlife enthusiasts is set to temporarily close for refurbishment.
The Jeffrey Harrison Visitor Centre at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, located on Bradbourne Road, attracts thousands of visitors each year but is in urgent need of modernisation.
The building is named after Jeffrey Harrison who was the leading vision behind the creation of the wetlands and surrounding woodland at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. As a former chalk pit, the reserve was the first such site to be rewilded creating the haven for nature that has over 2,000 species recorded on site.
The upgrades aim to provide an ideal base for educational activities, study days, holiday clubs, and family visits as well as providing an ongoing haven for wildlife with opportunities to see the impact of wilding on the former gravel pit.
The accessibility improvements include dedicated blue-badge parking, better access from the car park to the centre, improved accessible toilets and baby change facilities and dedicated parent and child parking. The changes will enable more people to easily access the site, aligning with Kent Wildlife Trust’s vision to encourage more individuals to take meaningful action for nature.
Currently, the Visitor Centre is in poor condition, and the lack of windows prevents visitors from connecting with the surrounding wildlife reserve, which is home to thousands of species, including kingfishers, grey herons, glowworms, and Daubenton’s bats. The reserve features five lakes surrounded by woodlands, as well as seasonally flooded pools, grasslands, and small areas of reedbed.
Once the refurbishment is complete, the building will be energy-efficient with an extended catering area, improved café and retail space, and a flexible event area available for hire.
New double doors will open onto the lake, leading to a decking area with seating for visitors to observe the abundant wildfowl attracted to this nature-rich habitat. The improvements will also include a new secure play area for children, and the car park, which is currently uneven and has potholes, will be resurfaced.
In response to recent incidents of theft and anti-social behaviour on the site, security measures will be significantly upgraded with the installation of fencing, cameras, and improved lighting to deter crime.
Whilst the centre itself will be temporarily closed from 15th December, the wildlife reserve will remain open, accessible for people to birdwatch and enjoy walks around the trails and the Trust’s organised events will run as usual. The charity is advising people to check their website before visiting, to make sure that the carpark is open and there are no restrictions that may impact their visit. To prepare for the shop's temporary closure and to help clear out shop items, visitors making on-site purchases will receive a 15% discount.