In the 1930s a river fed from Leybourne, led past the small hamlet of Lunsford and then past Ham Hill 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 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 1970s. The gravel pits and surrounding area were designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. 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 , 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.
Facilities
The of 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 are mainly used for private angling. Leybourne Lakes is also host to Parkrun every Saturday morning at 9pm incorporating two laps of the main lake.
