Tonbridge Council Explores New Management Model for Haysden Country Park

The Five-Year Plan

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council will explore a possible new management approach for Haysden Country Park. The move’s designed to boost long-term investment in the popular green space.

Alongside this, councillors have adopted a comprehensive five-year Management Plan for 2025–2029. The document sets out how Tonbridge’s beloved country park should be managed for recreation, wildlife and climate resilience. Community needs, climate change and declining biodiversity all get attention. The Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee has given it the once-over, building on previous management plans.

Why Change Is Being Considered

Money troubles.

Council documents frame the exploration as a response to budget pressures hitting local authorities across the board. TMBC – like district councils everywhere – is reviewing how it funds discretionary services such as country parks. Alternative management could mean different governance models, more community involvement, or new arrangements to unlock external grant funding that’s restricted to charities or non-profits.

But no specific model’s been confirmed. Officials stress this is about exploration, not implementation.

What’s at Stake

Haysden Country Park serves as one of Tonbridge’s primary free-to-access green spaces. Dog walkers love it. Families use the playground. Cyclists pedal the paths and anglers try their luck by the water. The site includes important wetland and riverside habitats – home to birds, invertebrates and aquatic species that depend on these increasingly rare environments.

The Management Plan emphasises continued community access and recreation. That’ll constrain any new management model, presumably. And any change would need to align with the adopted plan and the council’s broader environmental policies.

Next Steps

The council’s committed to exploration and scrutiny of options. No final decision’s been made on any specific alternative management model.

Future decisions will likely follow TMBC’s standard process – initial officer report, scrutiny committee recommendations, then final decision by Cabinet or full Council depending on how significant the change proves to be. The exploration aims to secure sustainable funding whilst maintaining the park’s public value, environmental importance and community access.

Key Takeaways

• Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council will explore new management options for Haysden Country Park to secure long-term investment
• A new five-year Management Plan for 2025-2029 addresses community needs, climate change and declining biodiversity
• No final decisions have been made, with the council emphasising this is an exploration phase focused on maintaining public access

What This Means for Kent Residents

Regular users of Haysden Country Park can expect continued access during any exploration process. The council’s committed to maintaining the site’s role as a valued public asset. Any eventual management changes would need to align with the new five-year plan’s focus on recreation, biodiversity and climate resilience. Residents will likely have opportunities to input into the decision-making process through TMBC’s scrutiny committee system before any final changes get the green light.