No-one wants to spend a just sitting indoors and, with a spell of hot weather on the way, it couldn’t be a better time to get out and about. There are plenty of amazing parks to be found in , whether you’re looking to enjoy a scenic stroll, take the dog for a walk, get some exercise on your bike or tuck into a picnic. If you want to make sure you're visiting a park of quality, you can’t go wrong with checking out one that’s netted the coveted Green Flag Award, with the .
Among them is gem Haysden Country Park; a beautiful green space that really does have it all. The Green Flag Awards are run by charity Keep Britain Tidy and are an internationally-recognised mark of quality for parks and greenspaces. They aim to highlight those that are the best managed and set a high standard of quality, while recognising the hard work of the teams that look after them.
Found on the western outskirts of the town, the Tonbridge park and nature reserve couldn’t be more deserving, spanning a whopping 64-acres that's packed full of things to see and do. It features two different lakes, Haysden Water and Barden, each of which is home to a host of wildlife including adorable ducks and geese. Thanks to its handy location just off the , Haysden is dead simple to get to and has an onsite pay and display car park, costing £2 for a stay of up to four hours or £4.
50 for more than four hours. Free to enter and open all year round from 7.30am each day, the closing times will change throughout the remainder of the year as follows: Monday, May 20 to Sunday, August 25 Monday, August 26 to Sunday, September 22 Monday, September 23 to Sunday, October 13 Monday, October 14 to Sunday, October 27 Monday, October 28 to Sunday, February 9 2025 Haysden Country Park has maintained its Green Flag Award status since 2006 - a testament to the quality and maintenance of this expansive greenspace.
Alongside the freshwater lakes, the River Medway runs through Haysden, with various branches and streams, meaning you’ll stumble across many different bridges during your exploration. Thanks to the lakes and rivers, it probably won’t come as a surprise the park is very popular for water activities such as pond dipping, sailing and fishing, and numerous events are held here every year for guests to get stuck into. In the past these have also included health walks, mini beast hunts and building bug houses.
It's worth noting however that unauthorised swimming is not allowed here, with open water swimming only available for members of the TriSwim club. Meanwhile, well-behaved dogs are welcome to come and explore Haysden, with waste bins located throughout - though they must be kept on leads when in the car park. Officially opened as a country park in 1988, Haysden is owned and managed by , while local volunteers also work to look after the park.
As well as offering multiple walking and cycling trails to explore all the park has to offer, there is a children’s adventure play park to help the little ones let off some steam during the school holidays. Located near the main car park, it includes an aerial runway, climbing frames, slides and swings, ideal for children up to the age of 12. The picturesque meadows are a great spot to park yourselves down and enjoy a family picnic, while the designated barbecue area is perfect for anyone looking to get their grill on this summer.
Those who are fascinated by the wildlife and are keen to learn more about the park itself should check out the visitor centre where there is plenty of information on hand and friendly staff to chat to. Plus, you can also find an outdoor café offering refreshments, light bites and hot drinks - because we Brits always need to make sure we’ve got access to a cuppa close to hand. Previous guests have also raved their experiences here, with the park boasting a rating of 4.
5 stars out of five from nearly 300 reviews. Calling it a “beautiful area”, one reviewer remarked: “We had a lovely walk around the Barden Lake and enjoyed the swans and geese. The bluebells and other flowers were lovely.
” Another said: “I walk here daily; it’s a great park for nature and wildlife. It is very well cared for and definitely worth a visit. The small cafe is excellent.
” You can see what made of Haysden Country Park when we visited it ..
