Kent Wildlife Trust reopens Harrison Visitor Centre at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve following £2.1m refurbishment

The centre is named after Jeffery Harrison and his family, who transformed a former quarry into the 73-hectare wildlife haven now home to over 2,000 recorded species.

The centre has undergone a number of key accessibility improvements, including additional parking spaces with an increased number of disabled bays, adapted toilets, and hearing loops throughout reception areas. Electric vehicle charging points have been installed, with more planned for the future, while clearer wayfinding signage has been introduced across the reserve to help visitors navigate the site more easily.

Inside, the upgraded café now serves barista-quality coffee alongside a new hot food menu, and the space is available to hire for corporate events and community gatherings. Visitors can also explore an interactive digital map to record wildlife sightings and discover more about the species found across the reserve. Full-height glazed doors open onto a new deck area overlooking West Lake, bringing the centre into direct connection with the natural landscape beyond.

The centre will act as a community hub throughout the year, hosting school visits, family activities, talks, creative workshops and early-years nature sessions. A bespoke nature-inspired play area has been created for children, and audio benches positioned along the family-friendly trail provide information about habitats and wildlife as visitors explore. 

Solar panels installed on the roof help power the building and reduce its environmental impact. The project has also created employment opportunities, with new staff recruited from the surrounding area to help run and maintain the facility.

Ben Dart, Chief Operating Officer at Kent Wildlife Trust, said:

"We've transformed the centre to open up nature to more people. Visitors can now explore the reserve, immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of wildlife, then relax with a coffee and cake while enjoying stunning views across West Lake.

“This is a welcoming, inclusive space year-round, where families, schools and nature lovers can enjoy an extraordinary range of wildlife. We now have the facilities to run events and activities throughout the year, and the solar panels mean we can do it more sustainably. Sevenoaks is an important site for nature, and we’re delighted now more people will be able to experience it.”

The reserve is home to thousands of species, including kingfishers, grey herons, glowworms, and Daubenton’s bats. It features five lakes edged by woodland, grassland and reedbed, while the River Darent flows through the northern section, supporting fish and aquatic invertebrates.

For more information about Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and the Harrison Visitor Centre visit: www.kwtg.uk/sevenoaks-centre