Latest News: Bromley council have applied for a £75k grant towards restoration of this lake. A decision on this application is expected in April 2026.

This is our campaign to restore the lake in Church House Gardens to its former glory. You may ask why we are calling it Heron Lake? There is currently no lake, let alone a Heron? Well there is a metal heron sculpture on the island, but it is amongst the vegetation plus currently corroded and so not immediately visible. We are hopeful that when this and lake are fully restored, this will symbolise its importance to both nature and the local public.

Until recently some wonderful events have taken place on the new Auditorium. This was built some few years ago at the cost of £50k and replaced earlier performance stages. The thatched bandstand is fondly remembered by many older people. However this was burnt down in the mid 1960’s. Over the years these auditoria has been the ideal setting for plays, music, poetry etc. – but not at present!

This situation has arisen due to the lake being badly maintained by Bromley council over many years. The result is that the pipes feeding water to the lake have become blocked, plus silt has been allowed to gradually accumulate in the lake. The fish have long gone, and now the ducks and geese have had to move elsewhere! So we now have a lake with a blocked water supply and greatly reduced capacity to hold any water when it is restored. With climate change impacting us, probably resulting in long dry spells interspersed with very heavy downpours the lake is currently not fit cope with this.

The aims of our campaign are-

• Restore the water flow to the lake
• Excavate the silt and reuse onsite, or nearby where at all possible
• Remove encroaching plants at western end
• Remove rubble from lake bed, but preserve remaining foundations of old thatched band stand
• Refurbish Heron sculpture located on the island
• Improve public access along the wooded southern side of the lake
• Support suitable events to again use the Auditorium

In order to do this we will –

• Publicise widely the ongoing situation with the lake restoration, so that Bromley council are aware of strong local support for this park.
• Work with Bromley council, and other inters rested parties, to agree an effective and prompt solution to this situation, also to identify suitable sources of funding.

What can I do?

Make your feelings about the lake known by to Bromley council, e.g. emailing your local councillors.

Cllr.Colin Smith, Leader Bromley Council colin.smith@bromley.gov.uk

Cllr. Will Rowlands, Executive Councillor for Environment will.rowlands@bromley.gov.uk

Cllr. Sam Webber, Bromley Town Ward sam.webber@bromley.gov.uk

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