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The Country Park has an exciting history. At one time supply timber for Thames and Medway ship building than the location of a Gun Powder Works and then the source of cly for cement maufacuring on Thameside; Link to beacon_wood-visitor_guide+powder works+clay_pit.docx.
In 1991 the 70 acre (28ha) disused Clay Pit was leased by Blue Circle Industries, for 15 years, to Kent County Council for a Country Park.
It was created by Groundwork Trust, Local Residents and other supporters
and first opened to the Public on 25 May 1992.
The name "Beacon Wood Country Park" was chosen, in a competition organised by the Trust, because of
the park's close proximity to one of the original Spanish Armada
warning beacons; see Beacons Map.
The Official Opening, by Sir Derek Barber, was
on Wednesday 10 July 1991.
Management was taken over by Kent County Council and Dartford Borough Council on the 1st April 2001.
In 2001, Lafarge acquired Blue Circle Industries to become the world’s
leading producer of cement. The Blue Circle UK cement-making operation
became Lafarge Cement in 2002.
The Country Park was temporarily closed on 31 March 2011 when Kent County Council withdrew funding and handed back the site to the owner, Lafarge Cement UK Ltd. It reopened on 6 August 2011 following successful negotiations with Lafarge to lease
Beacon Wood Country Park to Bean Parish Council. Jointly they appointed
Groundwork Kent & Medway as Managers of the property. From 28
September 2012 the Friends of Beacon Wood (FOBW) took over some of the
responsibilities of managing the woods. More information on current
activities con be found on https://www.beaconwoodcountrypark.uk/
On 24 September 2024 Bean Parish Council signed a new 20 year lease with
Tarmac for Beacon Wood Country Park.
The lease runs from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2042 with a break
date of 1 January 2033.
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Copyright © Bean Residents Association 2002 - 2025
Updated 5th January 2025