Sevenoaks Town Council to use 1,000,000 recycled plastic straws in revitalisation of the Vine Gardens

Published: 12 June 2025

Sevenoaks Town Council is planning to revive the pond and pergola area of the Vine Gardens with a revamp of the ground surface.

Councillors considered several options to renew the current paving. They agreed to install Recycle Bound Resin, which is made up of the equivalent of 3000 recycled plastic straws in every square metre. This means in the Vine Gardens, around a million recycled plastic straws will be used to resurface the area. The new anti-slip surface will look attractive, reduce maintenance costs, and will also be environmentally sustainable.

Recycle Bound material Image credit: Oltco - Recycle Bound | Eco Friendly Driveway Installer

This latest plan is another example of how Sevenoaks Town Council is leading the way with green initiatives. Other initiatives have included retrofitting buildings with solar panels, planting more trees each year, and even purchasing ancient woodland to protect local biodiversity.

This project will cost £23,130 and will be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy. This levy allows local authorities to secure funding for infrastructure by requiring developers to pay a standard charge per square metre of qualifying new development.

The Vine has a long history and has been an important community space for many years. Sevenoaks Town Council took over management of the Vine Cricket Ground and Vine Gardens on its formation in 1974. The Vine is a wonderful place for families to relax and have fun. As well as the beautiful pond, there is wooden play equipment for children, a large grassed area, lots of benches, a Bandstand with regular performances, the Café on the Vine, public toilets and cricket pitches.

Sevenoaks Town Council, as well as community and business volunteers, have been working hard to maintain the beautiful community spaces in the town. The Town Council is delighted to have reached the Britain in Bloom national final for 2025, and the Vine is part of the Sevenoaks in Bloom entry. For more information, visit our Britain in Bloom webpage by clicking here.

This summer, Sevenoaks Town Council and partner organisations are hosting a huge array of exciting events for all the family on the Vine. For more information, view the latest events brochure here.