Harding's Pits in South Lynn gains Village Green status for future protection
Approval secures beloved green space from development and supports community use
Harding's Pits, a cherished green space in South Lynn, has been granted Village Green status, ensuring lasting protection against development.
Norfolk County Council approved the designation following the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk’s application to dedicate the council-owned land west of Harding’s Way. This approval came during the Planning (Regulatory) Committee meeting on 20th October 2026.
Village Green status provides statutory protection, safeguarding the land from development and other intrusions. It also gives the community legal rights to use the area for lawful sports and pastimes, maintaining the protection even if ownership changes.
Harding’s Pits Doorstep Green was established in 2004 with grant funding from the Countryside Agency, and has been managed by Harding’s Pits Community Association, fostering biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
The initiative is complemented by the South Lynn Community Orchard project, enhancing biodiversity and community involvement through mixed fruit planting and maintenance, alongside Beuys’ Acorns, an environmental art project inspired by Joseph Beuys.
Cllr Michael de Whalley, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, said:
“This is very welcome news for South Lynn and an important final step in a journey that the community has been pursuing for at least 30 years.
“Harding’s Pits and the surrounding green spaces are valued places for local people to enjoy and important habitats where nature can flourish. Village Green designation gives the land a very high level of statutory protection, helping to safeguard it for generations to come.
“I’m particularly pleased that we have been able to bring this forward following the adoption of our new Local Plan, which removed the previous development allocation affecting land that now forms the Beuys’ Acorns Oak Circle.
“The designation supports the council’s Corporate Strategy priorities to Protect our environment, helping to create a cleaner, greener and better protected West Norfolk and supporting our communities.
“I would like to thank Harding’s Pits Association, Borough Council officers and Norfolk County Council for their commitment and support in making this happen.”
The Village Green encompasses Beuys’ Acorns, Harding’s Pits, and the South Lynn Community Orchard within the South and West Lynn ward.