Features at Harding’s Pits
At the centre of the Doorstep Green is our landmark sculptural feature ‘the Great Whale’. The current feature is around 5 metres tall and made of corten steel and was constructed by Able Engineering of Lynn. The structure, which includes a shelter and seat, was opened by the Borough Mayor, Cllr Paul Bland, in June 2024. The metal whale replaced an earlier carved oak sculpture that had been created by the chainsaw artist Ben Platt Mills in 2006.
The Harding’s Pits Community Association logo is a whale and takes reference from our local history. Ships from Lynn once ventured to Arctic waters to hunt whales, continuing until the early part of the 19th century. 200 metres to the east of the sculpture a building once stood beside the River Nar where whale meat was rendered in order produce oil and other products. You can read more about the Lynn whaling industry on our information sign adjacent the sculpture, (kindly funded by the King’s Lynn Town Guides). A second interpretation sign shows the overall plan of the Doorstep Green and describes some of the wildlife you may see. 
The ramped mound that the whale stands on also reflects our past history. It marks the line of the original southern town defences. These are certainly shown on 17th century maps of the town and were important defensive structures in the English Civil War. However, it is thought that a bank or wall extended to the River Ouse from South Gate before this time. The current mound is not historic and was created as part of the Doorstep Green works in 2004.
Habitats
The principal spaces within the site consist of an east and west meadow within which we try to maintain a diversity of herbs and grasses. We allow these to grow up every spring and summer and then mow them in the late summer/autumn. Around the meadows is a mix of young woodland (mainly planted in 2004), bramble scrub and rough grassland that we manage to support a range of wildlife. A network of gravel and mown-grass paths criss-cross the site. Other features around the site include hedge planting, a hazel grove, memorial benches, and the site nameplate.
The Sculptures
In 2006 we commissioned Ben Platt Mills and colleagues from Suffolk to create a range of carved oak sculptures that you can find around the site. The designs reflect local historic and natural heritage themes and were developed in conjunction with pupils at Whitefriars, Greyfriars and St Michaels Primary Schools. They were funded with a Local Heritage Initiative grant. We hope to create more sculptural features around the site in future.
Beuys Oaks
To the north of the original Doorstep Green area is the new Beuys Acorns ‘living sculpture’, created by UK artists Ackroyd and Harvey in conjunction with the Borough Council and HPCA in 2025. Joseph Beuys was a German artist and theorist who planted 7,000 oak trees as a giant, changing ‘social sculpture’ in the 1980s. Ackroyd and Harvey took acorns from these 7,000 trees and grew new trees to continue the work and highlight our current environmental and ecological challenges.
The space features a circle of 7 sessile oaks (Quercus petraea), within a circular path with benches. A new hedgerow will eventually define the space, which will be managed as a meadow.
Community Orchard
To the south of the original Doorstep Green area is the ‘Community Orchard’, created by the Borough Council and HPCA also in 2025. This area features over 30 different types of fruit tree, raised garden beds, a mixed native boundary hedge and other elements, creating a communal garden area for local residents.
2026 (Saturdays)
- 26 September
- 10 October
- 7 November
