Located on the edge of the busy market town of Harleston in South Norfolk, the Harold Dean Charity (HDC) owns two of the Fishing Lakes at the Weybread Pits in Mid Suffolk, the Number 1 and Middle Pit and currently leases a third and the largest: the Ocean.

The Ocean Lake has now been put up for sale. We are currently fundraising to complete an Option to purchase the Ocean before 31 December 2025. We have raised funding pledges of £310,000 but still need a further £110,000 to complete our purchase option in time. Success will see us continuing to shoulder the main responsibility for this unique site and will ensure that the community can enjoy access in perpetuity.

Through its active stewardship of the lakes in partnership with the Harleston and Wortwell District Angling Club, the Weybread Sailing Club and other individuals and agencies HDC has also been able to keep this natural haven intact for more than half a century for the enjoyment of many hundreds of local people. Recognised as an important site for wildlife, it has been designated a County Wildlife Site, there is nowhere comparable in this part of East Anglia. The modest surplus generated from the current activities are distributed to local charities by HDC.

In addition to funding pledges that we sought from other sources, our initial community fundraising target through this JustGiving based campaign is £35,000. Should the sale of the Ocean Lake to HDC fall through for any unforeseen reason the funds raised through this campaign will be applied to one of the charities that HDC is currently established to support, namely Cancer Research UK.