New green space opens at Baltic Mill in Gainsborough
Dog exercise area to support biodiversity in Lincolnshire park
A new dog exercise area is opening in Wyndham Park, Grantham. It is being designed to serve a dual purpose: as a dog paddock and a wildflower meadow to support pollinators and boost local biodiversity.
The site, which spans 4,000 square metres, is part of South Kesteven District Council’s initiative to enhance green spaces through nature-friendly land management. The project’s funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
In addition to its recreational use, the area has been planted with native wildflowers and trees to provide a habitat for bees and other pollinating species. The move aligns with broader environmental goals, including carbon reduction and improved ecosystem health.
A local consultation found strong community support, with 71% of respondents backing the plan. The council expects the multifunctional site to contribute positively to public wellbeing and environmental outcomes.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/VasylLincolnshire trio receive national awards
HMS Taku model presented to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
Chapel refurbishment at Grimsby Crematorium boosts capacity and comfort
Grimsby Crematorium has reopened its chapel following a five-week refurbishment to improve capacity and visitor experience. The project involved a complete interior overhaul, including removing pews in favour of modern seating to increase occupancy. Additional upgrades include new flooring, carpeting, ceiling, thermal glazing, and automated window controls to enhance climate regulation.
The renovation was carried out with minimal service disruption and completed on schedule by contractor Unibuild. The updated facility now hosts over 2,000 annual services in a brighter, more functional space, catering to over 200,000 visitors annually. The improvements are part of ongoing efforts to modernise bereavement services and better serve local families and funeral operators.
Image source: North East Lincolnshire CouncilOutdoor arts festival builds creative economy along Lincolnshire coast
Lincolnshire’s SO Festival has returned with an expanded week-long programme, blending international outdoor arts with skills development and placemaking efforts along the East Lindsey coast.
Running across Skegness and Mablethorpe, the 2025 edition now spans seven days, featuring artists from seven countries, including acrobatics, puppetry, hip hop-infused circus, and interactive installations. A newly added three-day conference brings together industry leaders and cultural practitioners to explore how the arts can drive social change in coastal regions, a theme that will continue into next year with SEAScape at SO Festival 2025, a dedicated international forum on art and placemaking.
The festival goes beyond performance. Through a series of free workshops—from AI basics and special effects makeup to aerial access training and street art—it aims to boost creative engagement, digital literacy, and community-led innovation. Activities are shaped by local consultation and designed to make cultural participation more accessible.
Image source: SO FestivalLeisure centres in Lincoln to reopen under new operator
Two leisure centres in Lincoln that abruptly shut down in April are set to reopen by mid-July under new management. The City of Lincoln Council has appointed Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) as the interim operator of Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres following the collapse of the previous operator, Active Nation.
GLL, a not-for-profit social enterprise with over 250 leisure facilities across the UK, will manage both centres on a two-year contract. The council owns the buildings and moved quickly to secure a new operator after Active Nation ceased trading due to financial pressures, citing the energy crisis as a key factor. The council had offered a £500,000 support package, but the charity did not accept the terms.
Since the closure, the Lincoln City Foundation has maintained outdoor operations at both locations. GLL plans to upgrade facilities, replace gym equipment, and recruit staff across various roles. More details on programmes, memberships, and courses are expected to be released this summer.
The transition aims to minimise disruption to residents and maintain local access to fitness and wellbeing services, while providing stability for the council’s broader leisure strategy.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/U-JINN PhotographyAyscoughfee Gardens refurbishes play area following South Holland District Council investment
King Charles III England Coast Path expanded in Lincolnshire, to provide unique wildlife walks
New bin lorries to carry vital messages
Gainsborough festival attracts public funding boost to support local arts
The Go Festival will return to Gainsborough on 14 June, with expanded programming and additional public funding aimed at boosting community engagement and creative output in the area. West Lindsey District Council secured funding from Arts Council England, enabling professional artists to collaborate with local groups through pre-festival workshops.
Supported by both Arts Council England and Gainsborough Town Council, the festival is expected to draw visitors with a full-day schedule of cultural programming in the town centre. Performances include interactive theatre, contemporary dance, community showcases, and family-friendly attractions such as storytelling installations and market stalls.
Local organisations like the Rotary Club and Trinity Arts Centre contribute to the line-up, while the extended programme underlines the region’s push to develop a more vibrant cultural economy. The festival will run from 11am to 7pm and aims to stimulate foot traffic, support creative businesses, and reinforce Gainsborough’s cultural infrastructure.
Organisers expect the event to build on the momentum from previous years while offering new opportunities for artist collaboration and community-led content. The initiative reflects growing recognition of the arts as a catalyst for local economic activity and civic engagement.
Image source: West Lindsey District CouncilSkydive campaign gains business boost to support Ukrainian children
A Lincolnshire-based charity initiative is scaling up efforts to support children in war-torn Ukraine. Twenty volunteers have signed up to take part in a tandem skydive fundraiser this May. The Boston Skyjive group, now in its third year, has seen participation quadruple since last year’s event.
Backing the initiative this year is Greencore, a food manufacturing company headquartered in Spalding, which is sponsoring 10 of its employees to join the skydive. Each participant will raise a minimum of £200 for Voices of Children, a Ukrainian charity providing psychological and physical support to children impacted by the ongoing war.
Greencore’s involvement includes a direct financial contribution and internal staff mobilisation for the skydive. Volunteers will cover their own skydive costs in addition to fundraising targets.
To date, the group has raised £12,800 for the charity through previous events. With expanded participation and corporate support, organisers aim to boost donations significantly this year.
The skydives will take place on 28 and 29 May at Hibaldstow Airfield near Brigg. Funds will aid the charity’s work across Ukraine, including frontline psychological services, rehabilitation programmes, and summer camps backed by the Ukrainian First Lady.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Joggie BotmaAshfield Park welcomes visitors to relaxed coffee morning
South Holland District Council secures Age-friendly Community status
- Spalding – Tonic Health Wellbeing Hub: 10am – 2pm
- Holbeach – Tonic Health Wellbeing Hub: 1pm – 5pm
- Pinchbeck Community Hub: 11am – 3pm
Sunflowers offer low-effort, high-impact value for summer landscaping
UK businesses in the landscaping, gardening supply, and outdoor retail sectors may want to capitalise on the seasonal push to sow sunflowers—an easy-to-grow flower with high visual appeal and ecological value. With the sowing window open through late May, now is a commercially strategic time to promote sunflower seeds and related products.
Sunflowers are a fast-growing, low-maintenance option that thrives when planted directly into garden beds. They flourish in sheltered locations with adequate support, often reaching heights of five to twelve feet. Their large, colourful blooms are visually striking and serve practical purposes: they attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, and their seed heads later provide food for birds.
For businesses serving amateur gardeners, sunflowers are a proven favourite due to their ease of cultivation and strong visual payoff during the summer months. Multi-headed and branching varieties offer extended blooming periods and more garden impact per plant, making them an efficient choice for customers seeking high returns with minimal effort.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/gpointstudioLincolnshire invests in sand clearance upgrades for coastal walkways
East Lindsey District Council is allocating additional capital and operational funds to address ongoing sand accumulation on pedestrian walkways in coastal towns like Sutton on Sea and Mablethorpe.
The investment includes purchasing specialist machinery and recruiting two new staff members to manage sand removal more efficiently. These measures aim to maintain access and safety for both residents and visitors, particularly after stormy weather increases the amount of sand displaced onto promenades.
The council confirmed the funding is being finalised and is part of a broader effort to implement long-term maintenance strategies rather than short-term fixes. The ongoing sand build-up has presented operational challenges for businesses operating near affected beaches, underlining the commercial importance of a sustainable solution.
Image: Sutton-on-Sea – credit: Stock.adobe.com/mparrattThree East Lindsey beaches to fly Blue Flags again this summer
The Princess Royal to attend 140th Lincolnshire Show
APSS Group raises £650 for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance at annual charity golf day
Paddling pool reopens in Cleethorpes with upgraded facilities
A free paddling pool in Cleethorpes has reopened for its sixth consecutive summer season, now featuring an upgraded central fountain. Operated by Your Community Hub, a community interest company managed by the team behind Cleethorpes Taphouse and Kitchen, the pool is open daily from 10am to 4pm.
The enhancements to the pool’s fountain, now higher and more prominent, are part of ongoing efforts to boost local footfall and offer accessible family attractions. The facility, previously run by the local council, has been operated by Your Community Hub since 2019 at no cost to taxpayers. The adjacent sandpit, also under their management, reopened in May 2023.
The site’s continued operation reflects sustained public engagement with free, locally run leisure assets. Businesses operating in tourism, leisure, and hospitality sectors may see opportunities tied to the increased foot traffic in the area during the summer months.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/simon