The UK government will sell RAF Scampton on the open market, rejecting West Lindsey District Council’s bid to acquire the site for a £300 million redevelopment project.
Earmarked initially by the previous Conservative government for migrant housing, the site’s asylum plans were scrapped in September. The Home Office cited regulatory requirements preventing a direct sale to the council, emphasising that disposal of public land must follow market rules.
Since March 2023, the site has cost over £60 million. Government officials claim the sale will prevent further taxpayer losses. Meanwhile, the council, which had partnered with Scampton Holdings Ltd. for regeneration, argues that contamination, heritage issues, and infrastructure limitations make a public-private partnership the only viable option for redevelopment.
Scampton Holdings remains committed to the project despite setbacks. Chairman Peter Hewitt criticised the delays, while local MP Sir Edward Leigh called the government’s decision “madness,” arguing it wasted time and resources on failed asylum plans.
Charitable donations made by diners at a Lincoln restaurant will help keep children occupied whilst being cared for in hospital.
The children’s wards at Lincoln County Hospital have been stocked with new arts, crafts and play equipment thanks to a generous donation from Mowgli Street Food, Lincoln.
The popular Indian restaurant has been fundraising since June 2024 and has raised a staggering £7,775 by asking customers to donate an additional £1 to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity when paying for their food.
Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group Chief Executive, Professor Karen Dunderdale, recently met with the restaurant’s Charity Leader, Jonny Clamp and his colleague Elli Gale to show how their donation had been spent. She said: “It is fantastic that the residents of Lincolnshire have supported our charity by making a donation when paying their bills at Mowgli Lincoln.”
The Mowgli team also met patients and staff during the visit and pledged to continue to fundraise for the children’s wards. Jonny said: “We are a local business, and we want to support a local charity that helps the people in and around Lincoln. Most of our customers donate, it is just £1 on someone’s bill, what is an extra £1 when it makes such a difference here in this ward.”
In 2024, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity received over £1 million in donations and funded projects across the county’s hospitals in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham and Louth.
Picture shows: Jonny Clamp and Ellie Gale from Mowgli Lincoln with Professor Karen Dunderdale and team from Lincoln County Hospital Childrens’ Wards
A key tenant has been secured for a new building in Scunthorpe town centre. The Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) will take over the office space at Elizabeth Quarter.
Elizabeth Quarter is a newly developed three-storey building owned by North Lincolnshire Council, featuring a ground-floor café and reception area, with modern office spaces on the first and second floors, covering approximately 1,250 sq m.
RDaSH will lease the office space for 15 years. The space will be used for clinical consultations, patient appointments, and as the headquarters for the Community Mental Health and Talking Therapy workforce.
The occupation of the offices by RDaSH is expected to facilitate the lease of the ground-floor café to another tenant.
Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council
Lincolnshire Today caught up with Hannah Dale, a wildlife illustrator, founder of Wrendale Designs, and self-proclaimed “Lincolnshire girl at heart,” ahead of the publication of her new book, A WILDING YEAR: Bringing Life Back To The Land, an illustrated journal of a year during the ambitious rewilding project that Hannah and her husband have undertaken on their farm.
A self-proclaimed “Lincolnshire girl at heart,” Hannah Dale is a wildlife illustrator and founder of the award-winning stationery and gift design company, Wrendale Designs, specialising in watercolour illustrations. Having grown up in the countryside of rural Lincolnshire and influenced by the local landscape, Hannah admits she’s never wanted to be anywhere else. Her background has informed everything from establishing her business in North Lincolnshire to the county’s wildlife sparking her inspiration to start drawing animals.
Roe Deer illustration taken from A WILDING YEAR Bringing Life Back To The Land by Hannah Dale, published by Batsford in hardback at £14.99
With a deep connection to nature and a passion for ecology and conservation, in 2019 Hannah and her husband embarked on an ambitious rewilding project on their 300-acre farm in North Lincolnshire. We caught up with Hannah ahead of the publication of her new book A WILDING YEAR: Bringing Life Back To The Land, an impassioned and personal illustrated journal of a year during their rewilding journey. From the return of orchids to beavers becoming the most recently introduced animal to the farm — the first to return to Lincolnshire in 400 years — it is certainly an inspiring story, though not one without its challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges initially is that we didn’t really know what we were doing,” Hannah shared. “We just felt that the farm wasn’t suitable for producing food. The land that we’re on is incredibly heavy clay, it sits wet all winter and then in the summer, because it has generations of drainage underneath, it bakes very dry and hard.” Going through four years of unproductive arable farming, the farm had equally lost its value to wildlife, creating a “worst of all worlds” situation. This, however, pushed Hannah and her husband to go down a different route, coming to the conclusion it was the perfect candidate for rewilding — a process of restoring ecosystems to the point that nature can take care of itself.
Starting their own rewilding project would not be easy, with advice and support difficult to find. “People were just so shocked at what we were considering, especially in Lincolnshire,” Hannah explained. “It was so different from what anybody else was doing and really difficult to get the support, but over the last five years rewilding has definitely entered the mainstream more.” In A WILDING YEAR, Hannah details the struggles of dealing with differing opinions on the project — of which there were many for and against. Not deterred, her commitment to rewilding has seen nature rapidly respond. “We didn’t know what to expect from day one, but very quickly we started to see lots of new species on the farm that we’d never seen before, and them returning with quite significant abundance,” Hannah said. Birds are one of the animals thriving, including 40 nesting sites of Skylark across the farm which did not exist before, the return of lapwing, and lots of grey partridge. “We have birds on the red list [those of conservation concern], that are really struggling and coming back to the farm in large numbers. That has been absolutely amazing to see.”
Skylark illustration taken from A WILDING YEAR Bringing Life Back To The Land by Hannah Dale, published by Batsford in hardback at £14.99
Butterflies are also a star of the rewilding project, showcasing how nature can heal within a short space of time. “Somebody from the local village, who’s been very supportive of what we’re doing, has been surveying butterflies in our local area and around our farm for the past 30 years,” Hannah explained, “and he’s seen the number of species decline and decline from in the twenties to 13 different species. Within two or three years of letting the scrub start to develop on the farm, we did a butterfly survey and recorded 23 different species of butterfly! Within that incredibly short space of time, you can see recovery starting to happen. The lepidopterist who did the survey said it is probably one of the best sites in Lincolnshire for grassland butterflies. It is astonishing to me that we went from being one of the worst sites for arable farming in the county to one of the best sites for grassland butterflies. It was an indication that we’re doing the right thing.”
One of the most exciting reappearances on the farm for Hannah, however, is orchids — now rare in our countrysides — due to the unique conditions it takes for them to grow. Hannah shared: “Last year we had common spotted orchid, pyramidal orchid and southern marsh orchid all growing on the farm. The reason that’s so exciting is because orchids produce seeds that are absolutely tiny. They’re like dust and they don’t have any resources within the seeds, so in order to be able to germinate they have to find a particular type of mycorrhizal fungus in the soil and then it forms this symbiotic relationship where the fungus feeds the seed and allows the plant to grow, and then as the plant becomes bigger, it can then supply sugars to the fungus. So, you can imagine when land is being farmed intensively it destroys the fungus within the soil and destroys these relationships. Starting to see the orchids growing on the farm again is an indication that that soil is starting to heal and some of those relationships are able to develop again.”
These wildlife wins are showcased in Hannah’s new book, A WILDING YEAR, the writing of which came naturally. “What we’re doing on the farm has provided so much more inspiration for my artwork,” she shared. “I find myself out there often with a sketchbook and recording what’s happening on the day-to-day basis on the farm through the art. That naturally then led to writing down some of those experiences and gave me the idea that actually this would make a really nice book. It’s part journal and part sketchbook and is filled with illustrations and lots of personal anecdotes and experiences of a year on the farm and through our rewilding journey.”
Fox illustrations taken from A WILDING YEAR Bringing Life Back To The Land by Hannah Dale, published by Batsford in hardback at £14.99
Hannah hopes the book will encourage people to see more beauty in wildness and understand that gardens don’t have to be neat and tidy spaces: “If we can leave our grass to grow a little bit longer, leave wild areas around the margins, stop using pesticides in the garden, it would make such a big difference to wildlife and we’d start to see more and more butterflies, hedgehogs and birds in our domestic spaces.” She added: “If I can play a little part in trying to restore nature and inspire people in Lincolnshire to do something similar, what a legacy. I’d be so proud to be able to do that.” For those who may want to follow in her footsteps and begin their own rewilding project, Hannah advised to “just go for it.” She said: “It doesn’t matter what scale you do it on, just follow the general principles of embracing wild, native plants and letting things grow and look a little bit untidy. It will absolutely encourage more wildlife into those spaces. There aren’t any hard and fast rules — that’s the other great thing about rewilding.”
With the rewilding of the farm well underway, Hannah is stepping back and letting nature take its course — for the most part: “The principle of rewilding is trying to let nature take the lead, but as we’re on 300 acres there are always going to be interventions that we need to do; playing those proxy roles of the animals that are missing from the landscape, like the large herbivores that once roamed and shaped it.” This includes digging holes as a proxy for a bull pit for when there were big aurochs, an extinct type of wild cattle, roaming the landscape. Hannah continued: “Largely it is a project where we can sit back and see what happens. We introduced beavers into the site just over a year ago and it’s exciting and interesting to see what they’re able to do in terms of creating wetlands and shaping the landscape, so there’s a lot of standing back and watching everything happen.” The introduction of the beavers marks the first in Lincolnshire in 400 years, having been native to the country but eradicated for meat, fur and castoreum.
The progress on the farm is “just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is to come,” however. Hannah is enjoying the journey rather than aiming for a goal or endpoint: “I’m sure that there’ll be surprises, you never know what’s going to come next, which is really exciting.”
An inspiring account of how, in a time of climate breakdown, nature can thrive when given the chance, A WILDING YEAR: Bringing Life Back To The Land is out now, with all the royalties Hannah receives from writing the book going back into the nature recovery project.See this interview in the April issue of Lincolnshire Today Magazine, here.
For a chance to win one of five free copies of A WILDING YEAR: Bringing Life Back To The Land by Hannah Dale, send an email to competitions@blmgroup.co.uk answering the following question: What animal has Hannah recently introduced to the farm, the first to return to Lincolnshire in 400 years?
Grimsby’s new Horizon Youth Zone has reached a major construction milestone, with work now complete on the roofline of the final building, which offers a first glimpse of how the development will look on the town’s skyline.
Located on Garth Lane, the development is being delivered by national charity OnSide in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council, which is contributing to the development as part of the Greater Grimsby Town Deal, and the Department of Culture Media and Sport, through the Youth Investment Fund.
The site is being transformed by Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter and is due to open this autumn. As part of the work, a series of Grade II listed 19th century maltings and grain store buildings, known as West Haven Maltings and Migar House, have been fully restored and repurposed.
The middle part of the building sits at the heart of the development alongside the River Freshney and on a river wall which had to be rebuilt using a pontoon in the river to create a safe working platform. The building had fallen into a state of disrepair but it has been rebuilt, and work is now complete on its new roof structure.
In addition to the refurbishment and restoration aspects of the project, the final piece of the scheme will see Hobson & Porter constructing a large outdoor multi-use games area (MUGA).
Horizon Youth Zone will offer a safe and inspiring place for young people aged 8 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, to enjoy their leisure time.
Joe Booth, Business Development Director from Hobson & Porter, said: “With construction due to complete this summer ahead of the Youth Zone opening in autumn, this part of the development and restoration of the building, which was in a poor state of disrepair, is an achievement worth marking for the whole project team.
“It’s been a highly complex part of the scheme, that also required a retaining river wall to be built, but it’s the final piece of the jigsaw that now shows how Horizon Youth Zone will integrate into Grimsby’s skyline.
“The feedback we’ve received from the people of Grimsby has been fantastic, regardless of whether or not they’re connected to the project, because it’s given these buildings and this site a new lease of life and is going to make a huge difference to so many local young people, as well as bringing a state-of-the-art facility to the town.”
Lucy Ottewell-Key, CEO of Horizon Youth Zone, said: “We’re delighted with how work is progressing and to see the completed roofline on this final building feels like a major milestone ahead of our opening later this year.
“There’s a genuine buzz across North East Lincolnshire about Horizon Youth Zone and what it means for young people throughout the region, especially because so many local businesses, organisations and patrons are supporting us and making it possible, which is very exciting for everyone involved.”
Horizon Youth Zone is an independent charity with a private sector led board, and once opened, it will be part of the OnSide network of 15 Youth Zones nationwide, which support over 50,000 young people annually. After completion, it’s estimated that Horizon could benefit up to 4,000 young people from North East Lincolnshire each year.
Capital funders of Horizon Youth Zone comprise of Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Youth Investment Fund, Evergreen Life, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, Ørsted and Greencoats Wind UK.
Horizon Youth Zone is also building a family of Founder Patrons, comprising of local organisations and philanthropists, who will support the Youth Zone during its first four years.
Long Sutton Dentistry in Lincolnshire has been sold to an expanding group.
Set up by the previous owners, Kenny Doig, Jez Hyland, and Sam Wright, in 2013, it is located in the market town of Long Sutton, near Boston and Spalding in South Lincolnshire. Over the last 12 years, it has grown into a four-surgery practice and become a mainstay for the local community.
The practice was brought to market to allow the sellers to concentrate on their other business interests.
Following a confidential sales process with Tom Morley at Christie & Co, it has been sold to The Dental Design Studio.
Dr Kenny Doig, former owner of Long Sutton Dentistry, said: “It’s reassuring to know that our staff and patients are in excellent hands, thanks to DDS’s outstanding track record of professionalism and expertise. The trust and confidence we feel stems directly from their proven capabilities.
“We would like to express our appreciation for Jeff and Larry, who made every interaction a pleasure. Their approachability and professionalism ensured the process was not just straightforward but truly instilled confidence that we had made the correct decision to sell to a group rather than a large corporate.”
Dr Jeffrey Sherer, Clinical Director at The Dental Design Studio, said: “We’re very happy to have acquired Long Sutton – our twenty-second dental practice. It is a fantastic practice with a great team, and we are so pleased to have it as part of our group.”
Tom Morley, Associate Director – Dental at Christie & Co, said: “It was a pleasure to represent, Jez, Kenny, and Sam in the sale of Long Sutton, and I wish Larry and Jeff all the best with their new acquisition. Another successful sale in the East Midlands demonstrates to the market that quality private practices are continually acquired by aspirational groups.”
Long Sutton Dentistry was sold for an undisclosed price.
Image credit: Christie & Co
After clumps of burnt plastic ‘nurdles’ were washed ashore following an incident in the North Sea, teams from East Lindsey District Council have been cleaning up the plastic pellets from the beach.
As of Friday 28 March at 2pm, 10.18 tonnes of this material have been collected and brought to Lincolnshire County Council’s waste transfer station in Louth. Here, it will be bulked up and sent for safe disposal via energy from waste.
Thanks to reports from members of the public, the clean-up operation has been able to focus on the areas worst affected and quickly remove the plastic pollution from the shoreline. This work continues as more pollutants continue to wash up.
As crews focus on clearing the beaches and removing these pollutants from the environment, there may be a delay in emptying litter bins or street cleaning elsewhere in East Lindsey.
If you see any of the pellets, please leave them where they are, keep children and dogs away, and report them so they can be safely removed. You can report ‘nurdle’ pollution online at www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/plastic-nurdles this will then be distributed to the relevant authority for clean up.
Taking place on Sunday 6th April between 10am and 4pm, Countryside Lincs promises fantastic displays and demonstrations, as well as interactive activities and workshops.
New for 2025 is the Equine Display Area, featuring displays from Cleethorpes and Grimsby Riding for the Disabled and The Pony Club. Take a moment to enjoy performances from The Trickstars – as seen on Britain’s Got Talent.
For those wanting to get hands-on, there will be free interactive indoor activities taking place in the EPIC and EXO Centre, including cookery workshops and traditional craft activities such as spinning and weaving. Children can also enjoy tractor and trailer rides, circus skills, livestock displays, animal handling and an Easter trail.
The Equine Display Area will also offer a meet and greet with Tinkerbell the Mini Pony, as well as the chance to watch the NCPA Spring Pony Show.
Hosted by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS), a registered charity, the event aims to educate young minds about Lincolnshire food, farming and the countryside to foster a deeper understanding of where our food comes from.
There are lots of activities for families to get involved with across eight indoor and outdoor zones, and visitors will even have the chance to take a selfie with the brand-new Lincolnshire Show tractor as we count down the days until the 140th Lincolnshire Show on 18th and 19th June.
A jam-packed day filled with animals, activities, experiences and entertainment for all the family, it’s an event not to be missed!
Advance tickets are available to purchase online now, priced at £12 per adult, £6 per child (under 2’s go free) and £34 for a family of five. Booking fees apply.
On-the-day tickets are priced at £15 per adult, £8 per child (under 2’s go free) and £40 for a family of five.
To find out more about Countryside Lincs and to purchase tickets, visit www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/countryside-lincs.
Grand Central has notified Network Rail of its plans to introduce a direct rail service between Lincolnshire and London, connecting Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough, and Scunthorpe to King’s Cross.
The company will submit a formal application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), and pending regulatory approval, services are expected to launch by late 2026.
The proposed route would add over 775,000 new seats annually, improving regional connectivity and optimising underused rail capacity. Trains will integrate with Grand Central’s existing services via Doncaster, offering more travel options for passengers.
Managing Director Paul Hutchings highlighted the significance of restoring direct rail links to Cleethorpes, last available in 1992. The service aims to enhance economic ties between Lincolnshire and London, benefiting passengers and businesses.
The initiative follows London North Eastern Railway’s failed attempt to establish a similar route in 2023. Grand Central’s expansion could reshape regional transport and support economic growth in underserved areas if approved.
A new car park is to be created on Sleaford’s derelict ambulance station site, offering additional free and low-cost parking.
North Kesteven District Council has bought the old ambulance station on Kesteven Street to create additional public parking close to the town centre.
Being easily accessed off Eastgate, one of the town’s main arterial routes, a significant advantage is that it can serve vehicles before they reach the one-way system, helping to address congestion, vehicle idling and car dominance in the centre.
Through an early decision to offer the first hour for free, and charge £1.50 for up to three hours and £3.50 for longer, it will support workers, shoppers and visitors to the Hub and nearby leisure centre, in particular.
Having now agreed to use the site for parking, the Council’s Executive Board was advised that plans and approaches will be developed to make the site available as soon as possible in order to respond to perceived parking need.
Across District Council-run car parks, a freeze on charges, without any increases since 2019, continues into the forthcoming year.
David Steels, Assistant Director of Environment & Public Protection who has overview of parking services, said that this new additional provision, coupled with the imminent replacement of parking machines and introduction in December of phone, text and app technologies to facilitate payment, were complementary measures enhancing parking provision, broadening customer choice and supporting the town’s economic renewal.
Image credit: North Kesteven District Council
A series of modernisations and new initiatives are coming to the historic Boston Market to enhance the experience for traders and visitors.
To modernise and rejuvenate the market, Boston Borough Council are introducing brand-new Boston Market UK branded gazebos, replacing the old stalls. These vibrant gazebos, along with new branding and bunting, will give the market a fresh and inviting look, making it a more enjoyable place to shop and explore.
To support traders and engage with the community, the market will launch a weekly promotion scheme on its social media accounts. Each week, a different trader will be featured, providing them with exposure and helping to attract more customers to their stalls.
The rent for a pitch at the market is also becoming more affordable, with new incentives available for traders. This initiative aims to encourage more traders to join the market and create a diverse and vibrant trading environment.
Boston Market UK will host three Teenage Markets on 24 May, 2 August and 16 August 2025. These events will provide young traders with a platform to showcase their products, contributing to the market’s dynamic atmosphere.
Meanwhile, starting this month, a new Makers and Farmers Market will be held in the Market Place within the town centre. This market will take place on the last Saturday of every month until October 2025, from 9am to 2pm. It will feature a variety of local produce and handmade goods, offering visitors a unique shopping experience.
David Smith, Markets manager for Boston Borough Council, said: “Boston Market is now somewhere you can find a variety of quality goods whilst enjoying a friendly chat with our traders.
“Some of our traders have been on our market for over 20 years. Without them, and their continued support, Boston Market wouldn’t be the same, so I encourage the local community and visitors to come to Boston Market to shop local and be part of our new journey.
“Whilst remaining as one of Lincolnshire’s largest outdoor markets, we have also now reduced our market fees which I’m confident will result in more traders joining the market, meaning a better shopping experience for the customer.”
Portland Halls, a student accommodation block on Portland Street in Lincoln, will be converted into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) and flats following approval from the City of Lincoln Council.
C Student Services Ltd submitted the application to split the building into four units, including a seven-bedroom HMO on the ground floor, two four-bedroom flats on the first floor, and another four-bedroom flat on the second floor. The property, located near High Street, has housed students for over 20 years.
The council approved the plans with the condition that development must begin within three years. The application did not provide a reason for the change of use.
Since 2016, Lincoln has required special planning permission for HMO conversions to regulate unregistered and unlicensed properties.
Woodhall Spa’s Petwood Hotel is springing into action with a new season of events.
On Sunday 20th April, the historic venue will host a delicious Easter twist on its Sunday lunch menu, with roast lamb and Creme Egg brownie for dessert, served from 12pm – 4pm.
Meanwhile, as spring takes centre stage, the Petwood’s gardens are coming to life with vibrant colour, and soon, its stunning rhododendrons will be in full bloom.
Wander through the grounds, take in the award-winning Long Walk, admire the fountains and enjoy a slice of cake or coffee.
The Petwood will also be hosting VE Day celebrations.
Join the hotel on Thursday 8th May, from 4pm – 7pm, in the gardens for an afternoon of entertainment from Miss Sarah-Jane and The 78DJ to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day! While no booking is required, please bring your own picnic blankets and chairs. Food and drink will be available for purchase from the Terrace Bar.
Image credit: The Petwood Hotel
New Waltham Academy is set to expand thanks to a £2.3 million refurbishment scheme that will create new classrooms and see the construction of a new nursery.
The academy is relocating some classrooms and having new buildings added to provide the correct space for cohorts in the coming years.
The scheme, managed by North East Lincolnshire Council’s delivery partner EQUANS, will construct new accommodation on land purchased from the neighbouring church over a decade ago.
There will be a number of additions to the site, including:
Relocation of reception classrooms into new build accommodation which will have access to bespoke outdoor play and integral toilets
Relocation of two Key Stage 1 classrooms into new accommodation
Creation of a new staffroom
Creation of a specialist space to enable the academy to deliver a wide range of lessons such as nutrition, cooking, art and technology as well as small group intervention
A new build nursery to replace the current mobile accommodation which will include bespoke outdoor play and integral toilets
Reorganisation of circulation space to ensure pupils a more cohesive route around the site
Dedicated SEN Group space
Enhanced library space
Louise Clarke, co-head at New Waltham Academy, said: “This is great news for the school. We can’t wait to welcome not just new intake students but also our existing cohort to our brand new classrooms and nursery and we’re thrilled about that.”
The project has been funded through the Local Authority’s Basic Needs allocation, Section 106 contributions, a contribution from the school and corporate resources.
The Basic Needs allocations are capital funds released from Central Government to Local Authorities for the provision of school places. An Education Section 106 is a legally binding agreement between Local Authorities and housing developers to mitigate any impact that may arise to the school estate from new housing.
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire Council
The Queens Hotel in Skegness has been sold to Sodhi Managements Ltd.
The family-run hotel has been owned and operated by Ran and Yuan since 2020, who said: “We are happy to pass the hotel to Sodhi Managements Ltd.
“Skegness is England’s fourth most popular holiday destination, with over 1.4 million visitors each year, attracted to its sandy beach and seafront attractions including Nature land Seal Sanctuary, museum, aquarium and more.
“There’s also the town’s annual carnival, arts festival and other activities, attracting people from all over the country. We wish Sodhi Managements Ltd every success in the future.”
Matt Hill, Senior Business Agent at Christie & Co, who managed the sale process, said: “The Queens Hotel has been a very popular hotel opportunity, and demonstrates the strong demand we are currently seeing in the market for well-positioned and well-maintained businesses in tourist locations.”
The hotel was sold off an asking price of £450,000.
Picture shows The Queens Hotel. Image credit: Christie & Co
Market Rasen’s Food and Drink Festival makes its return on Saturday 29th March, offering a feast of local flavours.
Set in the heart of the town’s Market Place from 10am to 4pm, the festival provides a day filled with gourmet delights, live entertainment, and family-friendly fun.
Organised in partnership with the Advocate Arms, Heneage Arms, and Market Rasen Town Council, this year’s event builds on the success of last year’s festivals, bringing together food and drink vendors.
Matt Horsefield, head chef and owner of the Advocate Arms and Heneage Arms, said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for another fantastic day of food, drink, and community spirit. Last year’s turnout was amazing and we’re hoping this year will be even better – so come along, bring your friends and let’s make it a day to remember.”
Visitors can also sample local gin or a Lincolnshire pint, and live music from Pelham Road will keep the atmosphere abuzz.
Nicola Marshall, West Lindsey Towns Manager, said: “This festival is a brilliant opportunity to showcase the best of our local producers while bringing the community together and attracting visitors to discover Market Rasen’s high street shops and businesses.
“With great food and live entertainment, it’s the perfect way to spend time with family and friends.”
Image credit: West Lindsey District Council
A new exhibition called Made in the Middle will arrive at Hub, Sleaford on April 5, showcasing the work of thirty-seven regional artists – two of whom are from Lincolnshire. There will be every style of craft with subject matter as diverse as model robots made from junk to Asian Pop-Art dragons.
The artists represent the region’s vibrant and diverse creative community and include both emerging talents and established names.
31 artists, ranging from 22 to 82 years old, were selected by a panel of curators and craft sector specialists.
A further six artists have been invited by Guest Curator, Jazz Swali, with Curatorial Support from Marta Marsicka to emphasise the enriching cultural impact of global migration to the region. Their work highlights powerful stories about the world we live in.
Featured artists from Lincolnshire include Robert Maurice King and Oxana Geets.
Deirdre Figueiredo, Director at Craftspace, said: “In 2025, the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, the exhibition shows how artists are playing their role in evolving the cultural voice and identity of the Midlands. The curation of the exhibition gives artists an unusual opportunity to experiment, speculate and make work freely without commercial constraints and audiences will be amazed and inspired.
“The exhibition is the ninth in the Made in the Middle series and will tour galleries across the Midlands into 2026 raising the profile of regional artists and providing an opportunity to sell. For the public and collectors, it’s a chance to commission a unique artwork or buy existing pieces to suit all budgets.”
Picture shows Oxana Geets. Image credit – Aleksei Geets
Almost £100,000 in funding has been approved by West Lindsey District Council for a series of community projects at Hemswell Cliff.
Councillors approved the funding at the Prosperous Communities Committee for projects aimed at enhancing sport, leisure, path works, and accessibility in the village.
The £95,042 in funding was earmarked from the council’s Hemswell Cliff Investment for Growth capital budget.
Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee, Cllr Lesley Rollings, said this latest award was part of ongoing funding set aside for the village.
“This is a significant amount of money and is part of our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of residents in Hemswell Cliff and across communities throughout West Lindsey. It has been wonderful to see so many young people getting involved in various aspects of the community project, making signs and planting an orchard.
“In the past Hemswell Cliff has experienced higher than average levels of anti-social behaviour and other crimes. However, in recent years, partnership work between ourselves, volunteer groups, the parish council, and the primary school, has shown what a difference can be made when everyone works together.
“Improving provision available, particularly for young people, will play an important role in helping create a safe environment with lower instances and risk of crime.”
The funding will support the delivery of works by Hemswell Cliff Parish Council, which aims to improve the accessibility of The Green in the heart of the village and improve sport provision in a bid to reduce the need for residents to travel to access such facilities elsewhere.
Parish Council Chairman, Graham Prestwood, said: “We would like to thank West Lindsey District Council for their continued support of Hemswell Cliff. This work will result in improved access to green spaces, and places for people to meet, socialise and play.”
Image credit: West Lindsey District Council
Time is running out for Lincolnshire artists to showcase their work to thousands of people in the city’s Usher Gallery this summer.
The deadline for submissions to The Usher Gallery Trust’s open exhibition, called ‘Art of the Now’ is Monday 7 April 2025.
The judging panel will consider all work from Lincolnshire-based artists that has been completed in the last three years. Paintings, video, photography, textiles, drawing, collage, mixed media, works on paper and sculpture will all be accepted.
Age and experience are no barrier to entry as the open exhibition looks to celebrate the wide variety of Lincolnshire’s art scene.
Laura Garner, exhibitions and interpretations assistant at The Usher Gallery, said: “We’re incredibly excited to open up The Usher to showcase some of the best work from Lincolnshire’s amazing local artists.
“We’ve already received lots of wonderfully creative entries but still have room for a few more so don’t miss the fantastic opportunity to display your art in The Usher. On top of that, there’ll also be five cash prizes up for grabs too!
“We’re always blown away by how talented the county’s artists are, and we can’t wait to display all your fantastic submissions in all their glory.”
Submissions are open until 7 April, and it is free to enter work.
Lincolnshire County Council’s leader has announced intentions to withdraw from Nuclear Waste Services’ Community Partnership.
This would effectively cancel the company’s consideration of the Lincolnshire coast for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
Cllr Martin Hill OBE, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “When we took up Nuclear Waste Services’ (NWS, then called ‘Radioactive Waste Management’) invitation to join a working group in 2021, we did so with an open mind, knowing that residents themselves could make the decision as to whether it was right for the area.
“We wanted residents to be able to understand the full extent of the opportunities and consequences that would come with the building of a GDF in Lincolnshire.
“At that time, the site earmarked for the development was an old gas terminal in Theddlethorpe – a brownfield site. Since then, the area that NWS is considering for the entry point to the GDF has shifted to open farmland, a couple of miles up the coast and further inland.
“This changes the very nature of the proposal and, understandably, raised further concerns within the local community.
“Whilst we have tried to maintain an open mind towards the plans, we are now several years on from this first being suggested, and big questions still remain to be answered about the scale of the development and how this waste would get there.
“We had planned to put the decision on whether to remain within the partnership to a public vote next year, but it has become increasingly apparent that the community is getting frustrated with the uncertainty and slow pace of this process.
“Unless NWS can provide significant further details about their plans that would reassure the local community and comprehensively explain the benefits and costs, it is my intention to withdraw from the process altogether.
“This will need to be a formal decision, taken at a meeting of the council’s Executive.
“NWS require at least one of the local councils to remain involved in the working group in order to progress the Lincolnshire GDF option. Following East Lindsey District Council’s withdrawal from the group earlier this month, our decision would effectively cancel NWS’ plans to build a nuclear waste facility in Lincolnshire.”
The company are clear that they need a ‘willing community’ to build this facility and other locations in the UK are being considered for a GDF.
Picture shows Cllr Martin Hill OBE, leader of Lincolnshire County Council. Image credit: Lincolnshire County Council
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