Trio of Grantham parks retain Green Flag status
Drones risk disturbing protected birds on Lincolnshire coast
As summer draws crowds to the North East Lincolnshire coastline, drone users are being reminded to fly responsibly to avoid disturbing vulnerable bird populations.
The stretch of coast beyond Cleethorpes Leisure Centre is a protected zone, forming part of multiple conservation designations including a Special Protection Area and the Humber Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. These areas support thousands of migratory and breeding birds throughout the year.
Between May and September, drones pose a serious risk to nesting birds. Unintentional disturbance can cause them to abandon eggs or young, while disruption to feeding and roosting in autumn and winter months can impact the survival of birds migrating from the Arctic to Africa.
Up to 150,000 water birds gather in the area each year, and continued disturbance—particularly during harsh weather—can lead to exhaustion or death.
Local authorities are urging drone operators to follow Civil Aviation Authority guidance and be aware of no-fly zones to protect wildlife and avoid fines. The council has published additional resources to help recreational users fly safely and legally, especially near sensitive natural habitats.
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire CouncilFreshney Place car park set for £6m safety overhaul
North East Lincolnshire Council is preparing to spend just over £6 million to fix structural issues linked to RAAC at Grimsby’s Freshney Place car park.
The material, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, was flagged during the council’s £16.5 million acquisition of the shopping centre in 2022. Known for being lightweight but fragile, RAAC has caused disruption across the UK, including temporary closures at hundreds of schools.
Freshney Place’s two car parks, offering a combined 849 spaces, were already in need of major repairs at the time of purchase. Since then, RAAC has also been found in other areas of the centre.
The council is weighing up two options: replacing the faulty concrete entirely or reinforcing it with steel supports. Full replacement is the likely route, with work expected to begin after a formal tender is issued in winter 2025/26. The project could take up to two years.
The cost has been factored into Freshney Place’s long-term planning, and the council says efforts will be made to keep disruption to a minimum for staff, with temporary facilities provided if needed.
Image credit: Google mapsAn unmissable night of music, charm, and celebration at Kelham Hall
New local programmes bring movement and connection to West Lindsey
Three new wellbeing initiatives have been launched in West Lindsey, aimed at supporting people managing mental health challenges and neurodiverse conditions.
Backed by more than £16,000 in combined funding from Shine Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire County Council’s Adult Mental Health Services, and Sport England, the programmes offer a mix of movement, mindfulness, and community connection.
The first to launch is the Mindset Café, a weekly peer support group that opened its doors on 13 July. It’s designed for people experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood, ADHD, or autism. Attendees are encouraged to build confidence and may later take on volunteer roles as ‘mindset champions’ within their community.
Next up is the Mindset Gym for Men, kicking off in late August. Funded by Sport England, it combines physical activity with relaxed conversation, encouraging men to talk openly about mental health while getting active in a supportive space.
Also launching at the end of August is the Neuro Gym (Strong & Steady), designed for people living with Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, early-onset dementia, or stroke recovery. The sessions offer adaptive exercises like boccia, curling, chair yoga, and seated workouts, with carers welcome to take part.
All sessions will be held at the West Lindsey Leisure Centre in Gainsborough.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/kieferpixNew SEND hubs to offer more inclusive support in Lincolnshire schools
A major investment in inclusive education is underway across Lincolnshire, with £7 million earmarked to create 13 new hubs designed to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Five local authority-maintained primary schools will introduce dedicated SEND hubs, joining six primary academies and two secondary academies already approved by the Department for Education.
These hubs will offer smaller class sizes and dedicated support led by specially trained staff, aiming to provide pupils with the tailored help they need while remaining in mainstream schools. In total, the initiative will create 210 additional places for children with SEND, helping address a growing demand for inclusive, community-based learning.
Construction and setup for the new facilities are scheduled to begin in autumn 2025, with all hubs expected to be fully operational by autumn 2026.
The chosen schools include a mix of Church of England, Methodist, and community schools, reflecting a broad effort to improve access to high-quality education regardless of school type or location.
This move is part of a wider shift in education policy that sees inclusive support not as a specialist add-on but as a core offering within everyday school environments.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/highwaystarzFrench flea market comes to Grantham
Wrawby Play Park sees £55,000 revamp
Free family entertainment comes to Scunthorpe with Summer in the Square
- Saturday 19 July: Discover Pirates – Set sail for a water-filled day of pirate fun, with stilt walkers, mermaids, bubbles, and hands-on crafts for all ages.
- Tuesday 22 July: Discover Outdoors – Make dens, spark fires, and dive into interactive nature-themed fun.
- Friday 25 July: Dino Discover Day – Come face to face with dinosaurs, meet a walking raptor, dig for fossils, make slime, and snap a photo with a dinosaur egg.
- Wednesday 30 July: Discover Sports – Get active with street games, karate, comedy sports theatre, slacklining, street sport art, bubbleologist, interactive sports activities, and AI football fun with roaming card and sticker swaps.
- Friday 8 August: Discover Music – Feel the rhythm with mariachi melodies, Rio carnival performance, and Coritani drummers bringing sounds from across the world to the square.
- Saturday 9 August: Play – Our Environment – Enjoy crafts, sensory play, circus workshops and outdoor games for curious minds and messy hands.
- Wednesday 13 August: Discover Play – A lively day of magic shows, circus skills, mini fighting robots, a giant dazzle playbox, den making, hands-on science, bubbles, face painting, crafts, and a wild family game show full of laughs and surprises.
- Friday 15 August: Discover Block Day – Build, explore and create with LEGO, Minecraft, 3D printing, parkour, and hands-on science experiments.
- Wednesday 20 August: Teen Takeover – An action-packed day designed by and for young people, featuring BMX shows, a roller rink, parkour, crafts, beatboxing, DJ workshops, Comic-Con fun, an escape room, a sweetie ice sculpture and more.
- Friday 22 August to Saturday 30 August: Luxmuralis Science – Experience stunning light projections exploring molecules, cells, and DNA in a breath-taking show inside the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.
- Wednesday 27 August: Discover Creativity – Let your imagination run wild with giant drawing, science fun, street theatre, a doodle wall, family games and imaginative play.
Skills fair helps young people discover future career paths in Grimsby
Grimsby’s annual Skills Fair attracted nearly 2,000 students from North East Lincolnshire, marking the event’s 11th year. Held at Grimsby Auditorium, the fair connects local students with education, training, and career opportunities. Organised by North East Lincolnshire Council, Franklin College, Grimsby Institute, and Wilkin Chapman LLP, the fair brought together over 60 exhibitors, including universities, local employers, and national organisations like the NHS and the British Army.
A key highlight of this year’s fair was the STEM Village, sponsored by Phillips 66. It provided students with hands-on activities, virtual reality experiences, and live demonstrations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, showcasing the growing demand for skilled workers in the Humber region. Industry forecasts predict the Humber will require over 12,000 new workers in energy and construction, and 10,000 in offshore energy by 2030.
Construction management company GMI participated in the event, emphasising how local development projects are creating career opportunities for young people. The fair also demonstrated the vital role that collaboration between local authorities and businesses plays in creating pathways for the next generation.
For ongoing support, young people aged 16 to 18 can contact the Young People’s Support Service (YPSS) throughout the year.
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire CouncilSleaford selected for ecoPlant
Clean Planet Energy, a UK-based clean-tech firm, has chosen Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park for its second ecoPlant facility in the UK.
The new plant is part of Clean Planet’s plan to tackle the plastic waste crisis, with an estimated £35 million investment in its construction.
This ecoPlant will process up to 25,000 tonnes of traditionally non-recyclable plastic waste annually, such as fast food containers, shopping bags, and plastic films. The facility will convert this waste into Purified Pyrolysis Oil, an alternative to the fossil oils used in petrochemical industries. The plant is expected to create 50-70 permanent jobs and an additional 100 jobs during construction.
The site was chosen for its access to industrial infrastructure and the council’s commitment to sustainability. The development aligns with North Kesteven District’s goals of promoting green industries and local economic growth. The facility is located on a plot in the second phase of Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, which already includes energy-efficient units featuring solar panels and EV charging points.
If Lincolnshire County Council approves the planning application, construction is expected to begin soon, with operations anticipated to start after the two-year build. Clean Planet Energy is focused on removing over one million tonnes of non-recyclable plastic annually, addressing a global issue where the vast majority of plastic waste ends up in landfills, incinerators, or oceans.
Pictured from left: North Kesteven District Council leader councillor Richard Wright and Clean Planet Energy director of expansion and development Tom Field. Image credit: Clean Planet Energy
Grantham architectural gem opens to public
Red Arrows fly high in hospital charity fundraiser
Spot butterflies and support nature this July
People across the UK are being invited to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count, running from 18 July to 10 August. In Cleethorpes, new Coastal Ranger Josh Forrester will lead two free events to help locals identify and count butterflies along the coast.
The first event will be on 18 July at Humberston Fitties Sea Defence from 10am to 12pm, meeting at Anthony’s Bank car park. The second will be on 21 July at Cleethorpes Country Park, also from 10am to 12pm.
The Big Butterfly Count encourages people to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies in sunny weather. This citizen science initiative tracks butterfly numbers as an indicator of environmental health, with significant declines seen since the 1970s.
Participants can join the organised events or simply count butterflies in gardens, parks, fields, and woodlands. Those counting from a fixed spot should record the highest number of each species seen at one time, while walkers should tally each butterfly spotted during their 15-minute count.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/MaridavGrants available for businesses to boost essential skills in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire County Council has launched the Skills Champion programme, offering £1,000 grants to local businesses and community groups focused on improving literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. The initiative is designed to encourage the delivery of accessible and innovative learning programmes that address these key areas of development.
Organisations successful in their application will receive financial support to help implement projects that promote practical skills. These efforts could include activities that integrate learning into everyday tasks, such as cooking or gardening, making education more relatable and engaging.
The programme will also provide networking opportunities through regular ‘LinknLearn’ sessions, where participants can exchange ideas, resources, and strategies to enhance their initiatives. With the backing of the county’s Adult Learning Team, the grants aim to empower local organisations to make a significant impact in their communities.
Applications for the grants are open until August 2025, with applicants able to apply for support across any combination of the three focus areas: literacy, numeracy, or digital skills.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Jacob LundFollow the footsteps of the Romans at new Wragby museum
Visitors will have the chance to step into the history of Wragby as the town’s new pop-up museum opens.
Caterpillar warning for Skegness beachgoers
Beach visitors in Skegness are being urged to avoid touching brown-tail moth caterpillars spotted along coastal paths and dunes.
The caterpillars, common at this time of year, have tiny barbed hairs containing toxins that can trigger rashes or blisters on contact.
Signs have been placed near popular walking areas including Princess Parade Car Park, Lagoon Walk, and the Dunes, reminding people that even brushing against these hairs can cause severe nettle-like irritation.
Council teams are monitoring the situation, while wildlife experts advise keeping away from the caterpillars and their webs to avoid discomfort during seaside trips.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Brian JacksonBig bin hire scheme set to stay in West Lindsey
Residents in West Lindsey look set to keep their popular big bin hire service, with councillors expected to approve its continuation next week. The trial, known as the Big Bin Clear Out, saw hundreds of residents hiring extra-large bins over the past year to dispose of bulky household waste without needing to visit the tip.
The council offered bins up to six times bigger than standard wheelie bins, ideal for spring cleans or major clear-outs. In total, 437 of the 1,100-litre bins were hired at £60 per week, while 27 smaller 660-litre bins were rented for £50 per week. Gainsborough proved the most popular area for bookings.
The bins can take a mix of household waste such as wood, plastics, shelving, and artificial Christmas trees, though mattresses, electrical items, and commercial waste aren’t accepted. Council figures show 95 per cent of customers rated the service four or five stars.
A final decision will be made at the Prosperous Communities Committee meeting on 15 July. Residents can book the bins online.
Image: West Lindsey District Council. Credit: Google mapsGovernment backs North Hykeham Relief Road project
The Department for Transport has reaffirmed its support for the North Hykeham Relief Road, a key infrastructure project in Lincolnshire. The road is part of the Government’s wider Plan for Change and is expected to improve regional connectivity and support local economic growth significantly.
The project, currently undergoing a public inquiry, has faced uncertainty over the past year. However, the latest confirmation has given the project team a boost. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with an expected completion date of late 2028. The overall cost is estimated to fall between £180 million and £208 million.
Once completed, the road will serve as the final section of a ring road around Lincoln, improving traffic flow and journey time reliability. The new road will open up land for 4,500 homes and seven hectares of employment space, contributing an estimated £350 million to the local economy over the next 60 years. The road will also improve the A46 corridor, linking the Midlands with the Humber ports.
The development includes the construction of new roundabouts at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road, and Grantham Road, as well as bridges at Station Road and over the River Witham.
Image credit: Lincolnshire County CouncilGiant inflatable bowel to raise cancer awareness in Grimsby
- Tuesday 15 July, 10am–4pm: Riverhead Square, Riverhead, Grimsby Town Centre, DN31 1FB
- Wednesday 16 July, 10am–4pm: Asda Grimsby, Holles Street, Grimsby, DN32 9DL
- Thursday 17 July, 10am–4pm: Riverhead Square, Riverhead, Grimsby Town Centre, DN31 1FB