North Lincolnshire has picked up a clutch of prestigious Britain in Bloom East Midlands awards from the Royal Horticultural Society.
The newly developed Somervell Community/Inclusive Allotments scooped a major award – the RHS Judges Award for Community Focus.
Elsham Parish Nature Reserve, which used to be an old quarry, also received a Judge’s Award. The site is owned by Elsham Parish Council.
The judges commented that the site “is now transformed into a wonderful wildflower and wildlife facility which, as it develops, will be fully enjoyed by villagers and visitors alike.”
Central Park in Scunthorpe won an award for Excellence in Horticulture and Standards.
Recent work installing planters on local streets, including Britannia Corner, won a Bronze award.
Cllr David Rose, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “This is a marvellous achievement, and a welcome reward for the workforce who have put so much effort in over the past 12 months. North Lincolnshire’s green spaces are going from strength to strength.
“It is particularly noteworthy that unused and neglected areas have been taken and transformed them into spaces from which the whole community can benefit.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/gpointstudio Care Partner Hub opens at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital
Carers First and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust have opened the Care Partner Hub at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital to support the wellbeing of care partners and provide practical advice and guidance.
Sam Marshall is the Community Inclusion Coordinator for the Carers First Lincolnshire services. She said: “The hub is a fantastic opportunity for us to reach more carers, sooner! Providing essential information and signposting to the support available to Carers can help relieve some of the stress during what is often a challenging time for them and the person they are caring for.
“Our great team of volunteers are on hand to provide a safe and comforting space in what can be, for some, an overwhelming situation when a loved one is in hospital.”
The plans have also improved the care partners badge scheme, which helps hospital staff recognise a care partner and ensure they have access to some of the carer elements that they provide, such as more flexibility on visiting and authority to help support at mealtimes.
The refurbishment for the Care Partners Hub has been provided by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
The hub is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays between 12 noon and 4pm on the sixth floor. Volunteers from Carers First and ULHT offer a wide range of services and resources in a friendly environment, including carer’s assessments referrals and support, carers awareness training for professionals, as well as advice and information.
Hospital unit thanked with marathon effort
An RAF policeman who ran the London Marathon in memory of his friend and mentor, has just donated more than £3,000 to the hospital unit that cared for him.
Sergeant Tom Bone sadly lost his friend and mentor a few years ago and promised to run the marathon in aid of the Renal Unit at Lincoln County Hospital.
Granville Bainbridge owned the Wainfleet Social Club and took Tom under his wing when he showed a keen interest and ability in snooker.
Tom said: “Granville was an amazing man and a real character. He always supported me with my snooker when I was a young lad and later with my military career. He had so many stories to tell and I will always remember him telling me to do whatever you can, see as many places as you can and take as many photos as possible.”
Granville used to have treatment at Lincoln County Hospital before he had a kidney transplant in 2020. Sadly he died in February 2021 during the COVID pandemic.
Tom added: “He always praised the team when he talked about the treatment and care he received. It has been a real honour to come back today and be able to say thank you.
“When Granville died, I decided that I would run the marathon in his memory. When you see people going through treatment and you see the amazing care that the team provide, it puts everything into perspective.
“All I did was spend 3 hours 15 minutes and 52 seconds running and thanks to the support of other people making donations and supporting me we raised £3,134.”
Renal Unit Sister, Lorraine Makin, said: “It is incredibly humbling for us as a team when patients and families think of us and thank us.
“Our unit is unusual as we get to see the same patients week in and week out for many years. It is special and it is why we all do what we do. It really is a privilege.”
Lorraine and Tom were joined by other members of the Renal Unit Team and also Ben and Gary from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Fundraiser, Gary Burr, said: “As a charity we support United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust patients and staff with those extras that cannot be provided by the NHS. We will work with the Unit and Tom to understand if there was anything in particular that Granville would have wanted this generous donation spent on. It will make such a difference.”
Image credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Major refurbishment to start at Lincoln Museum
The next stage of Lincoln Museum’s redevelopment will begin on 14 October.
Last year, the county council announced a two-year refresh of the visitor spaces at Lincoln Museum, with a name change and brand refresh, marking the beginning of the project.
Since then, the visitor toilets have been refurbished, as well as the installation of new furniture in the café and a state-of-the-art IT system in the auditorium.
Now, plans are being finalised for a complete refresh of the main archaeology gallery, updating all the displays, and creating a new, immersive experience that showcases Lincolnshire’s history, right back to its very earliest inhabitants.
Starting from 14 October, the exhibition spaces will be closed to allow staff to begin removing all the objects and artefacts for safe storage. This will pave the way for work to start on transforming the space.
A refit of the museum shop, refurbishment of the play space, and landscaping of the outdoor courtyard will also form part of the project, which is expected to finish in late 2025.
The museum’s Muse Café and the Usher Gallery will both remain open as normal.
Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive councillor for culture at Lincolnshire County Council, welcomed the next stage of the museum’s redevelopment, saying: “This is the biggest update to Lincoln Museum since we opened in 2005 and will let us continue to give you the warm welcome our visitors expect and put on the exciting exhibitions and events we are known for.
“At over 690m2, the archaeology gallery is by far the biggest space in Lincoln Museum, and – although still captivating visitors – the displays are now largely 20 years old.
“In order to continue to attract new visitors to the museum, and to the city, we need to rethink how we tell Lincolnshire’s story. We’re working on the exciting new look for the archaeology gallery, with creative, interactive displays that will allow visitors to explore the county’s history like never before.
“This is also an opportunity for us to showcase other items from our collection that haven’t been displayed in a long time, or ever before, whilst still keeping those artefacts and objects that visitors love seeing time and time again.
“Whilst the exhibits will be closed off for the refurbishment, visitors can still relax in the Muse Café at Lincoln Museum and enjoy the exhibitions and events across the road at the Usher Gallery.
“We’ll be sharing updates about how the redevelopment is going over the coming months, as the new interactive and engaging displays take place. And we are already looking forward to welcoming everyone in to see our redeveloped museum next year.”
Picture: How the redeveloped archaeology gallery at Lincoln Museum might look. Image courtesy of Creative Core. Local businesses sign up to start wildflower planting project
A campaign to bring more wildflowers and biodiversity to Lincoln while reducing carbon is launching this month.
Launched by Lincoln-based My Square Metre, Plant it Forward will see local businesses pledging to plant one square metre of wildflowers on behalf of a business of their choice, with that business then doing the same to pass it forward, and so on.
My Square Metre is the first of its kind online carbon offsetting calculator, which identifies often overlooked daily carbon-producing activities, and offsets through wildflower planting.
With an aim for Plant it Forward to reach 2,000 square metres of wildflowers, My Square Metre is hoping that through the interest and support of local businesses, Lincoln will be taking a step closer to a net zero carbon future as well as creating new habitats and boosting biodiversity.
In Britain, 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost since the second world war and 53% of native plants have been lost in the last 20 years due to human impacts. Meadow loss leads to a reduction in pollinators which are essential in food production.
When a square metre of wildflowers is planted through My Square Metre, the land is managed and protected for at least 30 years and the wildflowers will feed 24 bees each year for those 30 years. In addition, using wildflower planting to offset carbon is highly effective as they sequest carbon within the first year of planting, in comparison to tree planting which can take years to sequester.
To launch Plant it Forward, Lincoln business EcomeOne has committed to being the first company to sign up and will be passing the ‘wildflower baton’ on to Eagle Eye Innovations.
Ed Crowther, founder of My Square Metre, said: “The aim of Plant it Forward is to create meaningful change together, in an easily accessible, affordable and fun way. The cost of planting one square metre of wildflowers through My Square Metre is £10 plus vat, and the impact on our environment is considerable.
“Lincoln and Lincolnshire, like all areas of the country, have seen an extreme reduction in its habitats and biodiversity, as well as the increase in carbon production over the last 20 years. The Plant it Forward campaign is to target this through collaboration – bringing businesses together to make a difference.
“The team and I hope this is the start of a long-standing initiative that will continue to run, helping to build a better future for Lincoln. Big thanks to EcomeOne and Eagle Eye Innovations on getting us started!”
Carrianne Dukes at EcomeOne said: “We are gifting square meters of wildflowers to our clients to support them in their sustainability journey. This allows us to showcase our commitment to helping the planet, while building relationships in a sustainable and meaningful way.”
The target of 2,000 square metres will bring: 6 Tonnes of Co2 sequestered, 1m wildflowers, 24,000 bees every year for 30 years, 285 butterfly pairs, enough insects to feed 10 small birds, 400+ mice and voles and a home for hundreds of different species above and below ground.
10th Lincoln Scouts good turn for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
The team at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) are saying a mega three cheers and a huge thank you to all the scouts of 10th Lincoln (1st Waddington) Scout Group for choosing Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance as their charity of the year 2023 and raising a staggering £1,412 through various events including a bingo night & Gang Show.
LNAA Community Fundraiser, Jac Sutherland recently met the group when she was able to thank all the 10th Lincoln Scouts for their incredible support and fundraising efforts over the year.
She said: “This donation is the equivalent to the average cost of 1 mission in our critical care car.
“It is only with the support of people, businesses and organisations in Lincs & Notts that our crews are able to deliver life-saving care to people living in our counties 24/7, seven days-a-week.”
The Lincolnshire Food & Gift Fair is a festive weekend packed full of fun for all of the family – Tickets now on sale!
Christmas is just around the corner and Lincolnshire is in for a big festive treat!
It’s October, and that means it’s time to start thinking about the festive Season! Get into the holiday spirit early this year at the annual Lincolnshire Food & Gift event held at the Lincolnshire Showground on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December! Tickets are now on sale! This year’s event will feature over 150 exhibitors, including food and drink retailers, local growers and producers. The event is the perfect opportunity to find unique gifts for your loved ones and stock up on delicious festive treats. Date: Saturday 30th November & Sunday 1st December Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Location: Lincolnshire ShowgroundWhat to Expect
A Fantastic Selection of Exhibitors: From handmade crafts to gourmet foods, there’s something for everyone. Santa’s Workshop: A free haven of activities for young children where they can enjoy arts, crafts, and baking activities. The Lincolnshire Kitchen: Watch cooking demonstrations and pick up festive recipe tips from top local culinary stars. Festive Entertainment: Enjoy festive entertainment with carol singing by local choirs — a great day out for the whole family! Meet Santa: Returning for its second year, meet the big man himself! More information to be announced in the coming weeks.Don’t Miss Out!
With so much on offer and free entertainment for everyone, this event promises to be a highlight of the festive season. Make sure you get your tickets early to avoid missing out on this fantastic event! We can’t wait to see you there and help you kick off the holiday season in style! Anyone planning to attend this year’s Food & Gift is being encouraged to buy their tickets in advance via lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/food-gift Advance tickets ae available until 29th November 2024 and cost £6.50, Children aged 3-12 years cost £4.00, with tickets on the day at £7.00. Children under two and parking are all free. All tickets are subject to booking fees. For more information, please visit lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/food-gift
Jaylaurs Sewing Studios to celebrate 40th anniversary with event featuring celebrity sewing guests
Jaylaurs Sewing Studios is inviting all customers, old and new, to celebrate its 40th anniversary of trading in Brigg on Saturday 23rd November.
Whether you like to sew and craft or prefer to let Jaylaurs Sewing Studios do the sewing for you, be the first to view their wonderful new spaces.
A special event will welcome celebrity sewing guests, offer goody bags or alteration discount vouchers to the first 30 customers, and offer 15% off metered fabric and 15% off alterations (23rd November only).
A spokesperson for Jaylaurs Sewing Studios said: “Through challenges and successes, and the amazing support of the local community, Jaylaurs Sewing Studios would like to thank you all for your loyalty and consistent support over the last 40 years. Our customers have enabled us to grow and become the business we are today. From a humble, cold, wet and windy market stall in 1984 to our amazing new super spacious retail premises in 2024.”
Amongst the guests at the anniversary event will be Rebecca Grimbleby, who will be sharing her experiences as a finalist on the 2021 series of Great British Sewing Bee. Rebecca will be happy to answer questions and some of her wonderful creations will be on display.
Karen of Stitches by Karen Taylor will also be in attendance, with some of her garments on display. Jaylaurs Sewing Studios stocks fabulous patterns from Karen, who trained as a pattern cutter at ESMOD International in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2014 she moved to the UK, to Lincoln, and in 2015 started working towards creating Stitches by Karen Taylor. Karen has developed her own line of sewing patterns with the aim of providing well-fitting garments for all shapes and sizes.
Lucy Picksley, aka Sew Pretty Sew Mindful, is also a guest at the event. Jaylaurs Sewing Studios stocks Lucy’s amazing bag patterns and fabric collections. Specialising in bag making, Lucy is happy to chat and answer questions. The sewing pattern designer based in Gainsborough has made appearances on Sewing Street TV, runs The Creative Wellness Hub, and is a blogger for Craft Cotton Company.
Amongst the guests at the anniversary event will be Rebecca Grimbleby, who will be sharing her experiences as a finalist on the 2021 series of Great British Sewing Bee. Rebecca will be happy to answer questions and some of her wonderful creations will be on display.
Karen of Stitches by Karen Taylor will also be in attendance, with some of her garments on display. Jaylaurs Sewing Studios stocks fabulous patterns from Karen, who trained as a pattern cutter at ESMOD International in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2014 she moved to the UK, to Lincoln, and in 2015 started working towards creating Stitches by Karen Taylor. Karen has developed her own line of sewing patterns with the aim of providing well-fitting garments for all shapes and sizes.
Lucy Picksley, aka Sew Pretty Sew Mindful, is also a guest at the event. Jaylaurs Sewing Studios stocks Lucy’s amazing bag patterns and fabric collections. Specialising in bag making, Lucy is happy to chat and answer questions. The sewing pattern designer based in Gainsborough has made appearances on Sewing Street TV, runs The Creative Wellness Hub, and is a blogger for Craft Cotton Company.
Revamp work starts on Embassy Theatre at Skegness
Transformational work on the historic Embassy Theatre in Skegness has started on-site as part of Cultural Skegness, an East Lindsey District Council led project designed to bring a new ‘culture house concept’ to the town.
The redevelopment is designed to help the venue, which has been in Skegness since 1926, to expand and adapt to current needs, creating improved, modern, and accessible facilities that will provide residents and visitors with a bigger and better offer of activities and shows to enjoy.
Improvements are based on the founding principles of the ‘culture house concept’, based on a Scandinavian model aimed at boosting local engagement in the arts and diversifying a venue’s offer all year round.
The ambition for the culture house is to create a space to support the exploration and enjoyment of new opportunities and activities for young people and the local community, whilst continuing to develop the creative sector in the Lincolnshire coast, which is already developing and forming new national and international connections, including the Embassy’s ongoing partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company and its Associate Schools Programme.
The plans for the Towns Fund and Arts Council England funded work received planning permission on 5 September, and include significant upgrades to seating within the auditorium, an extended storage area for staging and equipment, and the creation of a new feature entrance and multi-purpose space to the southern side of the building.
A new external seating area will be introduced, and there will be upgrades to existing changing rooms, lift and toilet areas throughout. The proposals also include new Embassy venue signage on the front of the building.
The development is part of the Skegness Connected Coast Town Deal and Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund project, which has contributed to a £4.1million total programme of works for the theatre.
Councillor Steve Kirk, the council’s champion for the project, said: “This project will help to allow residents and holidaymakers alike access to the highest quality of performances, workshops and more. It will also provide a valuable platform for new creative businesses to develop and grow in East Lindsey, creating exciting new jobs and adding diversity to our existing cultural offer.”
Chris Baron, Chair, Connected Coast said: “It is fantastic news that work is now beginning on the Embassy Theatre, bringing us closer to realising the transformational ambitions for the much-loved venue.
“The plans will create many more, new, and diverse opportunities for people to enjoy performances and events in Skegness and participate in learning and creative activities.
“The proposals for the site will maximise the potential of the venue as a place that has something for everyone, whether you are a local resident or visitor to the town.”
The Grove Care Home in Waltham launches monthly Coffee Mornings
The Grove Care Home in Waltham, near Grimsby, is launching monthly Community Coffee Mornings, beginning on Wednesday 6th November from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Each month, these events will support a nominated charity, starting with a special fundraising effort for ‘Wear It Pink Day’ in support of Breast Cancer Now.
Customer Relations Manager Ros Wells shared her excitement: “We are delighted to invite our community to our Coffee Club Café, which was recently declared open by the Deputy Mayor Cllr Janet Goodwin and Deputy Consort Mr Barry Goodwin during a ribbon cutting ceremony last month.
“Our Community Coffee Mornings are designed to offer a welcoming and supportive space for everyone in our local area.”
Residents of The Grove eagerly anticipate welcoming families, neighbours, and the local community members for a morning of refreshments, fresh cakes, and conversation.
The Grove also welcomes their local community to their future Community Coffee Mornings which are scheduled in for Wednesday 4th December then every first Wednesday of a month thereafter.
To arrange a tour of The Grove Care Home or for more information, please contact Ros Wells, Customer Relations Manager, at 01472 821127 or email ros.wells@countrycourtcare.com.
