Lincolnshire Farming Conference set to return for first time in two years
Lincolnshire Showground is set to welcome hundreds from across the county’s farming industry for the annual Lincolnshire Farming Conference on Thursday 9 February 2023.
Organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, this year marks the first conference in two years due to the pandemic and has the theme, Healthy soils, Healthy minds. During the day, attendees will be able to hear talks from a number of key speakers from the agricultural world, and take part in workshop sessions with industry experts.
Each year the event is a key date in the annual Lincolnshire farming calendar, with the opportunity to network and discuss the key challenges and topics affecting the industry.
Tickets sales are now open and cost £15 for adults, £6 for students and is free of charge to members of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. All tickets also include complementary lunch.
Kelly Hewson-Fisher, chair of the Lincolnshire Farming Conference, said: “After two years of forced cancellations, we’re very excited to announce that the Lincolnshire Farming Conference will return at the start of next year.
“Lincolnshire is one of the UK’s biggest agricultural counties, and it’s great to be able to bring the local farming community together with leading experts to discuss the future of the agricultural industry – with a focus on healthy soils.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the conference to once again enjoy the workshop sessions and full conference programme, which includes a great line-up of interesting and topical speakers, as well as the opportunity for attendees to explore the exhibition. The Lincolnshire Showground is well placed geographically, so the event always proves very popular with attendees and exhibitors from throughout the midlands, as well as further afield.”
This year’s event sponsors include Omex, University of Lincoln, Woldmarsh, Streets, Shakespeare Martineau, Anglian Water, Dallas Scott Davey, CLAAS, Brown & Co JH Walter.
She added: “Each year, the conference is organised by The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society but as a registered charity, we’re always thankful to our sponsors and the important work they do. They play a big part in allowing us to work closely with individuals, schools, businesses and organisations to educate about food, farming and the countryside, and we simply wouldn’t be able to put on this conference for another year without them.
“It’s set to be another great event and we can’t wait to welcome people back.”
To book a place at the 2023 Lincolnshire Farming Conference, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-farming-conference-2023-tickets-476494547017.
For regular updates, follow the Lincolnshire Farming Conference on Twitter @LincsShowground or join the conversation at #LFC2019.
For more information about the annual Lincolnshire Farming Conference, please visit www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk or call 01522 522900 for further details.
First Record Fair set for Lincoln museum
Pick up your favourite records on vinyl or rediscover some bygone classics at The Collection Museum’s Record Fair on Saturday 14 January.
Featuring stalls from local record sellers, the free-to-enter Record Fair will be a first for the museum, on Danes Terrace in Lincoln.
The market event coincides with their ‘Best Art Vinyl; album artwork through the ages’ exhibition, which celebrates the very best vinyl album art from the last 70+ years.
Jenny Gleadell, exhibitions officer at The Collection Museum, said: “The Best Art Vinyl exhibition has been a real hit with visitors; some have been reminiscing about the classic albums of their youth, whilst others have discovered new favourites. I’m sure it has even inspired a few of our visitors to dust off their old vinyls, or even start a new collection.
“If that’s you, and you’re looking for more LPs to add to your shelves, the Record Fair is a pretty good place to start.
“We’re also now into the final weeks of the exhibition, so if you haven’t seen it yet, or want to see it again, you’ve got until 22 January to see it here at The Collection Museum.”
The Record Fair will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 14 January 2023.
Hundreds of Grimsby families supported by Community Shop this Christmas
Community Shop, the social supermarket network, is bringing Christmas cheer and much needed support to hundreds of people across the Grimsby community this winter, thanks to the support of its retail and manufacturing partners.
With so many families facing the choice between a warm meal and a warm home, Community Shop Nunsthorpe is working with Ocado, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Warburtons, Quorn and Kinnerton to help make this festive period as special as possible for those who may otherwise struggle, or go entirely without.
From Santa’s Grottos and Elf Breakfasts to donated gifts and Christmas dinners, Community Shop and its partners are helping keep the Christmas spirit alive for members in Nunsthorpe and Grimsby, and help reduce worries about food this festive season.
Christmas Dinners
Over 100 members came together for a free Christmas Dinner at Community Shop Nunsthorpe, thanks to Ocado who donated all of the ingredients for a delicious meal with all the trimmings. Quorn has also partnered with Community Shop by donating the vegetarian roasts for the Christmas Dinners and providing funding so that members can receive a significant discount on fruit and vegetables over the festive period.
Elf Breakfasts
During the school holidays, when children are without Free School Meal provision, Community Shop has joined forces with Warburtons, to welcome more than 600 children to special ‘Elf Breakfasts’. Using donated crumpets, loaves of bread and pancakes, fun learning sessions will see the kids make pancake stacks, fruity crumpets and eggy bread.
Christmas Presents
To try and ensure children do not go without a gift this Christmas, Company Shop’s members across the country have also supported Community Shop by donating toys through in-store ‘Donation Stations’, which were also boosted by Zuru Toys and Company Shop Group’s parent company Biffa. 800 gifts were donated which will be distributed to children at Community Shop’s Santa’s Grottos. Kinnerton helped spread the Christmas cheer at the start of December, donating almost 7,000 chocolate advent calendars for members’ children.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ donation of 120,000 bottles of drinks has also helped put a bit of fizz into Christmas for Community Shop members across the country.
Sarah-Jayne Thomas, impact manager at Community Shop Nunsthorpe, said: “It has been heart-warming to see the community come together during what can be a tricky time for many families and thanks to the support of our partners we’ve been able to spread a bit of Christmas magic.”
Gary Stott, executive chairman of Community Shop, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure seeing the immense difference that all the activities arranged, and donations given, have made to families and the wider community.
“We would like to extend a huge thank you to all those partners who have supported Community Shop to make such positive social, economic and environmental impact all year round, but especially those who have helped to enhance our Christmas provision.”
Rural enterprise park in Caistor reaches completion
Hillcrest Park in Caistor, which consists of 17 rural enterprise units, is officially complete.
The park, which is now fully occupied, is home to 11 separate businesses encompassing a wide range of sectors including: artisan crafts, digital marketing, renewable energy and theatre productions and provides employment for 40 employees.
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Bierley, was thrilled to visit the development in early December. He said: “Having closely followed its progress I was especially pleased to learn how the site has supported such a diverse range of businesses.
“I find it of great interest that the occupants of the site have all relocated from within a small local radius. This reaffirms the importance of ensuring that local business development can occur to support rural economies and community vibrancy and prosperity.”
The development was granted planning permission in 2016 and sought to regenerate what was an empty site in a strategic and prominent location alongside the A46. The development was supported by funding from the Rural Development Programme for England.
Property developer and investor, Oliver Lawrence said: “As someone who has grown up in Caistor, I knew there would be strong demand for the premises. It’s been a challenging process to achieve the vision we set out with a few years ago, but we’ve got there, and it really is fantastic that Hillcrest Park has turned a dilapidated site into one that is now thriving with local enterprise.”
The site provides accommodation across a range of unit sizes and has therefore been able to support local micro businesses and larger enterprises too.
Cllr Steve Critten of Caistor Town Council and Caistor Community Trust was also in attendance at the visit. He said: “It is great to see the site is finally complete and active with tenants. I am very keen to highlight engagement opportunities for businesses as part of the Caistor Neighbourhood Plan review that is now underway. The current plan adopted in 2016 supported development of the Hillcrest site via its policy, which sought to support the development of business and start up units particularly by conversion of existing empty previously developed land.
“Speaking to the developer and business owners it is clear we need to try and ensure that when businesses do expand there is opportunity to do so in Caistor and this needs to be reflected in the review of the Neighbourhood Plan.”
Lawrence Brown, managing partner for Scotts Property LLP (commercial property agent for the site), said: “The demand for small business units has been strong for several years but often there is either a lack of supply or those that do exist are poor quality.
“These premises give entrepreneurs the opportunity to occupy well-built premises, with good transport links, close to where they live. It’s exactly what people want.”
Jeremy Griffiths, director of Century Cars, based at Hillcrest Park, chose to relocate his business to Hillcrest Park in order to remove the commute and has now established his business in one of the later units to be completed.
Jonathan Airey, operations director for Rase Outdoor Living, a nationwide supplier of bespoke aluminium pergolas, which occupies multiple units at the site, said: “The site is the ideal location for us. We saw this as a great opportunity to gain the space we need and remain in local premises.”
New water fountain installed in the River Freshney
A new water fountain has been switched on in the River Freshney to help improve the water quality in the basin at Grimsby.
Originally part of the Garth Lane planning application, the fountain is the final element from the grant fund to be installed, and follows the completion of the slipway into Alexandra Dock at the other end of the project in November.
Earlier this year, the river was dredged in the same section, with the removal of more than 2230 tonnes of silt and waste over a four week project, allowing the river to flow much more freely.
The new fountain will build on this, increasing aeration of the water, reducing algae growth and helping to protect this piece of water for wildlife and other water activities.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “With warmer summers, we have to change our approach to water management. We know that the water quality of the River Freshney has vastly improved over the last 10 years, and we need to make sure that this continues in the future.
“We now have otters back in the centre of Grimsby and we need to make sure all hard work put in to dredge the river and remove unnecessary silt is maintained and the water can be enjoyed equally by people and wildlife.
“Additionally, this will provide a very attractive feature in our town centre, complementing the work done on the Garth Lane waterfront site last year and the work due to start on the Riverhead in the new year.”
The fountain, identified by ecologists, has been approved by the Environment Agency, and complies with the Eel Regulations, ensuring the safety of eels and other marine life.
All electricity for the fountain comes from renewable sources, including green electricity, as part of the council’s commitment to the green agenda.
£3m boost for domestic abuse support in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire has received a £3m boost for domestic abuse support.
The continuation of government grant funding will be used to provide a range of services for those staying in refuges and shelters.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced further cash to support those staying in safe accommodation, with Lincolnshire County Council being awarded almost £1.5m for 23/24 and just over £1.5m for 24/25. The funding will go towards a range of vital services, such as counselling, financial advice, help with rehousing and therapy for children.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for safer communities, said: “There is already an extensive package of support available in Lincolnshire for those experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse, as well as a number of early intervention initiatives.
“Previously, this funding has been used for increased refuge provision, children’s support, a sanctuary scheme and move-on accommodation. The continuation of this grant will strengthen the support available locally, helping these families rebuild their lives in a safe and supportive environment.
“If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or are concerned about a family member or friend, please reach out. We understand it can often be difficult to report an abusive relationship, and we would like to reassure you that your concerns will be taken seriously. If you need help or advice, please get in touch by calling EDAN Lincs on 01522 510041 or, in an emergency, dialling 999.”
‘Ask For Angela’ launched to help people keep safe on nights out in North Lincolnshire
People who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can now discreetly get help in a raft of pubs and bars across North Lincolnshire.
Ask for Angela is aimed at anyone getting unwanted attention in a local pub or other venue but feels unable to seek help – all they have to do is approach a staff member and ask for ‘Angela’.
Staff at signed-up venues have been trained and will know the person needs help. They will then help get them out of the situation without fuss.
This could mean taking them to a safe space, calling a taxi, reuniting them with a friend, alerting security or even calling the emergency services.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, welcomed the scheme: “This scheme is a great example of businesses working together with the police and others to reassure and protect people. Anyone who feels they are in an uncomfortable situation while out and about can just Ask For Angela.
“You might be on a date that isn’t working out, or with people who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer – by speaking to a member of staff and asking for Angela, you can alert others and help keep yourself safe.”
Ask For Angela is being promoted by the North Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP), which includes North Lincolnshire Council, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire and Rescue, Ongo, the National Probation Service, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB and the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner.
Police and Crime Commissioner Cllr Jonathan Evison said: “The Ask for Angela scheme is a really good system that allows people to discreetly ask for help when in a difficult situation.
“This is a national scheme that is now being rolled out across the whole of Humberside and is already being effectively used in night time economy establishments.”
Chief Superintendent Matt Peach of Humberside Police said: “This is an excellent scheme that the CSP are pleased to support.
“As a partnership we are committed to ensuring people enjoy themselves on a night out but should any issues arise that they feel safe.
“Nationally this initiative has been shown to be simple, yet effective, that those who may find themselves in a vulnerable situation ensures they have a discreet way of asking for help. We are all committed to enhancing the support in North Lincolnshire.”
Venues that have signed up the scheme include The Tavern, The Blue Bell, Schnapps bar, Class 6 and Café Indie in Scunthorpe and The Woolpack, The Black Bull, and The White Horse in Brigg.
Any business taking part displays Ask For Angela posters.
Image: CSP Board Manager Tracey Coyne, PCC Jonathan Evison and Cllr Rob Waltham display Ask For Angela and White Ribbon posters.
North Lincs communities share £30,000 for spring planting
A raft of communities across North Lincolnshire will be blooming beautifully after almost £30,000 of cash has been shared for spring planting schemes.
It is part of the council’s broader commitment to the environment – which includes planting thousands of trees, creating community green spaces and going carbon neutral by 2030.
Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “It is always really satisfying to be able to provide this cash for so many amazing places here in North Lincolnshire and I am already looking forward to seeing the fantastic displays in spring.
“These schemes really encourage communities to get involved, with the council able to provide the cash to get these projects off the ground. It is the hard work of the communities digging in and getting planting which deserve the praise.”
Town and parish councils along with many In Bloom groups across the county were invited to apply for the cash to help get winter planting off to a flying start through the North Lincolnshire In Bloom initiative.
This was launched four years ago by North Lincolnshire Council and has seen almost £120,000 shared for spring planting.
Community groups and town and parish councils in Ashby, Ashby Parkland, Barnetby-le-Wold, Barrow, Barton-upon-Humber, Belton, Bonby, Brigg, Broughton, Burringham, Burton-upon-Stather, Cadney cum Howsham, Coleby, Crowle, Croxton, Elsham, Epworth, Goxhill, Haxey, Horkstow, Hibaldstow, Keadby, Kirmington, Kirton in Lindsey, Luddington, Messingham, New Holland, Owston Ferry, Roxby-cum-Risby, Scawby, Skippingdale, South Ferriby, South Killingholme, Ulceby, West Butterwick, West Halton, Winterton, Worlaby and Saxby, Wroot, and Wrawby will all benefit.
Cllr Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, rural, said: “We continue to invest in communities to enable them to enhance the environment and natural habitats and we’ve continually made money available for In Bloom projects.
“The community grants enable investment in things such as community buildings, play equipment, paths and cycle routes. Together with the fantastic planting schemes, this all adds up to enable our communities to flourish.”
The cash is to be used for planters, flowers and shrubs to enhance local areas and improve the environment with the scheme designed to promote volunteering and community pride while making towns and villages even more attractive.
It will also help communities taking part in contests such as the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Best Kept Village and Towns competitions – with many towns and villages having already picked up the prestigious gongs.
The grants also tie in with the council’s A Green Future strategy, which aims to get everyone working together to protect our environment.
Government cash welcomed to transform teaching blocks at Sir John Nelthorpe
The leader of North Lincolnshire Council has welcomed the announcement of Government cash to build two new teaching centres at Sir John Nelthorpe School.
The Brigg secondary and sixth form has been confirmed as one of the latest 239 schools in the fourth round of the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme – with £1.8bn being spent this year on developing new teaching spaces.
The cash, from the Department of Education, will be used to rebuild a technology centre and an arts block – revolutionising teaching in engineering disciplines such as electronics, design technology and resistant materials as well as art, food technology and textiles.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This a part of a commitment to ensure every child has access to a great school and a world-class education.
“Work to rebuild parts of the school will start very quickly, creating jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities and is backed by £1.8bn this financial year.
“The quality of facilities in schools has a significant impact on a student’s learning and we have been working closely with Government and our MP Andrew Percy to secure investment in schools to offer children the best opportunity to succeed.
“This investment will improve the experience of students – helping them to learn, develop, and achieve their full potential here in North Lincolnshire where nine out of 10 schools are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.”
Rob Biglands, headteacher at Sir John Nelthorpe, said: “This is fantastic news and a most welcome investment in the teaching space at our school.
“It is, though, much more than simply bricks and mortar – it will enhance the education experience of our students and therefore assist them to greater achievement throughout their lives.”
It comes after Government funding has been secured separately for two major projects already being developed in Scunthorpe.
Almost £6m is being invested in a new multi-purpose complex care campus in Scunthorpe, helping support families and young people with complex disabilities to access opportunities and get short-breaks.
The environmentally friendly facilities will enable more children to benefit from short breaks, bringing important support to local families.
Also, Trent View College, is being built on land off West Common Lane to provide up to 60 places for pupils aged between 16 and 24 with special educational needs and disabilities.
It is a world first in that it will be the first passive house – an internally recognised standard of environmentally friendly building – with a hydrotherapy pool.
All the new buildings are to be energy efficient for future winter resilience, helping schools keep bills down and meet net-zero commitments, part of the council’s A Green Future policy.
Bourne residents warned over shed and outbuilding break-ins
Lincolnshire Police are warning residents in Bourne and the surrounding areas to check their outbuilding security following 19 break-ins in just over three weeks.
All but one of the offences have all taken place in the hours of darkness, with the majority occurring during weekends, in Bourne town centre and the villages of Cawthorpe, Dyke and Morton.
In most cases, the sheds or outbuildings targeted were forced open in a similar way, and some were accessed after being left insecure. Items stolen range from bikes and power tools, motorbike clothing, to food from a freezer, memorabilia and a Quad bike. In some cases, nothing was stolen but the property was left damaged.
Police say they are working hard to find those responsible and have a dedicated Detective Constable from their CID team investigating these burglaries. Officers have conducted house-to-house enquiries, viewed CCTV footage, and are carrying out extra patrols in the areas they know to be targeted during the times they have seen spikes in crime. There are also a number of other investigative avenues police are following which they say they can’t share for operational reasons.
Police are now calling on the community to help them find those responsible.
Inspector Mark Hillson said: “These burglaries have a significant impact on the people who are targeted. This is the theft of things that their hard-earned money has bought. The people breaking in to these outbuildings and stealing someone else’s personal possessions has absolutely no regard for the impact it has on the victim.
“We are keeping an open mind about all of the incidents, but we are considering the possibility that they are linked, and that the people responsible are local to the area. This is very unusual for the Bourne area and we know that someone in our community will know the people responsible for this.
“We would urge them to do the right thing and come forwards. We would also urge anyone with a shed or outbuilding to check they have taken as many steps as they can to secure their property, and we have a number of tips available here.”
Police are particularly keen to see any CCTV footage, doorbell footage or dashcam which might have captured any of the incidents and those responsible. They are asking anyone in the below areas who has a camera to check the footage recorded and submit it if it may help investigations.
These are the times and locations of incidents:
- Ancaster Road, Bourne, between 5pm on 9 December and 10.30am on 10 December
- Casthorpe Road, Bourne, between 5pm on 9 December and 8am on 10 December
- Ancaster Road, between 9pm on 9 December and 8am on 10 December
- Wagoners Way, Boure, between 9.45pm on 9 December and 9am on 10 December
- Wood View, Bourne, hours of darkness overnight between 9 December and 10 December
- High Street, Bourne, hours of darkness overnight between 9 December and 10 December
- Victoria Place, Bourne, between 9pm on 6 December and 9am on 7 December
- Main Road, Dyke, between 8am on 6 December and 1.50pm on 8 December
- Coggles Causeway, Bourne, between 9pm on 6 December and 8.15am on 7 December
- Main Road, Bourne, between 10pm on 6 December and 8am on 7 December
- North Road and Broadway Close, Bourne, between 11pm on 3 December and 2am on 4 December – four separate properties targeted during this time
- Mill Drove, Bourne, between 11.23pm on 28 November and 11am on 2 December
- Harrington Street, Bourne, between 2.30am and 4.30am on 20 November
- Ancaster Road, between 9.30pm on 19 November and 7.30am on 20 November
- Queen’s Road, Bourne, hours of darkness overnight between 29 November and 30 November
- Mill Drive, Bourne, between 11.23pm on 28 November and 11am on 2 December
