Construction work has begun to transform an underused part of Alford Manor House, paving the way for a new event space.
The collaborative project between East Lindsey District Council and Alford & District Civic Trust is funded by UK Government. This will secure the future for the Manor House, allowing visitors to learn the history of Alford and the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The new, permanent event space will allow the Manor House to provide function space for at least 100 people at all times of the year for such occasions as funeral teas, concerts, weddings and craft market stalls.
The funding will also allow an open sided machinery store to be developed between the Hackett Barn and the new Workshop, which will provide a secure space for vintage agricultural equipment.
During construction the Manor House will remain open.
Council Graham Marsh, portfolio holder for community safety, leisure and culture and carbon reduction at East Lindsey District Council, said: “The commencement of construction works marks the first milestone for Alford Manor House as the ambitious and exciting project gets underway. The project will allow the Manor House to host more events which will generate more visitors to the Lincolnshire Wolds.
“Alford Manor House has been a focal point in Alford since 1611 and this investment will ensure the Manor House will be protected for years to come allowing visitors to understand the history of not only the Manor House but the Lincolnshire Wolds.”
Lincoln Minster School makes waves with British Rowing
Lincoln Minster School’s rowing programme has rapidly transformed from a casual co-curricular option into a thriving, competitive sport—propelled by student ambition, community support, and an exciting new partnership with British Rowing.
At the heart of this transformation is a team that initially began with just 11 students and has now grown to over 30 members in both the Junior and Senior performance squads. United by a shared passion, the team began training at the start of the year, both in the gym and on the water at Lincoln Rowing Centre.
What started as a bold idea soon evolved into a serious venture, and the students quickly set their sights on competition. With a need for proper kit, they took fundraising into their own hands by rowing the 120-mile equivalent from Lincoln to Big Ben on indoor rowing machines.
Each student rowed an exhausting 2.5-hour session, cheered on by peers and staff alike. The rhythmic sounds of the machines, the encouraging atmosphere, and the team’s relentless spirit created an unforgettable day. Their efforts were rewarded with over £2,370 raised, funding a new Lincoln Minster School rowing kit that symbolises their unity and ambition.
But this is just the beginning. Lincoln Minster School has announced a close and ongoing partnership with British Rowing, alongside strengthened ties with Lincoln Rowing Centre and the University of Lincoln.
Through this collaboration, students are benefiting from expert coaching and mentorship, gaining valuable experience and insight into the sport from both seasoned professionals and rising stars in the field.
“Our aims as a team are to represent our school and Lincoln Rowing Club while competing in fixtures and competitions,” said student Elliot S. “More importantly, we want to learn, grow, and build something lasting.”
This partnership has not only enhanced technical development but also created a supportive, vibrant rowing community that captures the essence of the sport—teamwork, discipline, and belonging. It’s a step that ensures the programme’s long-term future, inspiring generations to come.
As Lincoln Minster School continues to work closely with British Rowing, Lincoln Rowing Centre, and the University of Lincoln, the excitement is only just beginning. With passion, purpose, and partnership at its core, the school’s rowing team is poised to make a lasting impact—on the water and beyond.
Locals’ art goes on display at Usher Gallery
Visitors now have the chance to view more than 120 works of art from Lincolnshire’s artists in a new exhibition at Lincoln’s free public art gallery.
More than 400 artists answered The Usher Gallery Trust’s open call for entries for their second open exhibition, ‘Art of the Now’, which celebrates the variety of artists living in Lincolnshire.
In total, judges received 900 pieces of artwork, from paintings and photography to collage and ceramics. The youngest entry came from a budding artist aged just five!
Ian Walter, chair of the Usher Gallery Trust, said: “We like to give Lincolnshire’s talented artists the opportunity to showcase their work at the county’s foremost art gallery and they certainly didn’t disappoint us with their response!
“The expert judging panel were most impressed by the creativity and skill on show and had their work cut out narrowing the selection to 126 pieces for display.
“The Trustees of the Usher Gallery Trust very much hope that you enjoy this exhibition of art, made in Lincolnshire.”
‘Art of the Now’ is on display at The Usher Gallery until 19 October 2025.
Image credit: Lincolnshire County Council Community Grant boost to Barton community projects
North Lincolnshire Council has confirmed £745,000 in new funding for community spaces across Barton, backing a series of projects that blend heritage, nature and family-friendly facilities.
The largest portion, £387,000, will go to Baysgarth House to support its ongoing regeneration. The Grade II-listed Georgian building is being restored with improvements including a relocated museum entrance, new shop, accessible toilets, and refurbished interiors. The adjacent Park Keeper’s Cottage will be converted into a workspace and flexible community hub.
Waters’ Edge Country Park and Visitor Centre will receive £303,000 to reinstate its boardwalk, build new outdoor decking, and develop fresh exhibition content. Spanning over 110 acres, the park offers nature trails, playgrounds, interactive displays, and a wildlife reserve, making it one of Barton’s most popular family attractions.
A further £50,000 is earmarked for a new play area at Baysgarth Park, supporting a wider £150,000 upgrade. The space will cater to toddlers through to teens, with accessible features and equipment such as swings, slides and a zip wire.
An additional £24,000 will fund Barton’s Heritage Open Days, supporting continued community access to cultural sites and drawing visitors into the town.
The funding is part of North Lincolnshire’s allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Image credit: North Lincolnshire CouncilTeen Takeover brings free fun to Scunthorpe this August
Scunthorpe’s town centre is set for a high-energy day of music, creativity, and entertainment as Teen Takeover arrives on Wednesday 20 August.
Running from 11am to 4pm across Queen Elizabeth Memorial Gardens, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, and Scunthorpe Central Library, the event has been designed with local teens and offers a packed schedule of free activities.
At 20-21, Imagi-con brings comic-con vibes with cosplay, sci-fi characters, DJs, and gaming, plus photo ops with the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1 and the Bumblebee Transformer car. There’ll be face painting, crafting, and even a lightsaber workshop.
In the Memorial Gardens, a roller rink disco will keep the tempo high with music, lights, and skating demos, while a UK-exclusive BMX vs. Parkour stunt show promises high-impact tricks. The School of Beatbox will host interactive music sessions, and the Teen Chill Out Zone offers space to unwind with crafts, selfies, and slime-making challenges.
At the library, visitors can enjoy glitter makeovers, air fryer cooking sessions, quiet sensory zones, and oversized games. Nearby, the UTC Engineering College zone will offer hands-on STEM experiences and a relaxed picnic space.
With walkabout characters, live youth performances, and drop-in career advice also on offer, Teen Takeover is open to all and completely free, with no booking required.
Image credit: North Lincolnshire CouncilA beast of a pantomime with a beautiful cast comes to Grimsby Auditorium
This December Chris Moreno, in association with Grimsby Auditorium, will present a beast of a pantomime with a beautiful cast.
When a magical sorceress transforms the handsome Prince into a frightening Beast, only true love will break the spell.
In a tale as old as panto-time, this fairy-tale extravaganza will bring great laughs, lavish costumes and fabulous scenery.
Take your whole family on a spectacular adventure and be part of the magic from Wednesday 10 – Tuesday 30 December.
See Martin Daniels as Seymour Bottom, star of ‘Allo ‘Allo, Sue Hodge, as Wizadora Crabapple, Rob McVeigh from ‘BBC’s Any Dream Will Do’ as Anton the Gypsy King, John Hewer as Baron Du Parlour, Jordan Adams as Beast/Prince, Eleanor Homer as Belle, and, back by popular demand, Ian Norton as Misrabelle.
Book your favourite seats now for Beauty and the Beast at grimsbyauditorium.org.uk, visit in person, or call 0300 300 0035.
Solar group-buying scheme nears final deadline in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire homeowners have until 29 August to join a county-wide solar group-buying scheme offering discounted rates on solar panel systems and battery storage.
Run in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, the scheme—called Solar Together—uses collective buying power to secure competitive deals from approved solar providers.
Hundreds of residents have already registered. There’s no upfront cost or obligation, and anyone who signs up will receive a tailored offer based on their home’s specifications.
The process begins with online registration, after which vetted installers bid for the work in a reverse auction. The most competitive offer is then matched to each household, with four weeks given to decide whether to proceed.
Alongside solar panels, the scheme includes optional battery storage, EV charge points, and retrofit battery systems for those with existing solar setups.
Participants may also benefit from exporting unused solar energy back to the grid, potentially earning additional income while reducing reliance on traditional power sources.
With just weeks remaining before registration closes, the scheme presents an accessible opportunity for households across Lincolnshire to invest in renewable energy without the typical complexity or pressure.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/AndriiPush for faster trains between Lincoln and Nottingham gains momentum
Plans to upgrade the Castle Line between Lincoln and Nottingham are moving forward, with Midlands Connect submitting a proposal to the Department for Transport to improve journey speeds and attract more rail users.
The £18 million proposal aims to boost train speeds from around 50mph to 75mph, reducing travel times and making rail a more attractive option compared to driving. The route serves a mix of urban and rural communities including Hykeham, Swinderby, Collingham, Newark, and Lowdham.
Despite the line’s importance as an east-west connector, only 10% of trips between the two cities are currently made by train. The upgrades are expected to increase usage, improve access to employment, and support social mobility along the corridor.
Midlands Connect estimates a £2 return in regional benefits for every £1 invested, with potential positive impacts on sustainability, local economies, and deprived areas.
The proposal has received support from regional leaders and commuters alike, who cite current journey times as a barrier to accessing jobs and services in both cities.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/den-belitskyTown centre transformation continues in Grimsby
The transformation of Grimsby town centre is continuing as work starts next week (11 August) to clear a site on Osborne Street.
The plan is to use the 1.6 acre site to deliver a transport hub which connects with the railway station, encouraging public transport use and supporting the wider Grimsby Town Centre regeneration ambitions.
Stage one of the work will see the demolition of the existing units between Rejuvadent and Racks, alongside ground clearance. This stage will take approximately eight weeks to complete.
The old units will be taken down piece by piece, in a similar way to the work at Freshney Place. This will be done by contractors, UDCS Demolition Ltd from the car park side of the building.
Hoardings will be put up alongside the main road while the demolition is happening, and also at the rear of the unit in Garden Street Car Park. This will take out a section of the car park while the work is on the ground.
The businesses on Osborne St will all be open as usual during the works.
Once the demolition is complete, the hoardings will be moved back towards the old building line and the pathway re-opened.
The project will then move into the design stage, which will include consultation with stakeholders and the wider public. As part of this process, an initial public survey has been launched to gather views on the importance of various facilities that could be included in the proposed transport hub.
Image shows Osborne Street. Credit: Google maps
Lincolnshire food and drink gift company secures £500k investment
Luxury food and drink gift company, IMP & MAKER, has secured a £500,000 investment in a deal that values the business at £2m.
The funding comes from an unnamed angel investor in exchange for a minority stake in the growing Lincolnshire-based business.
Sarah Louise Fairburn, who founded IMP & MAKER in 2020, hailed the investment as ‘game-changing’.
She said: “It’s a real validation in what we’re building at IMP & MAKER and me personally. The investor was impressed by the strength of our brand, the quality of our products, and the breadth and range of our customer base. They saw the amazing growth potential in eCommerce and B2B that will see us grow to over £2m this year.
“He shares our vision to disrupt the food and drink gift sector with our beautifully packaged and personalised gifts that our customers remember and savour – all underpinned by the best technology.”
The majority of IMP & MAKER’s business comes through its eCommerce platform, a growing list of corporate clients and its existing relationships with retailers like Costco and Not On The High Street.
The investment will be used to scale the business and repay £200,000 in funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II) and the Regional Growth Fund.
Fairburn, a single mum-of-four, said: “We’re debt-free and set for growth. Most startups have difficulty obtaining investment, especially in the eCommerce space, which requires large levels of money to gain brand recognition
“We’ve now got the right infrastructure and team in place to take IMP & MAKER to the next level and we’ve significantly increased our margins and reduced our customer acquisition costs.
“We’re on track to make our first profit this year and the £500,000 investment will enable us to take full advantage of the busy Christmas and New Year period. Thank you to our valued advisors – Franklins – in assisting with this investment and Collin Franklin for his continued belief and vision.”
IMP & MAKER employs eight people at its head office in Lincolnshire.
Fairburn previously worked at Fairburn’s Eggs, helping to grow the company’s turnover from £12m to more than £100m. She helped establish the firm as one of the UK’s largest independent egg packers, winning contracts with several major supermarkets, including Asda, Sainsbury’s and Iceland.
Image shows Sarah Louise Fairburn, founder of IMP & MAKER
