Lincolnshire opens world’s first memorial dedicated to Polish air crews of WW2

Stuart Pearcey
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Lincolnshire opens world’s first memorial dedicated to Polish air crews of WW2

The world’s first Heritage Centre dedicated to WW2’s Polish aircrews has opened at RAF Ingham after 14 years of effort by a team of devoted volunteers.

They have transformed an old farm storage building, formerly the wartime Airmen’s Mess, into a wonderful and fitting location to tell an almost forgotten story.

The Centre is dedicated to remembering and celebrating (through their own personal stories) the remarkable lives and memories of the men and women (both ground and air crews) of the Polish Air Force Bomber Squadrons, who lived, worked and flew alongside the RAF during the Second World War; and will also tell the humanitarian story of their struggles to settle and integrate into ‘post-war’ Britain, whilst retaining their customs, culture and Polish heritage.

RAF Ingham (later known as RAF Cammeringham) was a Royal Air Force station used by RAF Bomber Command between 1942 and 1944 and by training units and the Polish Air Force until 1946.

The first squadron to be based at RAF Ingham was No.300 Polish Bomber Sqn who arrived in May 1942 from RAF Hemswell. They stayed until Jan 1943, when they returned to Hemswell. The next month saw the arrival of No.199 Sqn, who themselves only stayed until Jun 1943. Within a week, No.300 Sqn returned, bringing with them No.305 Polish Bomber Sqn, as the they were constructing concrete runways at Hemswell. No.305 Sqn only stayed through the summer, before leaving to join Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) in Sep. This left No.300 Sqn as the sole custodians of RAF Ingham, before they also departed for a final time, to RAF Faldingworth in Mar 1944.

At the end of hostilities, many Polish servicemen and women chose not to return to the now communist governed Poland and decided to remain in Britain, making it their new home, under the Polish Resettlement Act of 1947. Formed in 1946 the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) provided Polish personnel with a trade and language lessons, for integration into British society. Polish Resettlement Units (PRU) were created to accommodate these personnel and their families.

RAF Cammeringham had a PRU, which was built on a former RAF accommodation site, at the southern edge of Ingham Village. Nissen Huts were internally designed to create basic yet austere family dwellings.

In 2023, RAF Ingham’s team of volunteers were one of the first groups to be awarded the new King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

Chairman of RAF Ingham Heritage Centre Geoff Burton said: “After so many years of hard work and dedication by our wonderful team of volunteers, we are finally able to open the Centre to the public.

“This project is globally unique, and tells the story of the Polish Bomber Squadrons who fought alongside the RAF during the Second World War;  but we also remember the almost forgotten history of a small Lincolnshire airfield RAF Ingham, that only ever existed through the war years.

“We expect to welcome visitors from not only the local area, but regionally and nationally as well; and due to the global uniqueness of the Centre, we anticipate attracting international visitors from Poland, America, Canada and Australia. This in turn will greatly support and benefit the local and Counties economy. “

The Main Exhibition Centre comprises of two wings, covering over 4602m of exhibition space; an atmospheric Polish Families Nissen Hut; a Mini-Cinema, Shop and Toilets. Around the Site there is also a Memorial Garden, the Remembrance Garden, Volunteer Workshop, Nissen Hut Vegetable Garden, and not forgetting their ‘Airmen’s Rest’ Cafe and Picnic Area.

The site also benefits from free parking and same-level access in almost all areas. Guided tours and group bookings are available by prior arrangement (dependent on staff availability). The entire exhibition is bi-lingual (Polish and English).

The Centre will formally open to the public for their first open weekend on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April 2024, 10am to 3pm.

Normal Opening times will be from Saturday 20 April:

  • Thursday, 10am to 3pm
  • Saturday, 10am to 3pm
  • Sunday, 10am to 3pm

Equestrians invited to free, charity led welfare awareness events

Tess Egginton
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Equestrians invited to free, charity led welfare awareness events
Following on from the amazing success of last year’s events Bransby Horses are once again hosting a series of talks for horse owners covering the latest equine management topics, such as track systems and alternative grazing set-ups. These events are completely free and aimed at horse owners, equestrian business owners and land proprietors. Bransby Horses has been rescuing and caring for equines in need for over 50 years and their Make a Difference events offer an opportunity for anyone who is interested to hear from the charity’s experienced teams, as part of their ongoing mission to positively impact the lives of equines. Events organiser Rachel Dixon said: “We started these events last year and they were really popular, so we thought we’d do another series. For anyone who attended last year, we have new material and guest speakers so please come along, as we have a wealth of useful information we would love to share with you. “A highlight will be at the talk in April when our guest speaker is Dr Tamzin Furtado who will be hosting her Alternative Grazing talk. Dr Furtado is a social scientist from the University of Liverpool, specialising in equine welfare and human behaviour change. “Dr Furtado recently completed a PhD in managing obesity in horses, where she focused on the welfare of the horse and their relationship with humans. We are really lucky to have her visit us at Bransby Horses and can’t wait to hear her talk.” Alternative Grazing Systems takes place on Thursday, April 25 at 6.30pm, Grassland Management on Wednesday, July 17 at 11am, and Equine Identification and Registration on Thursday, September 5 at 6.30pm. All events are free to attend and will be held in the Clifford Marshall Building at Bransby Horses in Bransby near Lincoln. Booking is essential, light refreshments and free parking will be available. For more information or to reserve your free space, please call 01427 788 464 or visit BransbyHorses.co.uk/MADE   Image shows Tamzin Furtado

The Shire Veterinary Services – treating pets from the comfort of home

Tess Egginton
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The Shire Veterinary Services – treating pets from the comfort of home
We are a team of veterinary professionals based in North Lincolnshire, providing mobile veterinary services exclusively for cats and dogs. Our small, independent practice is family owned and run, and our vets are very knowledgeable and passionate about their work. Our experienced team brings their expertise to you, and treat your pets in the safety of their own environment. We strive to offer a stress free experience during our visits, and we, also, tailor the consult time to suit your needs and those of your pet. It is now possible to receive a high quality, personalized and empathetic service from the comfort of your home. Contact us on 01652 250225 to register or visit our website www.theshirevets.co.uk for more information.

£3m secured to reignite Caistor’s 2-4 Market Place regeneration project

Tess Egginton
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£3m secured to reignite Caistor’s 2-4 Market Place regeneration project
Caistor and District Community Trust (CDCT) has now secured total funding of £3million to see the long-awaited 2-4 Market Place renovation project begin in earnest. Having been successfully awarded an increased Community Ownership Fund Levelling-Up grant of £500,000, and satisfied its key funder, the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a revised scope of works, it’s full steam ahead for this project* which promises to continue the reawakening of the Wold-edge market town of Caistor. Working with the agreed principal contractor for the project, Messenger – part of the BCR Group, and the team who recently undertook and completed the cutting-edge conservation work at Lincoln Medieval Bishops’ Palace – Greenwood Projects – the firm that has supported 2-4 Market Place from day one with Graham Tait Project Managing – and AnotherKind Architects, CDCT is excited to officially get the renovations underway, as Neil Castle, company secretary of the Trust, explains. “To say we’re are delighted to now have the funding to bring these buildings back to life, share their heritage and make them accessible for everyone in the process is an understatement,” said Neil. “Our mission, not only with 2-4 Market Place but certainly with this project acting as a catalyst, is to improve the economic sustainability of our historic market town,” added Neil. “Caistor has seen a recent boom in businesses, both up-scaling and taking up vacant units, so to be able to further add to this enterprise by providing opportunities for community activities, social space and to help bring additional tourism to the town is incredibly important to us as a Trust. “The diverse and vibrant mixed-use development scheme will include the repair and conservation of the complex of historic buildings, transforming 2-4 Market Place into a space the whole community can be proud of and embrace as their own.” Having been vacant for several years, and being noted on the buildings ‘at risk’ register as needing immediate attention, this funding comes at a vital time. The restored buildings, in their full glory, will create spaces for retail units which could include a restaurant/cafe, a community space for functions, exhibitions and other community activities, self-catering holiday lets, spaces that can be used as offices or arts-and-crafts business units, storage for local archival materials and a space for the Trust to work from. With a revised plan now in place, prioritising the completion of the market square facing shopfronts of 2, 3 and 4 Market Place, the community room above number 4, two holiday lets above numbers 2 and 3, the new core service building and the restored courtyard, the continued collaboration between the Trust and its valued partners will support the aim to get work started by early May. *Subject to the required paperwork being in place.

Bransby Horses celebrate prestigious VisitEngland award nominations

Tess Egginton
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Bransby Horses celebrate prestigious VisitEngland award nominations
Bransby Horses have achieved a huge 95 per cent in their recent VisitEngland assessment – with 100 per cent awarded specifically for the Visitor Centre and customer service, the on-site retail experience and the pre-visit online information.
Special mentions were given to the accessibility awareness work and installation of signage depicting the charity’s history, as well as an informative and interactive trail on horse welfare.
On the back of this assessment the charity has been nominated for the prestigious VisitEngland Gold award, plus Best Welcome, Hidden Gem, Quality Food and Drink and Best Told Story accolades.
It is the first year Bransby Horses has been put forward for all of the accolades VisitEngland awards, which is a big achievement.
One of the VisitEngland assessors said: “Visitors are greeted by friendly staff who exude genuine warmth and passion for their work. The arrival experience at Bransby Horses leaves a lasting impression of friendliness and dedication to the welfare of the equines.
“The commitment to animal welfare is evident in the meticulous care provided to the animals throughout the sanctuary, which ensures their physical and emotional well-being. The facilities looked well-maintained, with spacious paddocks and clean, comfortable stables.
“Bransby Horses is a shining example of compassionate animal care and a must-visit destination for anyone who loves animals, nature and walking.”
Bransby Horses takes great care in providing an excellent visitor experience which aims to improve people’s understanding of the importance of equine welfare.
Bransby Horses’ Visitor and Commercial Operations Manager, Holly Hart said: “A big thanks and congratulations to all involved, it’s such a big team effort across the charity. A special well done for the Catering and Engagement Teams, we are very proud of you all.”
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrate the nation’s leading tourism and visitor-focused businesses – from small bed and breakfasts to large attractions and business events venues.
The winners will be announced later in the year.
To find out more about Bransby Horses and the work they do visit www.BransbyHorses.co.uk

Funding secured for Grantham play area improvements

Tess Egginton
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Funding secured for Grantham play area improvements
A Grantham play area will be refurbished thanks to a £100,000 grant provided by the FCC Communities Foundation. The Beeden Park play area near Beechcroft Road in Grantham will benefit from upgrades totalling £127,000 including additional funding of £5,000 from the Rotary Club of Grantham. The overall figure also includes £22,000 of investment by South Kesteven District Council to improve the facilities at the park. A spokesperson for the Council said: “Green spaces and play areas are really important for our community and make a huge difference to the wellbeing of those living in the area. “We are delighted that the FCC Communities Foundation has awarded us the money to improve the facilities at Beeden Park.” Following the successful grant, details of the improvement work will be decided by the Council in partnership with the FCC Communities Foundation. FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund. Penny Horne, FCC Communities Foundation Grant Manager, says: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Grantham – Beeden Park Play Area Refurbishment project and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for children and young families across Grantham. “FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”   Picture credit: Stock.adobe.com/o_lypa

Summer arts and culture festival returns to Gainsborough

Tess Egginton
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Summer arts and culture festival returns to Gainsborough
On Saturday 15 June GO Festival makes its way to Gainsborough Town Centre. From 10am until 6pm, this free event will showcase talented performers from Gainsborough and beyond. The community stage will return with international acts also performing in the Market Place and Elswitha Green that you won’t want to miss. West Lindsey District Council have announced a new addition to this year’s festival, thanks to the award by Arts Council England of £30,000 from National Lottery Project Grants. This funding will enable a series of school and community workshops with professional artists and performers to contribute to a spectacular carnival parade as part of the event. The town centre will host a fantastically colourful and dynamic Caribbean-inspired carnival procession interwoven with more local themes, inspired by English folklore and nature. Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Stephen Bunney, expressed his excitement that the event is returning. He said: “I’m thrilled that this event is making a returning this summer as we know how much the public loved last year’s. GO Festival will be a great opportunity to witness outstanding performances from local, national and international artists. “We’re also extremely pleased to be able to grow the event and the opportunities for people to take part, thanks to the funding from Arts Council. Pencil the date down in your diary as you will not want to miss this fun and free event.” Working in collaboration with SO Festival in Skegness, the event is delivering a programme of international artists that showcase amazing theatre, dance and arts. Food, drinks and much more will be available for the public to purchase throughout the day. This event will be made possible by funding from West Lindsey District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Arts Council England, and Gainsborough Town Council.
  Image courtesy of West Lindsey District Council

Classic Ibiza track poll winners announced

Tess Egginton
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Classic Ibiza track poll winners announced
With plans now in full swing for Classic Ibiza’s return to Burghley House on Saturday 27 July, over Easter the show’s 55,000 social media followers had the opportunity to choose five tracks to be performed live by Urban Soul Orchestra as part of the five hour celebration of Balearic-infused house music. Over 5,000 votes were cast and the most popular tracks, selected from a shortlist of 10, are: Anthem (N-Joi), Dirty Cash (Money Talks) (Adventures of Stevie V, Todd Terry), Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) (Crystal Walters), Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai, David Morales) and U Sure Do (Strike). These tracks will join 11 other new orchestrations in a set of 40 house classics being reinvented by Urban Soul Orchestra on the evening. Classic Ibiza’s Lisa Ward says: “These are all anthemic house tracks, with iconic vocals that lend themselves perfectly to that special Urban Soul Orchestra treatment. They also provide those spine-tingling, sing-along moments, which is part of what makes the Classic Ibiza experience so special.” In addition to 16 new tracks this summer, the set being performed by Stephen Hussey’s Urban Soul Orchestra includes some firm Classic Ibiza favourites – some of which haven’t been performed for a number of years. Lisa Ward adds: “Next year will mark 10 years of Classic Ibiza, so incredibly we’ve accumulated a repertoire of over 130 tracks to choose from. We love freshening things up every year, but there are some tracks, shout out for Insomnia, that have become such firm crowd favourites. “There are also other absolute classics that we haven’t played for a while, and some of these will once again be making an appearance. I know our incredible Burghley crowd is going to love what we have in store for them.” The general rule at Classic Ibiza is that the BPM goes up as the sun goes down. The evening starts at 5.30pm with a vibe straight from one of Ibiza’s iconic beachside bars, before building to a magical alfresco nightclub by the time the concert finishes at 11pm. Headlining the event is Urban Soul Orchestra, known for working alongside dance music greats like Groove Armada, Robert Miles and Nightmares On Wax. They’ll be delving into house music’s rich catalogue with DJ Goldierocks, reinventing the most iconic tracks from the last 30 years. Along the way, highlights include a DJ set by former Pacha Ibiza resident Jose Luis and an awe-inspiring laser and light show. Classic Ibiza at Burghley House is already at 70% capacity, so get your tickets now if you don’t want to miss what promises to be a night to remember. The show is proud to be supporting East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. Visit classicibiza.co.uk for tickets and more information.   Image credit: David Evans Photography

Lincolnshire salt marshes put under the microscope in nationwide research project

Stuart Pearcey
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Lincolnshire salt marshes put under the microscope in nationwide research project
Two Lincolnshire salt marshes are to be monitored by the Environment Agency as part of a new UK-wide research project. The new project will see the installation of flux towers on saltmarshes at RSPB Freiston Shore nature reserve on The Wash near Boston. One tower will be on a natural saltmarsh and the other will be on a restored saltmarsh, this project is in partnership with the RSPB. The EA has worked in partnership with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to purchase and install four flux towers on saltmarshes across England. This has been funded by the Defra marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme. Saltmarshes are important ecosystems that provide many valuable services, including habitat for a wide range of creatures. They also act as natural flood defences and help to capture CO2 from the atmosphere to store it in sediments. It is estimated that 85% of UK saltmarsh has been lost since the mid-19th Century. However, although we know these ecosystems are valuable, there is a lack of data on how saltmarshes capture and store carbon. The towers in Lincolnshire will provide long-term, real-time, data that can help our understanding of how saltmarshes function as carbon sinks now and in the future. Similar towers have previously been used on other types of habitats such as forests and peat bogs. Networks of these towers have provided vital data which has helped to encourage restoration and investment in these ecosystems. The Environment Agency and UKCEH scientists, in partnership with the Essex Wildlife Trust, have installed another tower in Essex. A further tower will be added in the future. two other towers were installed last year in the Ribble Estuary by Natural England and WWF. In total, these six towers will provide the first in depth look into greenhouse gas storage and emissions in saltmarshes in England. Once the value of these ecosystems has been quantified, we hope this will lead to increased conservation and restoration of saltmarshes. Dr Ben Green from the Environment Agency said: “These flux towers will improve our understanding of the ability of saltmarsh habitats to sequester carbon across tides, days, seasons and years. “The evidence they will provide will be key to support the further restoration of saltmarshes, and for the inclusion of these habitats on the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory”. Dr Ross Morrison, Biometeorologist at UKCEH, added: “Thanks to our new network of coastal flux towers, we’ll provide the first directly measured carbon budgets for a range of different saltmarsh systems across the country by the end of this year, improving our knowledge on how they might help us transition towards our net zero goals. Equally, the flux towers will help us understand how the processes in coastal environments function today, and how things may change into the future.” UKCEH is leading a consortium across charity, finance and academic sectors to develop and pilot a UK Saltmarsh Carbon Code. This rigorous and scientifically-based voluntary certification standard will enable saltmarsh carbon to be confidently purchased, thus providing an income stream for restoration projects and supporting the achievement of national Net Zero goals. Toby Collett from the RSPB, said: “The Wash estuary and the saltmarshes here are globally important for wildlife, but they are also vital for our way of life, whether that’s fishing, protecting communities from flooding or storing carbon. “We’re really excited that Freiston Shore is being used to understand more about these superpower habitats, and hope that this will lead to further protection and restoration efforts for saltmarshes across the UK.”

Glory Hole repairs complete at last

Stuart Pearcey
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Glory Hole repairs complete at last

Works to repair the historic public right of way at Lincoln’s Glory Hole are now finished, signalling the end of a tough project on a public right of way alongside a river and associated with thinly bridge in the UK still to have shops on it.

Cllr Richard Davies, Lincolnshire County Council’s executive member for highways, said: “I’m really glad to announce that our improvements to Lincoln’s Glory Hole are now fully complete – meaning that the footway is back open as usual. “Getting to this point has been a long, arduous process for everyone involved, simply because of the nature of Glory Hole and where it sits. Being a hard-to-reach, historic public right of way – on the bank of a live and very active riverway that’s also attached to a Grade II listed building – has proven incredibly challenging. “Throughout this process, we’ve had to deal with several external agencies and had to overcome difficult access on site which led to the team having to be innovative with the design solution to ensure the safety of everyone involved. “We got there in the end, so I want to thank everyone affected for their patience while we dealt with this unique and challenging repair project, right in the heart of Lincoln.”
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