- The Gardens are open from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4.30pm. Gardens & Adventure Play tickets booked online in advance cost £10 Adult, £8 Child (3-15 years), £32 Family (2 Adults, 3 Children). House, Gardens & Adventure Play tickets cost £20 Adult, £9 Child (3-15 years), £52 Family (2 Adults, 3 Children); Annual Passes offering unlimited visits start at £26 for a Child Annual Pass.
- Entry to the Botanic Tapestry exhibition is included with any Admission Ticket or Annual Pass.
- Dawn Walks in the Gardens take place on 7 and 14 May from 6.45am to 9.30am. Tickets cost £30 per person and include breakfast in the Orangery Restaurant
- Spring Tour, Talk & Tea in the Gardens on 8 May from 1pm to 4pm. Tickets cost £55 per person and include Afternoon Tea.
Spring and early summer highlights in Burghley Gardens
Visitors to Burghley Gardens over the coming weeks can look forward to a varied programme of seasonal activity. From outdoor art to guided walks and talks, the events offer visitors a chance to experience the gardens in different ways as spring progresses into summer.
Botanic Tapestry: Outdoor Art Installation in the Sculpture Garden from 26 April
Following its debut in the South Gardens, the outdoor art installation Botanic Tapestry continues into the summer in the Sculpture Garden at Burghley, reimagined in a new location along the banks of the lake. Here, the large-scale botanical flags stretch across the dam in a spectacular display, offering a fresh perspective on the artworks. New elements have been added across the Sculpture Garden, bringing drama and discovery.
Created by artist duo Graphic Rewilding, Botanic Tapestry celebrates the harmony between art, nature, and history. More than just a visual statement, this unique art experience is designed to encourage moments of reflection and a renewed appreciation for the natural world. Among the new features in this phase of the exhibition are a monumental banner suspended been two Douglas Firs and textile wraps on selected trees – intended to offer moments of interest and surprise as visitors wander and explore the space.
Dawn Walks in the Gardens: 7 and 14 May
Two early morning guided walks will offer a rare opportunity to experience Burghley Gardens at first light. Led by Head Gardener Joe Whitehead, these walks provide a peaceful exploration of the gardens as the day begins, with the chance to hear the dawn chorus and see the sun rise over the lake. The walk is followed by breakfast served in the Orangery Restaurant.
Spring Tour, Talk & Tea in the Gardens: 8 May
This afternoon event invites visitors to join the Gardens team for a guided tour of the South Gardens and Sculpture Garden. Led by the Head Gardener, the tour explores seasonal highlights, planting schemes and upcoming projects. There will be plenty of gardening advice and ideas throughout the tour, offering inspiration to take home to your own garden. The session concludes with Afternoon Tea served in the Orangery Restaurant’s Rose Garden.
Looking Ahead: Wildflowers in Bloom from June
From June, visitors to the Sculpture Garden can look forward to the return of the wildflower displays. These naturalistic plantings will bring bold bursts of colour to the landscape as summer progresses, adding a dynamic and ever-changing feature to the garden experience.
Ticket information
Classic Ibiza’s audience choose tracks for Burghley House show
As Classic Ibiza’s sold-out return to Lincolnshire’s Burghley House on Saturday 26 July draws ever closer, the concert organisers have announced the results of an extra-special audience track-poll to celebrate the show’s 10th birthday.
Over the Easter weekend, the concert’s 58,000 social media followers were able to select the house tunes they most wanted to be performed live by Stephen Hussey’s Urban Soul Orchestra and the show’s special guests, London Community Gospel Choir.
The thousands of votes have now been counted, and the eight most popular tracks featuring at the show are: Blackwater (Octave One); Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) (Crystal Waters); (I Wanna Give You) Devotion (Nomad); Lola’s Theme (The Shapeshifters); Saltwater (Chicane); Sun Is Shining (Bob Marley vs. Funkstar De Luxe); Sunchyme (Dario G); and You Got the Love (The Source ft. Candi Staton).
London Community Gospel Choir are one of the world’s most in demand choirs, having recorded with the likes of Adele, Blur and Madonna. They’re also due to perform Pacha Ibiza (Flower Power) in June. Taking to the stage with Urban Soul Orchestra for the first time, the combination will create a soulful wall of sound that is not to be missed. London Community Gospel Choir will also be joining DJ Jose Luis for a live mash-up of even more iconic house tunes at the start of the show.
Classic Ibiza’s Lisa Ward says: “A huge thank you to everyone that voted in this year’s track poll. We’ve landed on a perfect mix of stone-cold house classics and some really uplifting, sing-along moments, which is what Classic Ibiza is all about. Having seen London Community Gospel Choir perform the Albert Hall over Christmas, I know that the combination with the incredible Urban Soul Orchestra is going to be something truly magical.”
Elsewhere in the concert, Urban Soul Orchestra will be performing more tracks than ever before in a “best-of” set, packed full of audience favourites from the show’s 10-year repertoire. Insomnia by Faithless, Born Slippy by Underworld and Adagio For Strings by Tiësto are among over 50 anthemic tunes that will be given the full orchestral treatment. Urban Soul Orchestra have worked for over 25 years with many dance music greats, including Groove Armada, Robert Miles and Nightmares On Wax.
Tickets to Classic Ibiza at Burghley have sold-out in record time. Concertgoers are urged to use the show’s official ticket resale site, Twickets, if they have missed out. The show is proud to be supporting Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice.
Visit classicibiza.co.uk for more information.
Image: Urban Soul Orchestra at Classic Ibiza (credit: David Evans Photography)
Charity market garden to open its doors for a fun day in June
A market garden near Boston that supports people with a learning disability will be raising much needed funds at its annual open day in June.
Organisers at Thistles Market Garden in Sutterton are expecting up to 150 people to attend the event, which will feature plant sales, sheep petting, a barbecue, tombola, cake stall, music and refreshments.
The charity’s third annual open day will take place on Thursday 19th June from 10am until 2pm.
Thistles supports adults with a learning disability and currently provides purposeful activities in horticulture to 22 people from Boston, Spalding, Heckington and Holbeach.
Not only does Thistles support people with a learning disability, it also sells the fresh seasonal produce that the service users grow from seed.
By attending the open day you can find out more about what goes on at Thistles and support the charity’s most important fund-raiser of the year.
“Our open days are always great fun,” said Thistles manager Michael Burgess. “Last year we raised over £1,000 which helps us provide various activities for our service users and buy the equipment we need for the market garden.
“If you’ve never visited before, why not come along? You’ll have a great time and you’ll be supporting a really good cause into the bargain.”
Raffle tickets are now on sale offering a top prize of £100, a second prize of £50 and other prizes including a free ticket for the Heckington Show in July.
You can find Thistles Market Garden on Station Road in Sutterton near Boston.
Thousands of poppies take flight in striking VE Day 80 tribute
A display of over 20,000 ceramic poppies, arranged in the silhouette of a Lancaster Bomber, has been unveiled at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8th May.
The striking installation, created by Lithuanian artist Darius Sirmulevicius who now lives in Lincolnshire, will serve as a summer-long tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served in the Second World War.
The poppies, each one unique, will be available for sale with proceeds going towards the IBCC, Wooden Spoon Rugby Charity and British West India Regiments Heritage Trust.
IBCC CEO Nicky van der Drift said: “During WWII, more than a million men and women served in or supported Bomber Command, and Lincolnshire housed over a third of all the RAF Bomber Command stations.
“In the UK, the red poppy is the national symbol of remembrance. Despite the devastation and horrific loss of life in war-torn Europe, poppies flourished and grew on battlefields and this spectacular display in the shape of a Lancaster Bomber is a fitting tribute to their sacrifice.
“It serves as a point of remembrance, a reminder of the cost of war and an education piece for all ages, which is at the heart of everything we do here.”
The unveiling also marks the launch of VE80 Lincoln – the final stage of the Rugby & World War Two Project, hosted by World Rugby Memorial, designed to honour the 80th anniversary of D-Day (6th June, 2024).
The project, which began in Normandy and continued through Nijmegen and Arnhem, will culminate in Lincoln on VE Day with a series of events at locations across Lincolnshire from 8th to 11th May 2025.
Over 280 young male and female rugby players from U18 teams in the UK, France, the Netherlands and Jamacia will take part in the events including an international VE80 Rugby Festival hosted by Lincoln Rugby Club on Saturday 10th May.
Other VE80 Lincoln commemorative events will include:
- VE Day 80 Beacon Lighting and Dinner – A poignant ceremony on 8th May at the IBCC, marking this significant moment in history.
- Heritage site visits – The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and IBCC will host visiting touring U15 rugby teams and VIP guests for immersive experiences.
- Ceramic Poppy-Bluet Ceremony – On 9th May (16:30 till 18:30) a moving tribute will take place at Lincoln Cathedral, incorporating its military altars in honour of those who served.
- Rugby & WWII Exhibition – From now until August the IBCC will showcase a unique exhibition highlighting the connections between rugby and the Second World War featuring untold stories of service, camaraderie and sacrifice.
- Sunday Thanksgiving Service – On 11th May (10:15 till 11:15) the IBCC will host a special service to conclude the commemorations with a message of gratitude and reflection.
Burning Sensations unveil new cost-effective pellet stove
Burning Sensation Fireplaces are incredibly excited to unveil the latest addition to their showroom. With environmental concerns being high on consumer’s minds, introducing ‘Peggy’ the innovative wood pellet burning stove, from Italian stove manufacturer La Nordica, seemed like the perfect way to address these concerns.
Pellet stoves are relatively new to the UK market and so far, have predominantly been used as central heating systems, with bulky units that often require a room of their own in your home. However, La Nordica are changing all of this with their fabulous range of freestanding stoves that are perfect for installation into living spaces.
Burning wood pellets is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to heat your home and as the pellets produce very little ash, looking after your stove is also very easy.
Peggy has been specifically designed with the UK household in mind, as this stove can be installed into a fireplace opening and in appearance is much like a traditional log-burner. However, with Peggy, gone are the days of storing bulky and increasingly costly logs and smokeless fuels. Small sticks and firelighters are a thing of the past, the simple press of a button will fire Peggy into life. Controllability is key, as this stove will self-regulate itself to your chosen room temperature, feeding itself from the integral hopper as required, inevitably cutting down on the cost of fuel. Then, at the end of the day when you turn the stove off, it goes through a self-cleaning process before finally shutting down.
Fo more information and to see this amazing new stove on working display, visit the showroom in Armstrong Street, Grimsby.
Truckfest drives into Lincoln for early May bank holiday
Car-crushing monster trucks, death-defying stunt shows, special celebrity guests, fantastic family entertainment, live music, delicious food and drink, a huge variety of trade stalls and so much more makes its way to Lincoln on Sunday 4th and Monday 5th May.
A fan favourite from last year’s show; the stars from TV’s Gladiators will be joining again! On Sunday meet Sheli McCoy and Matty Campbell as featured as ‘Sabre’ and ‘Bionic’ in ‘BBCs Gladiators’. Then Monday, don’t miss Emily Steel and Alex Gray as featured as ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Apollo’ in ‘BBCs Gladiators’.
With over 1,000 trucks already booked, this year’s show promises incredible trucks of all shapes and sizes including American rigs, customised trucks, emergency vehicles & vintage trucks.
Adrenaline-fueled action will be taking place across the entire weekend, from massive monster trucks crushing cars (and even some you can ride in!) to motorcycle stunt shows and family friendly wrestling.
Two incredible Optimus Prime trucks will also be at the event; an American 1986 Freightliner FLT80 Cabover, which has been fully restored and customised to look like the classic 80’s truck, as well as 2001 American Peterbilt 379 Transformer Truck, which appeared in the recent Transformer movies!
As well as all the live action, there will be amazing performances across the weekend from a diverse line-up of bands, including Definitely Oasis, widely recognized by Oasis fans around the world as the top Oasis tribute band.
Huge industry showcases are always at the heart of the show, bringing with them the newest models and exciting displays. Expect to see stands from DAF, Volvo and Scania to name a few. Browse a wide variety of trade stalls and pick up some trucking merch or try some culinary delights from one of the catering units.
For those wanting to experience everything the show has to offer, camping at Truckfest offers best value for money. Family passes for 2 adults and 2 children or for 3 adults are available, these include your pitch; vehicle pass and entry to the show for the entire weekend.
If you want to be a part of Europe’s biggest and best trucking show, make sure to head this May to the Lincolnshire Showground! Discounted advance tickets are available now on www.truckfest.co.uk.
Lincolnshire local takes on Manchester marathon
Natalie Freeman is a 38-year-old mother of two young daughters and a son. She lives in Lincoln with her children and husband of ten years, Paul.
Natalie is looking forward to participating in the adidas Manchester Marathon 2025, which will be her very first marathon experience, but running hasn’t always come naturally to her.
“I’ve never taken part in a marathon before, and I didn’t really have any desire to participate in one before now. I’ve previously suffered with ME, which I still don’t know much about to this day, as it tends to flare up at unexpected moments. I’ve always struggled with fatigue, and I’ve since learnt that this is linked with anxiety and depression.”
Speaking more about her mental health, she says: “As someone who’s struggled on and off since my teenage years with depression, anxiety and self-confidence, I never thought for a million years that I’d be where I am now.”
Having originally been inspired to take on the 26.2-mile challenge after watching her husband Paul participate in last year’s London Marathon, preparing for the adidas Manchester Marathon has made a huge impact on Natalie’s mental health.
“I still can’t call myself a runner and I have huge imposter syndrome. I’m not strong, physically or mentally but I have found some strength through running that I never thought I had. This time last year my anxiety was at an all-time low and I internalised a lot of it. Running has helped me clear my head, get outdoors in nature, and push myself out of my comfort zone.”
Natalie is taking on the adidas Manchester Marathon 2025, alongside over 36,000 fellow participants, in aid of YoungMinds, a charity which is close to her heart.
She says: “Knowing how much I struggled growing up and not understanding how I was feeling, I think it’s now even harder for our children with the influence of the internet and social media.
YoungMinds empowers young people to fight for a better future for mental health.
“Mental health struggles are not always obvious. We need to help our children and young people feel comfortable with having open conversations around mental health issues, feelings and emotions, the highs and lows we all go through. It’s important for them to know that they are not on their own and it’s ok to not be ok.”
To support Natalie, please consider donating to her JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/natalie-freeman-1731418764870?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) completes busiest March on record
LNAA were called to 153 emergencies in March 2025, compared to 123 in 2024 and 139 – the highest previously recorded – in 2023.
The crews attended 34 RTCs, 74 medical incidents, 24 accidental injuries and three assaults throughout the month.
The crew were called to a motorcyclist in Mablethorpe who had come off his bike. The doctor and paramedic were by his side within 15 minutes, landing as close as possible to the patient. He was taken to hospital in the helicopter.
Another mission at night following reports of a patient who had been stabbed. The crew treated the patient on scene before loading into the helicopter to go to hospital.
LNAA Head of Operations, Laura Evans said: “The skill level of our crews and the speed of our helicopter means that we are well-equipped to respond to all kinds of incidents across Lincs & Notts.
“Our fantastic doctors, paramedics and pilots continuously strive to be the best they can so that they consistently deliver world-class care to patients. Being able to respond to this number of incidents and get to patients so that care can be delivered is all thanks to everyone who supports LNAA. We simply couldn’t be there without them.”
The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance responds to an average of four missions a day, 356 days of the year. This happens without any government funding and is all thanks to donations.
To support the work of LNAA visit ambucopter.org.uk/donate
Freemasons buy £25,000 vehicles for volunteer blood bikers
Freemasons have given two new vehicles to Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service to help sustain their voluntary work in ferrying urgent supplies and documents between hospitals.
A BMW motorbike christened Canon Portal and a Skoda estate car christened Prince Michael of Kent, together worth £25,000, have been bought using funds from a benevolent fund operated by Mark Masons, part of the wider community of Freemasons.
The donation was part of UK-wide funding of £750,000 from the Mark Benevolent Fund.
The vehicles were formally handed over by Lincolnshire’s senior Mark Mason Steve Hallberg, his deputy Steve Roberts, and Charity Steward Mick Stocker.
Accepting the donation were Neville Wright, the group’s Chairman, fundraiser Gordon Scott, and a number of the LEBBS committee,
Steve Hallberg said: “It was also great to see the bike which we donated in 2018, a Yamaha FJR1300 called Mark Mason, looking in pristine condition in spite of the mileage it has accumulated in the five years it has been in service.”
The group covers Lincolnshire and Humberside undertaking their life saving work, being currently manned by 156 volunteer members who carry out their essential duties on a rota basis.
Neville said the donation was superb and generous. “It has given the Group a big boost, and allows us much-needed flexibility as our workload increases,” he said.
Golfers to help improve cancer patients’ lives with charity fundraiser
Charity fundraising from Louth golfers will help improve the lives of cancer patients whilst being cared for in hospital.
The Oncology team at Lincoln County Hospital is set to receive a funding boost as Louth Golf Club starts a year of fundraising to support breast cancer treatments.
Chris Barber, Senior Captain of Louth Golf Club for 2025, has chosen United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity as his Charity of the Year. This is his way to say thank you for the care his wife, Judith received whilst a patient at Lincoln County Hospital after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. She regularly attended the hospital for treatments which were successful in eliminating her cancer.
Chris believes it is an absolute necessity to highlight the good work that takes place every day in the county’s hospitals. He said: “I want to give something back to the department that looked after my wife, so I decided during my year as Senior Captain that we would raise funds for the Oncology Department so they can invest in equipment and materials for the future which they otherwise may not be able to obtain.”
The year of fundraising will include multiple activities at all home matches at the popular golf club including a Captains’ Charity Day later in the year.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, Ben Petts said: “It is wonderful that Louth Golf Club is supporting us in this way, this fundraising will make a real difference to the lives of patients and their families using our county’s hospitals.”
In 2024, the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity received over £1million in donations and funded projects worth over £108,000 to support cancer patients. This included resources for parents to help support and aid discussion with children about their cancer diagnosis, scalp cooling caps which help reduce hair loss during chemotherapy treatments and a new makeover to the Oncology garden which has created a peaceful and welcoming space for patients attending the hospital for treatments.
More information on how people can support the charity’s work and help provide those extras that improve patients’ lives can be found on its website: https://www.ulhcharity.org.uk/
