A new green space has opened in Gainsborough, along the riverside overlooking the River Trent.
The former Baltic Mill site has been turned into a welcoming, accessible space for the community to enjoy, in time for the summer. People can enjoy the grassed area, benches and plants as well as exploring the new pergola which features a map of the town.
Cllr Trevor Young, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “This is one of my favourite projects from the Levelling Up Fund. This wonderful transformation of the Baltic Mill site delivers much-needed green space for Gainsborough.
“It’s a place for people to rest, relax and connect with nature—right in the heart of the community. I encourage everyone to come down and enjoy it.”
The area located just off Caskgate in the town was visited by councillors, residents and the developers for an official opening.
Cllr Matthew Boles, chairman of West Lindsey District Council, said: “This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when we invest in our public spaces with a long-term vision. Creating accessible green areas like this not only benefits our health and wellbeing but also brings people together and strengthens our sense of community.”
Andy Jones, director of AWJ Business Services, added: “Not only did this contract successfully deliver the regeneration of a key site in Gainsborough Town Centre, but the works were testimony to how collaborative working can overcome the significant obstacles associated with the transformation of a site that had been derelict for some time.
“It was a pleasure to deal with West Lindsey District Council and the Project Centre, and we look forward to future opportunities to do so again!”
Fun-filled family days out come to Burghley for May Half Term
With May Half Term and another Bank Holiday on the horizon, Burghley is offering fun-filled family days out, where the gardens are blooming, history is coming to life, and the next adventure awaits.
Hide & Secrets
Open daily (10am-5pm), big thrills await at the Hidden Towers, where imaginations run wild! Zoom down giant slides, brave the rope bridge over the craggy gorge, and climb to the treetop lookout.
Cecil the Mole’s Spy Missions
Scurry through tunnels, crack secret codes, and follow sneaky trails, to find Cecil’s friends through the Hide & Secrets woodland, to earn ultimate spy status with Cecil’s free Spymaster Guide.
Craft Workshops
From 27-30 May (12pm-4pm), cut, stick and create! Kids of all ages can get hands-on in colourful, creative craft sessions.
Beastly Boring Tours
From 27-29 May and on 31 May (9.30am-10.30am), take a family tour like no other! Explore the State Rooms of the House with costumed guides as they share engaging and fun stories of Burghley’s past. Each child receives a free Beastly Boring Guidebook.
Joe’s Top Picks
With early summer colours making their way into every corner of the Garden, Head Gardener, Joe has chosen his top three must-see garden highlights to look out for as a family. See the vibrant violet-blue and purple petals of the Siberian iris, in the Valley Garden, the vivid orange and yellow blooms of Bulley’s primrose, in its shady spot by the stream, and the fragrant, lavender-blue Catmint in the Cut Flower Garden.
View the Gardens Map here.
Also in the Gardens, don’t miss a spectacular outdoor art installation.
Botanic Tapestry by Graphic Rewilding
This bold exhibition features striking botanical prints brought to life through a parade of large-scale flags lining the lake’s edge and colourful textile tree wraps woven throughout the Burghley Gardens.
As Half Term arrives and summer peeks around the corner, it’s the perfect time to unlock a whole season of fun and adventure with a Burghley Annual Pass.
Dog exercise area to support biodiversity in Lincolnshire park
A new dog exercise area is opening in Wyndham Park, Grantham. It is being designed to serve a dual purpose: as a dog paddock and a wildflower meadow to support pollinators and boost local biodiversity.
The site, which spans 4,000 square metres, is part of South Kesteven District Council’s initiative to enhance green spaces through nature-friendly land management. The project’s funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
In addition to its recreational use, the area has been planted with native wildflowers and trees to provide a habitat for bees and other pollinating species. The move aligns with broader environmental goals, including carbon reduction and improved ecosystem health.
A local consultation found strong community support, with 71% of respondents backing the plan. The council expects the multifunctional site to contribute positively to public wellbeing and environmental outcomes.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/VasylLincolnshire trio receive national awards
Lincolnshire residents Barry Bedford, Chris Sargeant and Jean Logan have recently received national recognition for their commitment and contributions to the running of their local not-for-profit friendship group.
The trio, all members of the Market Deeping-based Nene and Welland Oddfellows, have been selected as winners of ‘Making a Difference Awards’. Their trophies were handed out at a special ceremony at the Society’s annual national conference in Scarborough on Tuesday 20 May.
Barry, from Baston, has been a member of the Branch for almost 60 years. He won in the ‘Giving a Helping Hand’ category for his willingness and enthusiasm for being there for others.
As a Welfare Officer, Barry has been known to give members lifts to and from events and the shops, he frequently checks in on people both over the phone and in person, and has assisted in all manner of DIY projects, including helping to clear driveways, repairing doors, gardening jobs and decorating rooms.
Barry said: “I do get a buzz out of helping people. If I come home and I say to my wife, ‘I’ve done so-and-so with them and I’ve painted a room and they’re happy with it’, I think I’ve done something useful.
“It’s the way I live my life and always have done and if that transforms into helping other people then I’m thankful.
“It’s wonderful winning a national award. I’m not only recognised around here but within the whole Society. I’m very proud of it.”
Chris, from Pinchbeck in Spalding, took home the ‘Working in the Spirit of Mutuality’ trophy, which recognises her commitment to Nene and Welland Oddfellows and the wider Society.
Throughout her near-50 years of membership, Chris has held almost every formal volunteer position at her Branch and represented Nene and Welland Oddfellows on regional and national committees.
She said: “The Oddfellows gives to me as much as I give to it. I’m 75 now. I’ve been retired 12 years, but I don’t know how I’d cope if I hadn’t got Oddfellowship to keep me going and all my friends in the Society.
“You get to know people. I’ve friends all over the country through Oddfellowship. I love it, absolutely love it.”
On winning the award, she added: “I was shocked because I didn’t know. It’s amazing. How proud was I that someone had thought I was worthy of it?”
Jean was chosen as the winner in the ‘Enriching Lives Socially’ category, celebrating her role in providing a varied and exciting social offering for Nene and Welland Oddfellows members.
Through her role on the Branch’s Social Committee, the Bourne resident is key to coming up with new ideas for, organising, and hosting events and – importantly – making sure everyone has a good time.
She said: “I’m an organiser. I always organise things. I’m always in the catering. I’m always in the kitchen.
“They always say to me, ‘we wish we had your energy’, and I say, ‘well I’m not giving it to anybody, sorry it’s mine!’”
Jean said it was a nice surprise to discover she had won the award, adding: “It was the fact that I was the overall winner. You’ve got so many Oddfellows branches all over the country and I end up as the overall winner.”
Nene and Welland Oddfellows is made up of 400 mostly older and retired local members and anyone is welcome to join. It is one of 96 branches that make up the Oddfellows’ nationwide network, which is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the UK.
Branch Secretary at Nene and Welland Oddfellows, Karen Earth, said: “We were delighted to learn that not one, but three of our members had been chosen as winners of the Making a Difference Awards. They are a wonderful representation of the kind, caring and brilliant people we have here.
“A huge congratulations to Barry, Chris and Jean. We don’t know where we’d be without you.”
The Society aims to improve its members’ lives through friendship and support. It hosts a range of affordable and accessible events locally, and Oddfellows members can access a variety of benefits including care and welfare support and a travel club. There are also opportunities to volunteer and take part in fundraising initiatives.
Image shows: Nene and Welland Oddfellows’ Making a Difference Awards winners Chris Sargeant, Barry Bedford and Jean Logan
HMS Taku model presented to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
A model of HMS Taku, a British T Class Submarine, has been presented to Ayscoughfee Hall by the Spalding Branch of the Royal Naval Association.
The model was previously on loan to South Holland District Council and was on display in the Priory Road offices.
On Wednesday 21 May, the model was moved from the council offices to Ayscoughfee Hall, which will become its permanent home.
The submarine was launched on May 20, 1939, a few months prior to the start of the Second World War. HMS Taku saw action during the war, in British waters and the Mediterranean, until it was heavily damaged in 1944 when it was struck by a mine. She returned to active service a few months later and was retired in June 1945.
While in the Mediterranean Sea, the submarine damaged and sunk several Italian and German vessels.
In 1941, it was involved in a wartime campaign where towns and villages were invited to adopt a warship, Spitfire, tank or other vessels to support the war effort. In one week, the people of Spalding raised over £350,000, the equivalent today of raising around £15 million.
This amount funded the building of a new submarine, and as a result Spalding officially ‘adopted’ HMS Taku.
In June 1942, some of the crew visited Spalding and stayed with local families. There were many local events to celebrate the link, and today that continues through Taku Footbridge – the bridge over the River Welland next to High Bridge in Spalding’s Town Centre.
Councillor Elizabeth Sneath, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, conservation and heritage, said: “It has been an honour to have the model of HMS Taku at our offices in Spalding.
“The submarine is an important part of Spalding’s history and that of the nation, having played a role in the Allied victory during the Second World War. HMS Taku continues to have local significance, having lent its name to one of the many footbridges over the River Welland.
“I am certain that the model will be received very positively by the people of Spalding, and those from further afield, at its new location within Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.”
Chapel refurbishment at Grimsby Crematorium boosts capacity and comfort
Grimsby Crematorium has reopened its chapel following a five-week refurbishment to improve capacity and visitor experience. The project involved a complete interior overhaul, including removing pews in favour of modern seating to increase occupancy. Additional upgrades include new flooring, carpeting, ceiling, thermal glazing, and automated window controls to enhance climate regulation.
The renovation was carried out with minimal service disruption and completed on schedule by contractor Unibuild. The updated facility now hosts over 2,000 annual services in a brighter, more functional space, catering to over 200,000 visitors annually. The improvements are part of ongoing efforts to modernise bereavement services and better serve local families and funeral operators.
Image source: North East Lincolnshire CouncilOutdoor arts festival builds creative economy along Lincolnshire coast
Lincolnshire’s SO Festival has returned with an expanded week-long programme, blending international outdoor arts with skills development and placemaking efforts along the East Lindsey coast.
Running across Skegness and Mablethorpe, the 2025 edition now spans seven days, featuring artists from seven countries, including acrobatics, puppetry, hip hop-infused circus, and interactive installations. A newly added three-day conference brings together industry leaders and cultural practitioners to explore how the arts can drive social change in coastal regions, a theme that will continue into next year with SEAScape at SO Festival 2025, a dedicated international forum on art and placemaking.
The festival goes beyond performance. Through a series of free workshops—from AI basics and special effects makeup to aerial access training and street art—it aims to boost creative engagement, digital literacy, and community-led innovation. Activities are shaped by local consultation and designed to make cultural participation more accessible.
Image source: SO FestivalLeisure centres in Lincoln to reopen under new operator
Two leisure centres in Lincoln that abruptly shut down in April are set to reopen by mid-July under new management. The City of Lincoln Council has appointed Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) as the interim operator of Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres following the collapse of the previous operator, Active Nation.
GLL, a not-for-profit social enterprise with over 250 leisure facilities across the UK, will manage both centres on a two-year contract. The council owns the buildings and moved quickly to secure a new operator after Active Nation ceased trading due to financial pressures, citing the energy crisis as a key factor. The council had offered a £500,000 support package, but the charity did not accept the terms.
Since the closure, the Lincoln City Foundation has maintained outdoor operations at both locations. GLL plans to upgrade facilities, replace gym equipment, and recruit staff across various roles. More details on programmes, memberships, and courses are expected to be released this summer.
The transition aims to minimise disruption to residents and maintain local access to fitness and wellbeing services, while providing stability for the council’s broader leisure strategy.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/U-JINN PhotographyAyscoughfee Gardens refurbishes play area following South Holland District Council investment
Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens has reopened its popular play area, following a period of refurbishment and repairs through a £24,000 investment by South Holland District Council.
Work was required at the family favourite park after an act of vandalism last year, which resulted in the destruction of the cage swing as well as significant damage to the surrounding flooring.
However, now that work is completed, the swing and its safety surface have been completely replaced with new, high-quality installations. As part of the work the team has also carried out repair and renovations to the jeep equipment, ensuring its continued enjoyment for young adventurers for many years to come.
Councillor Henry Bingham, portfolio holder for assets and strategic planning, said: “It’s great that the team have been able to not only fix the vandalism but also get the area improved so that it can be enjoyed again.
“Mindless vandalism like this robs residents of the ability to enjoy these areas and it is good that this could be turned around so quickly ready for the summer months, and we remain committed to doing all we can to maintain and improve our community assets.”
King Charles III England Coast Path expanded in Lincolnshire, to provide unique wildlife walks
Three more sections have been opened at a unique wildlife walk in Lincolnshire, making it one of the most accessible countryside areas of the UK.
Lincolnshire’s section of the national King Charles III England Coast Path is a 124-mile-long walking route that runs from Sutton Bridge to Barton-upon-Humber, opening up the majority of the iconic Wash coastline to walkers. The route gives legal access to an incredible section of British coastline, and the wildlife around it, for the first time.
Walkers can now enjoy more than 90% of our county’s coastal path with the latest sections added ranging from Mablethorpe to Tetney in addition to the new North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire sections to the Humber Bridge. This opening creates an almost continuous coastal route, with just two small gaps where a bridge is required near Gibraltar Point as well as a section around Immingham Dock.
Chris Miller, head of environment at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “With these latest additions to the King Charles III England Coast Path coming to fruition we can now provide one of the most spectacular walks anywhere in the country.
“This is the outcome of several agencies working together to give legal access to a unique part of the country for people to enjoy. There is a vast array of wildlife and topography that you only get on our coast and now anyone who wants to see it, can do so for free.
“Natural England, the Environment Agency, North and North East Lincolnshire Councils and the coastal district councils have all worked with us to bring their essential knowledge of the area to this project. I hope that many will take the opportunity to walk the route and enjoy what Lincolnshire has to offer.”
Because sizeable sections of the path are remote and can stretch for several miles, they operate without any public facilities or connecting walkways, so it’s suggested that walkers ensure they are self-sufficient for their trip.
Image credit: Lincolnshire County Council
