New information points installed in project celebrating Spalding’s historic town and riverside

Tess Egginton
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New information points installed in project celebrating Spalding’s historic town and riverside

Spalding Reconnected, a two-year project celebrating and reconnecting the historic Spalding town centre and riverside, is nearing completion, with the installation of new route-markers and wayfinding heritage information points.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project has been carried out in partnership led by South Holland District Council, working alongside Heritage Lincolnshire as project managers, Transported Arts, East Mercia Rivers Trust and Lincolnshire County Council. In total 11 (with designed mapping/artwork) wayfinding points have been put in place through the project, using historic images of the town and river to connect with contemporary areas of interest. The scheme is part of a pilot stage with ambitions to replace and renew information points and markers throughout Spalding. The wider Spalding Reconnected project has aimed to deliver immediate physical benefits to the town that celebrate its heritage and historic riverside, whilst developing a heritage strategy and fostering relationships that will help position Spalding to secure further, larger pieces of investment in the future. Beyond the wayfinding work, other physical enhancements have included willow sculptures along the river and new ‘riverbank biospheres’ and coir roll habitats being introduced to help support the river’s ongoing health and ecology. Councillor Gary Taylor, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for community development, said: “I am delighted to have reached another milestone with the Spalding Reconnected project, introducing these important wayfinding points that provide links to both the past and present day, and are a first step in developing new ways of highlighting Spalding’s special and unique history. “It is so important to recognise, protect and celebrate our town’s long and rich cultural past and beautiful riverside, and to harness these for residents and visitors to Spalding and to help us access further, larger investment and opportunities in the future.”
  Image shows Spalding. Credit: Stock.adobe.com/Steven F Granville

Work starts on Hornbeam Business Park in Horncastle

Tess Egginton
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Work starts on Hornbeam Business Park in Horncastle
Lincolnshire County Council has invested £1.5m into the creation of Hornbeam Business Park at Spratt Close in Horncastle. When complete, the site will offer around four acres which will be split to create 3 plots of serviced development land. The total cost is around £1.9m with East Lindsey District Council contributing £400,000. It’s hoped that the development will generate more than 65 new jobs. Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This is another great project led and predominantly funded by the county council that ensures businesses have the land and facilities to grow and develop. Businesses in the area have told us that they really needed space to relocate and grow, and we’re committed to doing all we can to help. “And it’s not just in Horncastle that we’re investing in business growth. The council has committed £20m over the next four years, to boost Lincolnshire’s business facilities. This includes office blocks and industrial parks for our world leading sectors such as manufacturing, defence and agri-food, in Grantham, Lincoln, and Holbeach. “We’re also planning more expansions to industrial estates like this one in Horncastle, in West Lindsey, East Lindsey, and Boston. This will provide 3000 job opportunities across the whole of the county.” The site management is being carried out by Lindum Construction. Lindum director Kevin Damarell said good infrastructure was essential for economic growth, and that the new road would help unlock potential for investment and job creation in Horncastle. “We’re pleased to be working with Lincolnshire County Council to deliver this project, which was procured via the Scape regional construction framework. By improving access, the council is laying the foundations for future economic growth, supporting existing businesses, and encouraging new ones to set up here.”

Win a BOUNCY CASTLE for your wedding at Cupid’s Spring Wedding Show!

Tess Egginton
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Win a BOUNCY CASTLE for your wedding at Cupid’s Spring Wedding Show!
Win a BOUNCY CASTLE FOR YOUR WEDDING at Cupid’s Spring Wedding Show, Springfield’s Exh. Centre, Spalding, THIS SUNDAY 2nd March! Not only will you see the region’s greatest wedding suppliers offering you all the help and advice you need to ensure your wedding day is the most special day of your life, but you will also get the chance to enter a competition to win a white bouncy castle for your wedding! And it gets even better – it comes with a sweet cart and ball pit, perfect to keep your guests entertained all day! Whether you have just started planning your wedding or you only have a few things left to organise, you will get so much out of visiting the show – you will be able to smell the flowers, try on the jewellery, taste the cake, feel the fabric, hear your favourite music, and most importantly you can talk directly to the experts to discuss you own unique and personal requirements. You can see new wedding ideas and start ticking everything off that wedding planning ‘to do’ list! See amazing wedding venues, beautiful wedding gowns to suit all budgets, incredible photographers to ensure you capture every special moment, stunning wedding transport to ensure you get to your wedding in style, decor to wow and much, much more – you will find everything you need to plan your special day at this fantastic event! To ensure you get the most out of your day…
  • Visit www.cupidsweddingshows.com for your FREE tickets
  • You could create a temporary Wedding email address to pass on to suppliers. Many people do not like passing on their personal email address – this way suppliers can still send you information and offers after the show
  • Bring swatches of material or ribbon in your chosen colour scheme to help when talking to exhibitors (for example Florists could recommend certain flowers in season the date of your Wedding which will match your chosen colours)
  • Talk to as many suppliers as you can – many will have gifts for every couple
  • Most importantly – enjoy the day!

East Lindsey announces investment of more than £7.8m in district

Stuart Pearcey
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East Lindsey announces investment of more than £7.8m in district

East Lindsey District Council has this week announced investment of more than £7.8m in the district, as part of a transformational fund designed to create welcoming places, support events, attract visitors, develop local communities and enable business growth.

The East Lindsey Investment Fund, approved by councillors in September, created a £10m budget, with the council’s Executive Board this week approving the award of £7.83m for use across the Fund’s four distinct target areas of community development, promoting the visitor economy, business support and to boost the attractiveness of the area. Among the major awards was a new £1million ‘Pride in Place’ community grant fund scheme. This will support community groups, parish and village halls, voluntary and third sector organisations in leading and delivering local projects and initiatives that help improve community safety, deliver environmental benefits, improve local transport and connectivity, enhance local amenities and facilities or deliver events and activities that increase footfall and pride in the area.
  • Further allocations were also given:
  • £1.8million for tourism related activities
  • £1.25million for place and asset improvements
  • £650k for cultural events and arts engagement
  • £250k for heritage projects, including support for the development of vibrant markets across the district, public car park enhancement and resurfacing works in popular destination such as Sutton on Sea, a wayfinding strategy to include new signage, lighting and street furniture, works to enable shop front improvements and the creation of a business case for new visitor facilities and infrastructure that promote the Lincolnshire Wolds as a tourist destination.
One of the major tourism-based allocations is to The Woodland Trust to buyHarrison Woodlands near Louth. This ancient 483-acre site is currently badly damaged and closed to the public, with the Trust committing to removing invasive and diseased trees, restoring the woods and opening them to the public for the enjoyment of East Lindsey residents and visitors, meeting the council’s investment ambitions to further develop its market towns and stunning countryside, including the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as a leading tourist destination. A selection of the projects receiving community development funding allocation included a continuation of a successful crowdfunding platform, support for local community hubs, the creation of new mental health focused town maps and programmes around digital inclusion and teaching basic budget skills. Business support funding included the hosting of networking and other business events, a strategy to increase access to skills and jobs with local education and training providers, sector specific grants for investment in green technology and the delivery of new employment sites in the district. Councillor Craig Leyland said: “I am delighted that we can make this incredible investment into East Lindsey and its residents, businesses and visitors, supporting an array of fantastic projects and initiatives across an unprecedented number of themes and priorities. “We are in a fortunate position, that very few councils are, to support these bold investment opportunities and bring about the changes that people want to see. The awarding of these funds is just the start though, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with our local communities in the months and years ahead to make these ideas a reality, and to establish East Lindsey as a wonderful tourist destination, s flourishing economy and, most importantly, a place to call home.”

Lincolnshire will still go to the polls on May 1st

Stuart Pearcey
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Lincolnshire will still go to the polls on May 1st
Lincolnshire County Council intends to go ahead with elections on My 1st in spite of other authorities postponing them in the wake of impending devolution. Council leader Martin Hill says they’ll run alongside elections for a new Mayor, adding: ““We have been planning for our elections to go ahead as usual, and it is not a surprise that we are not included in the list of councils that are postponing theirs. “We expressed an interest in Greater Lincolnshire being part of the first wave of local government reorganisation, and had said we would be open to deferring our elections if needed. We did not request specifically to defer our elections.
“Although it’s disappointing that we won’t be in the first phase of reorganisation, we will keep pushing for more straightforward local government across Greater Lincolnshire. I believe we must look at what is best for residents and what will offer the best value for money, and develop proposals that deliver this.”

Brigg’s The Rabbit Hole named Regional Finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year

Tess Egginton
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Brigg’s The Rabbit Hole named Regional Finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year
Independent Brigg bookshop The Rabbit Hole has made it to the Regional Finalist Stage for The Independent Bookshop of the Year award at the 2025 British Book Awards. 72 independent bookshops are listed as finalists across nine different regions and countries, with judges seeking out the best independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland, with a keen interest in what independent bookshops do in their local community and how this impacts their bookselling and range. The Regional and Country Winners of the Independent Bookshop of the Year award will be announced on Tuesday 11th March, whilst the overall winner will be revealed during The British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House London on Monday 12th May 2025.

The Rabbit Hole is a friendly, community-focused Indie Book Shop in Brigg, with a little bit of something for everyone.

The shop is especially passionate about books for children, with a dedicated, large and varied selection of fiction and non-fiction books for kids. However, you will also find a selection of books for older children, YA fiction, grown up fiction, and an eclectic selection of non-fiction. 

​The Rabbit Hole additionally hosts author/illustrator events and workshops, as well as being behind the No Limits Festival, featuring an action-packed programme brimming with authors, inspiring illustrators and live performances, bringing the magic of books and creative arts to life.

Turn out the potting shed, urges Heritage Seed Library

Stuart Pearcey
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Turn out the potting shed, urges Heritage Seed Library
Do you have Ray’s butter bean, Grandpa’s Cress or Mrs Taylor’s Red Pear hiding in your garden shed or greenhouse? A charity is calling on gardeners to find and share their unusual edible heirlooms in a special #SeedSearch.
If you’ve got an intriguing heritage seed that’s been passed down the generations, or a little-known vegetable variety that you can’t buy in the shops – the Heritage Seed Library wants to know about them.
The Library, part of sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic, is calling on gardeners in central England to search their veg plots, sheds, local libraries and community archives to find and share special heritage seeds and stories – to safeguard them for the future.
The #SeedSearch is part of a two-year project – ‘Sowing your Seeds: Heritage Crops for a Resilient Future’ – supported with a grant of almost  £175,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Catrina Fenton, head of the Heritage Seed Library, said: “With an increasingly unpredictable climate and the loss of both wild and cultivated biodiversity, this important project will help us share knowledge of local and heirloom crops growing in vegetable plots across the Midlands.
“We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and for National Lottery players for making this project possible. In our lifetime, we’ve lost many hundreds of vegetable varieties, grown for generations by families and communities. The Heritage Seed Library addresses this by maintaining a living collection of vegetables, regularly sown and grown to maximise adaptability and viability.
“Working in partnership with community and individual growers, this vital project will help us share knowledge of heritage crops, many of which will have been selected and bred locally for their special characteristics and resilience.
“We’d like to learn more about under-represented plants that are thriving locally, as well as finding out and sharing the stories of the people behind them, including their culinary and cultural significance.”

Horncastle Powerlifters push fundraising to limit for LNAA

Tess Egginton
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Horncastle Powerlifters push fundraising to limit for LNAA
The Horncastle Powerlifting Club really know how to push their fundraising to the max! They racked up an amazing £300 for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance with a powerlifting competition, pushing all their members to the limit for an incredible cause. LNAA Community Fundraiser, Caroline Barnes went along to meet the team to give thanks for all their efforts. She said: “The highly skilled doctors, paramedics and pilots of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance help people across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, involved in life-threatening incidents every single day. “LNAA is one of the UK’s leading Helicopter Emergency Service charities, bringing the equivalent of a hospital emergency department to patients at the scene, giving those with the most severe injuries and medical conditions the very best chance of survival when minutes matter.” It is the generosity and goodwill of supporters throughout the area that funds the £13 million needed to keep the air ambulance in the skies and the fleet of critical care cars on the road 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. For more details on how to support Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance visit: www.ambucopter.org.uk

Get ready for two unforgettable nights of music

Tess Egginton
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Get ready for two unforgettable nights of music
Once again, Live Promotions are bringing fun nights full of music to historic Lincolnshire landmarks, with discounted advance entry tickets available now. Lose yourself by reliving your favourite Ibiza anthems with Ellie Sax & friends at Lincoln Castle this July, then in August don’t miss an epic night full of the greatest tribute acts at the stunning Grimsthorpe Castle. Rewired Festival is set to light up Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday 16th August 2025, bringing an electrifying line-up of the UK’s best tribute acts to the iconic venue. See all the hits from legendary bands like Oasis, ABBA, Queen, Madness, Blur, Steps, and Arctic Monkeys. Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems with Ellie Sax & Friends is the brand-new live show, from the world’s biggest dance music brand. Visit Lincoln Castle on Saturday 26th July for this ultimate party night! Book your discounted advance entry for both shows at www.rewiredtributefestival.co.uk and www.livepromotions.co.uk/ministry-of-sound.

Bold new outdoor art installation coming to Burghley in 2025

Tess Egginton
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Bold new outdoor art installation coming to Burghley in 2025
The historic gardens of Burghley House are set to be transformed this spring and summer by Botanic Tapestry, an exciting outdoor art installation created by artist duo Graphic Rewilding. This innovative exhibition features a series of large-scale botanical flags that celebrate the harmony between art, nature, and history, bringing a bold new vision to Burghley’s stunning grounds. Each design in this captivating series draws inspiration from the beauty of Burghley’s gardens as well as the intricate floral depictions found in the still lifes, marquetry, ceramics, and textiles in Burghley’s Collections. Graphic Rewilding have offered their own artistic interpretation, weaving nature’s beauty into contemporary art. Flowers, insects, butterflies, and foliage come to life, with dynamic patterns and colours reflecting the elegance and energy of Burghley’s thriving landscape and rich artistic heritage. More than just a visual statement, Botanic Tapestry highlights the deep connection between nature and well-being. This unique art experience invites you to pause, reflect, and immerse yourself in the landscape, fostering a renewed appreciation for the natural world around us. Botanic Tapestry will unfold in two stages, offering visitors fresh perspectives throughout the year. From 15 March to 21 April 2025, the flags will form a grand processional route through Burghley’s South Gardens set against the dramatic south façade of Burghley House. With the South Gardens open for just a few weeks each year, this exhibition presents a rare opportunity to explore this exclusive setting while engaging with art in nature. The installation will then transition to Burghley’s Sculpture Garden for the summer season, running from 26 April 2025. Here, it will be reimagined along the picturesque banks of Burghley’s Lake and Graphic Rewilding will expand the exhibition with additional artworks.
A CGI image of the upcoming art installation
Graphic Rewilding’s co-founders Lee Baker and Catherine Borowski are on a mission to reconnect people to the natural world through art to foster positive mental well-being. The artists are now working across the globe, with artworks unveiled in China in 2024 and new works across the US being launched later this year. Botanic Tapestry at Burghley represents their largest and most ambitious UK project to date. Lee Baker from Graphic Rewilding describes the inspiration behind the project: “From the lush wildflower meadows and diverse ecosystems, to the intricate still life paintings, textiles and Chinese enamelled porcelain housed in Burghley Collections, the extraordinary beauty of the art, nature and heritage has been a seemingly endless source of inspiration for our latest installation.” Miranda Rock, Executive Chair, Burghley House Preservation Trust, said: “The flags designed by Graphic Rewilding will bring a playful new layer of interpretation to the garden. Both dramatic and colourful – we’re excited for Burghley’s visitors to see how they enliven the surrounding landscape.” 
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