Hemswell Cliff gets £100,000 grant to create community hub at Broadcast Engineering Museum
By the end of this year the village of Hemswell Cliff is expected to have a new community hub thanks to work done by the village’s Broadcast Engineering Conservation Group.
The group plans to turn its Studio 2 at the Broadcast Engineering Museum on Capper Avenue, into a community Bub that could become a focal point for village life.
Paul Marshall, Chair of the BECG, said: “This is not just about creating a meeting space; it is about giving the people of Hemswell Cliff a place to come together, build connections, and grow as a community. It has the potential of Studio 2 to truly enhance the quality of life in the village.”
The project is funded by a £100,000 grant from the FCC Communities Foundation. West Lindsey District Council has played a key role in supporting the project, both in helping secure funding and in providing additional financial backing.
Councillor Paul Howitt-Cowan, Ward Member for Hemswell Cliff, reflected on the village’s progress, stating not every village has a museum. He added: “When I joined West Lindsey District Council in 2010, we started a long journey. Since then, we have achieved so many things, but there is still more to do. I really hope the community can come out here and support this.”
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration, and Communities at the council, commented on just how far the building and the project has developed. She added: “Seeing the space up close really brings home the value of this investment. This will be a legacy for Hemswell Cliff, fostering social cohesion and ensuring that future generations have a vibrant place to gather and thrive.”
Graham Prestwood, Chair of the Hemswell Cliff Parish Council, added: “This project is just another piece in the puzzle to make Hemswell Cliff a normal village. “We have the park, the MUGA, and now this community space is being delivered for people to meet. It will be a terrific way to get people out of their homes and come together. It is especially important to be able to bring the community together. It is nice to see the growth in the village, and it is very encouraging.”
The BECG hope Studio 2 will be completed and ready for use by the end of this year, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the village.
Archaeological excavation at Fulbeck Manor unearths relics from across the centuries
A five day archaeological excavation at Fulbeck Manor has unearthed relics from across the centuries.
South Kesteven District Council helped to organise Digging Market Garden to search for traces of WW2 military heritage at a location rich in airborne forces heritage.
Funded by the University of Oxford and organised in partnership with Lincoln University and military charities, the dig drew military veterans, serving soldiers and their families as volunteers, together with specialist detectorists.
The excavated trenches yielded bullets, uniform buttons, a kit tag, engine parts, and foundations and drains from the time that the British First Airborne Division occupied the Manor and grounds in the 1944 build up to Arnhem. They also revealed unexpected traces from much older occupations of the site, including a substantial medieval building.
All finds will be carefully researched and catalogued, with the dig seen as a possible springboard into more archaeological explorations across airborne forces-related sites.
Cllr Richard Dixon Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “The whole event has been an absolute triumph and one that we were proud to be part of. We had no idea what we would find, but it’s been a fascinating voyage of discovery conducted in the most amazing, focused and positive atmosphere.
“It has proved what an appetite there is for further knowledge about our WW2 and airborne forces heritage.”
Prof Tim Clack, University of Oxford, said: “We have demonstrated not only the archaeological potential of digs such as this but local community interest and the viability of partnerships with the council, other universities and military charities.
“We have found an intricate tapestry of WW2 heritage and one that has enabled us unearth all sorts of other items of interest to museums.
“Memory is fragile and Digging Market Garden has also led to some amazing memory capture before it disappears. Not only did locals visit the site to share their stories and memories but, since the dig, the team has been contacted by others keen to share relevant family histories, photographs and records.”
Digging Market Garden also prompted a packed Friday night talk ‘By Air to Battle: South Kesteven’s Airborne Heritage’ by Brian Riley. The talk was introduced by Judy Urquhart, daughter of Major General Roy Urquhart, commander British First Airborne Division in 1944.
Saturday’s Public Open Day invited people onto the dig site with huge interest in the Village Hall exhibition of military memorabilia displays and military re-enactors.
Image: Stock.adobe.com/Mariana Rusanovschi
Council leader to visit British steel bosses in China
North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham is set to lead a small delegation to China to meet British Steel’s owners in an attempt to protect the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe.
British Steel’s owners, Jingye, have previously announced a £1.25bn development plan to create new green steel making facilities in Scunthorpe.
And, North Lincolnshire Council has pledged to develop 300 acres at the site to create new, green engineering and energy jobs, creating more opportunities for residents to access sustainable, high-paid jobs.
Cllr Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have been working with British Steel and the previous Government across a number of years to protect steelmaking and livelihoods here in North Lincolnshire.
“We continue to work the new Government too and we are asking them to back our plan for the site and protect steelmaking and jobs locally.
“Whatever the plans are going forward, we have to protect the sovereign capability for blast furnace steel and create a new future for steelmaking at the same time, using taxpayers’ money to lose jobs is not acceptable.
“We are determined to protect and enhance this vital industry, which is the backbone of our local economy and essential to our national security.”
A small team of three people are to travel in September to the Shijiazhuang province and will hold meetings with senior officers, civic leaders and directors of the company.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/riachsion
Ports of Grimsby and Immingham form a vital link in UK’s food chain
The Ports of Grimsby and Immingham together are the leading UK ports for fish imports, and a vital link in the supply chain, according to ABP.
Business wins food waste recycling tender with Lincolnshire County Council
BioteCH4 has secured a new contract with Lincolnshire County Council to recycle food waste from all districts within Lincolnshire.
BioteCH4, the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) operator, handled over 600,000 tonnes of food waste in 2023, producing power equivalent to the electricity used by over 30,000 homes for an entire year.
When food waste is disposed via Energy from Waste, the energy and nutrient benefits are not fully harnessed. By separately collecting food waste and recycling it through AD, these greenhouse gases are captured and converted into biogas and renewable energy, which is then injected into the national grid and the digestate by-product is recycled to land to help grow more food.
Following confirmation that all Councils must provide a weekly food waste collection from March 2026, Lincolnshire County Council has moved quickly, securing an in-county solution with BioteCH4 which will see up to 50,000 tonnes of food waste captured annually from homes and businesses across the county.
Starting in Autumn 2025, BioteCH4 will collect the food waste daily from a network of six transfer stations throughout the county for up to 9 years. BioteCH4 will use its experience to collaborate closely with the councils as they implement these food waste collections for the first time, ensuring a smooth rollout of services and maximising the amount of food waste recycled across the county.
Pamela Woolcock, Group Public Sector Lead for BioteCH4, said: “Although the Simpler Recycling journey has been long, we are nearing the finish line. We are thrilled to now be partnered with Lincolnshire County Council with a year to work on perfecting the implementation plans before we kick-off in September 2025.
“We’re delighted Lincolnshire have taken the step of introducing their food waste collections so soon and we’d urge other local authorities currently looking at their procurement to speak to operators and get the ball rolling as soon as is feasible. We’d welcome any questions, and our sites are open for visits to meet our team of experts.”
Chris Yorston, acting head of waste at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Having secured our treatment solution, we can now focus – with our district council partners and BioteCH4 – on designing, procuring, and implementing the other elements of our food waste collection service. We are looking forward to bringing all our knowledge and experience together to bring food waste recycling to households across the county.”
Picture: Hemswell Biogas, Lincolnshire. Credit – BioteCH4
Musical talent goes on show in return of Lincoln Live
Lincoln Live returns at the end of August to showcase the area’s musical talent.
Promoted by Lincoln City Council and BBC Introducing, the celebration happened on 31 August and 1 September under the Events in Lincoln brand, with a main stage in Lincoln’s Cornhill Square and a brand-new ‘Lincoln Live Unplugged’ zone in St Paul in the Bail, brought to life by Southside Lincoln.
The uphill Unplugged zone will feature exclusively acoustic performances, with a line-up curated by Acoustic Nations Lincoln. This zone will offer an alternative style of music to the main stage on Cornhill Square, allowing for a more relaxed atmosphere across both days.
Taking place between 1pm-8pm on Saturday 31 August, and 11am-4pm on Sunday 1 September, Lincoln Live will feature a 7m x 6m main stage at Cornhill Square, hosting a variety of Lincolnshire’s best under-the-radar musicians. Confirmed acts include River Drive, The Faith Estate, No Cash Refunds and Romy and The RHADs, and returning for a second year is Amber King.
Cllr Joshua Wells, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Building on the success of last year’s Lincoln Live event, we are working with a growing number of local businesses in the city to provide opportunities to grow their presence and engage with the community.
“We look forward to seeing everyone come together to celebrate the end of summer with some fantastic music and entertainment at an event we hope will become a permanent fixture in our city’s annual calendar.”
Dale wins role as Port of Grimsby’s first artist in residence
Dale Mackie has been named as the first artist in residence to be showcased at the Port of Grimsby.
He’s a renowned local artist who has exhibited around the region, and whose paintings are housed in private collections nationally. Born in Cleethorpes, for the last two years he has been on the port capturing the sights.
Famed for painting local heritage fishing scenes, this first for the port will see an exhibition showcasing the modern elements including offshore wind, and some of the work being undertaken on the buildings.
Simon Bird, Regional Director for the Humber ports said: “Two years ago, we were approached by Sam Delaney, of Creative Start, and Steve Ridlington, of WE1 Heritage with an ask, would we as port operator like an artist in residence? We’d never had one before, but with all the exciting developments happening in the conservation quarter of the port, we agreed. It would be an acknowledgement of the vibrant artistic community who were being drawn to this place.
“The paintings that Dale has produced are very colourful. He has captured the modern port, which is contrasted nicely with the port in its fishing heyday. It shows what a dynamic place it is and how Grimsby has moved forward from its fishing heritage.”
Dale said: “The exhibition shows the Port of Grimsby from its early days of being the largest fishing port in the world to becoming a major hub for global offshore wind and the leading automotive distribution centre. I’ve been honoured that I have had the opportunity to access areas on the port and capture them.”
Steve Ridlington, from WE1 Heritage who leases buildings on the port, said: “We are excited to see the artwork that Dale has put together. It has been a pleasure to host Dale in our studio for the last two years and share the artist in residence alongside ABP.”
People can view the artwork at Coffee on the Docks, 2 Auckland Road on the port from Saturday 14th September as part of the Heritage Open Day.
Light night event set for Sutton-on-Sea this October
A display of illuminations, projections and performances will come to Sutton-on-Sea this October, as part of a free light night event.
Taking place on Saturday 26 October from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, LightWaves will feature a fire garden, Sir Joseph Banks inspired projections, street theatre and more, as part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation project.
The event will run through the High Street, Meridale Centre and picturesque seafront, with a special four-metre-high hourglass installation providing one of the main attractions, filled with images, animations, and audio recordings from local residents.
To help produce this installation, a drop-in audio workshop will take place at the Meridale Centre on Monday 26 August, from 10am to 1pm or 2pm to 5pm, where people can turn up for free to help create it.
The event production team will also be working with local schools and community groups to produce around 100 beautiful lanterns, which will be used in a lantern parade that will move up the High Street at around 6pm.
No booking is required for the event, and people are invited to drop-in at any time to enjoy what will be an enchanting and colourful night.
‘LightWaves’ is being organised by the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership in collaboration with The Sessions House and SessionsArts, who have experience in running other light nights including the one in nearby Spilsby.
The Partnership’s NPO funding looks to support arts, culture, heritage and creativity across the whole of South and East Lincolnshire, providing meaningful opportunity and programming for residents, developing the sector and helping to build the arts, culture and heritage offer.
The Sutton-on-Sea Colonnade, which is still under development, was identified through the bid as East Lindsey’s creative hub to deliver creative activity as part of the Arts Council England funding, with the programme being supported by an eight-member culture board drawing experience from a variety of sectors.
Councillor Graham Marsh, East Lindsey District Council’s representative on the NPO culture board, said: “With the recent success of Sutton Stories and Vintage-on-Sea, I am delighted that we can continue our momentum of fantastic events with this exciting LightWaves event, which will create amazing displays in the already beautiful surroundings of Sutton-on-Sea.
“I am especially pleased that we can continue to collaborate with local artists, communities and schools to help produce the various installations that are set to feature, and contribute towards transforming Sutton into a kaleidoscope of colour that is not to be missed.”
Image: Sutton-on-Sea – credit: Stock.adobe.com/mparratt
Hospice plans to launch ‘ladies who lunch’ initiative
In partnership with some of Lincoln’s most celebrated businesses, St Barnabas Hospice is launching a ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ event, due to take place on Thursday 10th October.
The recently revamped White Hart Hotel, situated in the Bailgate of Lincoln, will host the inaugural event, where General Manager Paul Noble, said: “As a long-standing corporate supporter of St Barnabas Hospice, we are thrilled to have been selected as the venue for the upcoming ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ event.
“Our recent refurbishment at the hotel means we were able to donate a number of pieces of furniture to St Barnabas’ flagship store, The Warehouse, in Lincoln, and to continue our support is something we’re really proud of.
“We feel that the upcoming event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our newly refurbished hotel, whilst continuing to support a local charity that provides vital hospice care to patients and families in our community.”
The lunch will be followed by an exclusive preview of the latest fashion trends and unique pieces of the season with a stunning display from local boutique, SELF. Further to this, there will be an exclusive talk and showcase from renowned Milliner, Ian Bennett, whose clientele includes the royal family and stars of stage and screen.
Into the afternoon, there will be an opportunity to explore and support some of Lincoln’s finest independent businesses. The Hospice are due to welcome a selection of boutique stalls, from artisan fudge to unique homewares and ethical clothing, alongside a premium raffle.
Deborah Yarwood, Fundraising Officer and Project Lead of ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ said: “On behalf of everyone at St Barnabas, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the White Hart and all the businesses who are generously supporting our upcoming event.
“It is absolutely amazing to see tremendous community collaboration from local businesses and supporters alike, all willing to support the continuation of vital hospice care across Lincolnshire.
“If you are looking to enjoy a fabulous day out with friends, family or colleagues, join us at our Ladies Who Lunch, in support of St Barnabas Hospice.”
High demand for community grants means more cash is on the table
There’s so much demand from parishes, village halls and community projects for grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund that an extra £165,000 has been made available.
The Lincolnshire Community Foundation GRASSroots scheme, funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund, has been given £40,000 more in Boston and £125,000 more in East Lindsey.
This extra funding will boost the pot substantially in East Lindsey and means that £1million will have been distributed to small community organisations in the district in the space of a year.
Similarly, in Boston almost £300,000 has been awarded bringing, alongside other contributions, a total investment of £500,000 in community assets overall with match funding.
This funding is in addition to an earlier allocation of £100,000 from the East Lindsey Community Reserve funds in May.
The GRASSroots scheme has proven very popular across the sub-region with 111 projects already receiving over £1.7million of funding from LCF and UKSPF/RPF since it first began in July 2023. Most recently, groups across the sub-region were awarded more than £600,000 through the scheme last month.
Councillor Anne Dorrian, leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “I’m thrilled that more projects will be able to apply for funding from the GRASSroots scheme as I know how high demand has been from the very beginning.
“Through this funding, we will continue to support all of our communities, with a particular focus on those that have been historically under-represented in the provision of local growth funding. We’re committed to making sure that all parts of our borough benefit and that prosperity is truly shared.”
In East Lindsey, Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for the coastal economy, and Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for market towns and the rural economy, said: “It is fantastic news for the district that the LCF GRASSroots scheme can be kept open for longer via the partnership’s additional funding.
“We’ve already seen great examples of what these grants can do to benefit the local community – and now we will be able to see even more projects flourishing. This funding represents a once in a generation investment in local growth for our most rural communities.
“We would urge anyone who is interested in applying for a grant to get in touch with LCF as soon as possible as if the past few months is anything to go by, the scheme will be very popular.”
Sue Fortune, CEO of Lincolnshire Community Foundation, added: “Staff and Trustees at Lincolnshire Community Foundation are delighted with the news that the South & East Lincolnshire Council’s Partnership has made further funding available.
“We are confident that, together, we will continue to invest in local communities ensuring residents have access to facilities and activities both now and into the future.”
The deadline for applications is 1 September, 2024. Contact Lincolnshire Community Foundation
