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OUT & ABOUT IN LINCOLNSHIRE
OUT & ABOUT
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With the relaxation of lockdown we’ll finally be free. And where better to be free than in Lincolnshire? This month we’ve compiled a top ten of what we’re looking forward to when we’re able to go out...
Words: Rob Davis.
1. Discover Bomber County’s RAF legacy
Our second world war legacy goes beyond the Dambusters, as you can discover this summer...
More than ever Lincolnshire’s heritage sites need our support. Canwick’s International Bomber Command Centre lost 90% of its income during the pandemic, and now that we’re allowed out once more, it’s definitely on our list of places to visit, not just because it’s deserving of our support, but because it’s a beautifully curated centre. With peace gardens landscaped to reflect both Lincolnshire, but also the international contributions to Bomber Command’s part during the war, the Spire of Names, and the Chadwick Visitor Centre, the site pays tribute to the 57,861 who lost their lives supporting Bomber Command’s operations during missions and taking part in missions like Operation Manna, which was the world’s first humanitarian air drop. The centre will open again from 12th April, and on 31st July 2021 you can enjoy a poignant afternoon as the IBCC’s Celebration of Life event will see a Service of Commemoration taking place with prayers and an afternoon tea in the events marquee of the Lincolnshire Peace Garden. n See www.internationalbcc.co.uk.
2. Enjoying Lincoln...
Revisit the historic city’s best attractions
As we’re all lucky enough to live in Lincolnshire, we’re all within easy reach of the county’s historic city. Of course you’re familiar with Uphill Lincoln, with Brayford Wharf and with the Showground, but as the county opens up again post Covid, we’re advocating that we all re-acquaint ourselves with the attractions on our doorstep that, we may otherwise be tempted to overlook. You’ve visited Lincoln Cathedral, but have you enjoyed one of its guided tours? You’ll discover previously unknown facts and the historical context of the building’s features. What about a roof tour, or a visit to the Cathedral’s new Dean’s Green gardens? We also suggest you book tickets for Vision 2021, the Cathedral’s Flower Festival, which runs from 29th July to 2nd August. And of course, in uphill Lincoln there’s the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincoln Castle and Bishop’s Palace to enjoy as well as Steep Hill and Bailgate. n
Above: Steep Hill, The Strait and Bailgate are worth revisiting post-lockdown, as is Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Castle and Bishop’s Palace.
Right: Lincoln Cathedral’s tour guides will provide an education even if you consider yourself reasonably au fait with the finer points of the building and its history.
3. Enjoy a local garden
NGS gardens are open from this month...
You know summer will be along soon when the National Garden Scheme’s yellow leaflet arrives through the post. We count no fewer than seven new gardens this year, in addition to the following highlights for May:
n Woodlands at Fotherby near Louth is a firm favourite with us, a woodland garden open on Sunday 2nd May, Sunday 6th June and Sunday 4th July. The artists’ studio, too, provides interest beyond the myriad planting and well-stocked RHS nursery: www.woodlandsplants.co.uk.
n New to the NGS for 2021, Your Place is an oasis garden and community project in Grimsby, open on 22nd and 23rd May.
n We’ll also recommend King’s Hill Lodge, another new NGS garden, with no fewer than 20 mixed herbaceous beds, water feature and climbing roses. Blissful!
4. Enjoy Lincoln’s Imp Trail in 2021
This summer, have fun finding 30 of these friendly fellows around Lincoln...
Following the success of Lincoln’s Barons and Knights trails, summer 2021 will see 30 different painted imps located across the city for locals and visitors to spot. Artists, both professional and amateur, local and national, have designed each sculpture to add lots of colour to the city centre through the trail. The full Imp Trail leaflet will be available with a children’s competition. A new interactive app will also be launched bringing new features, and engagement opportunities. Souvenirs, merchandise and an auction catalogue will be available too. “The new plans will make the Lincoln Imp Trail bigger, better and more fun,” says organiser Sarah Loftus of Lincoln BIG. “It will bring people back into the city and put a smile on people’s faces.” The Imps will assemble for their farewell event at Lincoln Castle before being auctioned to raise money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice on 1st October 2021 at Lincoln Cathedral. n See www.lincolnimptrail.co.uk.
5. Explore Lincolnshire’s historic buildings...
Our last edition included some incredible historical highlights, and we’ve some more here too
Last month in Pride we celebrated some of n Lincoln Castle, meanwhile, allows visitors the county’s most remarkable castles, stately to complete a 360° wall walk around the homes and manor houses. With lockdown circumference of the building, and is home finally lifted, we’ll reiterate our recommen- to the Magna Carta. dation to pay a visit to explore some of Lincolnshire’s most impressive buildings: n Ordinarily, May would represent National Mills Weekend, when over 300 windmills n Lincolnshire is well-served with National and watermills across the county open their Trust properties, with Tattershall Castle, doors to show visitors around. The event has Belton House and Gunby Hall all been cancelled this year but buildings providing the opportunity to like Sleaford’s Cogglesford Mill enjoy a great day out, and parkland or gardens that Rediscover will be open, showing off a newly refurbished working facilitate social distancing. Skegness Pier waterwheel mechanism.
6. Spend a little time on the East Coast
Lincolnshire’s East Coast is expecting to enjoy a bumper year of visitors...
In this edition we’re meeting James Mellors, the new owner of Skegness Pier. He’s revealing why Skegness is a better destination than ever for locals to visit this summer.
Lincolnshire’s East Coast isn’t just for holidaymakers hoping to find the biggest and fastest rollercoasters. Since the railway arrived in the town from 1877 it has been a destination for those from outside the county but also for Lincolnshire folk to enjoy too. Our go-to destinations are Gibraltar Point, one of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s flagship reserves, with its stunning new observatory. Sit and enjoy coffee and cake surrounded by wildlife and soak up those coastal vistas. Elsewhere, audiences can get Lost in Disco, or spend One Night with Queen at the Embassy Theatre on 18th June and 19th June respectively as the arts centre reopens post-Covid (embassytheatre.co.uk). And of course, the East Coast is synonymous with nature, so make sure you visit Skegness Aquarium on Tower Esplanade and Natureland. The latter was established in 1965 and is appealing for local support following losses of more than £300,000 with fewer visitors to the site during the virus. n
7. It’s still a summer of entertainment!
Live music, comedy & cinema will still feature across Lincolnshire in 2021
Whilst many events have been cancelled, happily some of the county’s best venues will still offer live entertainment.
n The county’s showground will host pop act McFly on Friday 2nd July, then Comedy in the Park with John Bishop, Rob Beckett, Nish Kumar and others on Saturday 3rd July, ticket prices TBA, for details see www.lincolnshire showground.co.uk. n The Battle Proms are returning to Stamford’s Burghley House too on 10th July. As always, take along a picnic and enjoy the finest classical music, fireworks and cavalry displays plus a Spitfire flyover, tickets on sale now, £44/adults, www.battleproms.com.
n And finally, enjoy outdoor cinema at the Lincolnshire Showground with Dirty Dancing and WWII epic 1917 on 17th and 18th July, tickets from £14.50.
Above: Virgin offers pleasure flights in their hot air balloon over the countryside around the county, flying from locations like Belton Woods and Grimsthorpe Castle.
Left: Enjoy a trip along Lincolnshire’s waterways with a trip of Lincoln’s Brayford Belle or the Boston Belle, which takes visitors out into the Wash.
8. By water, or by air!
Take to the air or enjoy a narrowboat trip...
Why not consider seeing Lincolnshire by air or water?
n Virgin offers hot air balloon flights for two from £260-£350, available seven days a week subject to weather conditions. It’s tranquil, smooth and quite warm but certainly unique. The flights take place from Belton Woods, Grantham; Kelham Hall, Newark; Grimsthorpe Castle in Bourne and from Stamford Meadows. For more information see www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk
n Take a trip on the Brayford Belle, departing from Lincoln’s Brayford Wharf. 50 minute guided tours of the city’s waterways are from £7/adults. Another great way to see Lincolnshire by water is Spalding’s Water Taxi, which links the town to Springfields, the town’s outlet shopping and festival gardens resort (£7/return, spaldingwatertaxi.co.uk). Finally, the Boston Belle provides cruises out into The Wash, £8/adults, Sunday River Cruise, www.bostonbelle.co.uk.
9. Lincolnshire’s Parklife
Discover the county’s green spaces...
The county is rich in green spaces to explore and enjoy this summer. Whether you’re looking for a family day out or a long dog walk, these are our highlights...
n Louth’s Hubbard’s Hills (right) is a really spectacular, lush glacial valley gifted to the town by Alphonse Pahud in 1907. It’s clear, cool stream makes it a favourite with gambolling dogs and boisterous children all summer long!
n Lincoln’s Boultham Park is currently approaching the completion of phase two of its restoration, with new footpaths and artwork around its lake.
n And Skegness’s Tower Gardens refurbishment has been completed including the creation of its new £1.6m pavilion. The multi-use space will bring music, history and exhibitions to the pleasure gardens.
10. Enjoy Lincolnshire’s prettiest Georgian town
Declared by Walter Scott to be one of England’s finest Georgian towns, rediscover Stamford...
Stamford was England’s first ever designated conservation area (the status was awarded in 1967) and now has over 600 listed buildings in and around the town. Its original wealth came from the wool trade and its location on the Great North Road, enabled it to enjoy coaching inn trade too. These days, its independent shops, cafés and restaurants ensure Stamford remains a go-to destination for shopping for those who don’t care much for cities. Elsewhere, no fewer than five medieval parish churches and Georgian architecture to enjoy, plus the green space known as the Meadows at the heart of the town, make Stamford a green and pleasant space to spend a summer afternoon. Also playing a prominent part in attracting visitors to the town is Burghley House. The estate’s Sculpture Gardens and Gardens of Surprise will open to visitors with additional opening of the South Gardens on selected dates. There’s deer-grazed parkland to enjoy and the Elizabethan stately home itself with its stunning interiors. Organisers say they are still keen to deliver the Burghley Horse Trials sporting event this year too. n
Lincolnshire’s green shoots are attracting a new generation
FROM feeding the nation to educating future generations, Lincolnshire is emerging as a force to be reckoned with – tempting young professionals here, and even drawing them back.
Solicitor Limara Rickell is an example of how the might of our county is being recognised by those who value a blend of city living, countryside and heritage alongside a growing commercial and technological base.
If proof were needed that Limara had done the right thing in returning to her home city, it came on a recent virtual meeting. Organised by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Limara heard the Head of Brand at supermarket giant Sainsbury’s say the county was ‘emerging as a force to be reckoned with’.
Limara re-joined the region’s largest law firm Wilkin Chapman solicitors, at its city office on Brayford Wharf East last November. Working within the Corporate and Commercial team, the Lincoln-born and educated professional had spent two years at an international law firm in Birmingham. Before leaving for the Midlands, she had trained at Wilkin Chapman after completing her law degree at King’s College, London.
When opportunity arose to return, she was keen - aware of the change that was occurring: “Even in the time I had been away, the amount of development that you see in the city centre especially, is amazing,” commented Limara.
Joining the team headed by Partner Russell Eke, Limara settled straight away and noticed how Wilkin Chapman was supporting a growing number of clients with anaerobic digestion and solar projects, energy crops, and Agri-Tech.
“The business start-ups we are dealing with is also encouraging, as is the number of clients we work with in the renewables and technology sector. Their success is our success and the relationships we enjoy with clients was a factor in my decision to return,” commented Limara.
“It is an exciting time to be back to play an integral role in both the future of the team and in Lincolnshire’s growth and economy,” she said.
As Limara’s return to Lincoln came during lockdown, her opportunity to re-explore fully has been restricted. When she is able, she is looking forward to grabbing a working lunch from Bar Unico and revisiting her favourite city restaurant Ole Ole Tapas.
