With unlimited exercise now permitted during lockdown, parks and green spaces in Lincoln are more enticing than ever with an abundance of picturesque scenery and wildlife to enjoy.
Some people have been making the most of the sunny weather, running in the local parks, walking their dogs and going for walks in other local places of natural beauty.
People are not permitted to meet in groups of more than two. They may see one person from another household outside if they keep at a two metre distance as per social distancing guidelines.
The Lincolnite has compiled a guide of highlights of places you can enjoy in and near Lincoln during lockdown and beyond. With a wide range of places to explore it should make social distancing easier.
Hartsholme Country Park & Swanholme Lakes Local Nature Reserve
Hartsholme Country Park. Photo: Visit Lincoln
Hartsholme Country Park on Skellingthorpe Road covers more than 200 acres and people can enjoy socially distant walks and cycle rides through the lakes and ornamental grounds. The Wooded and Lakeside Nature Trails are open as usual, with all footpaths and open areas accessible to the public.
Swanholme Nature Reserve can be found sharing the same boundary as the park. Parts of the park can be accessed through the nature reserve, which was formed from a series of flooded sand and gravel pits.
Boultham Park
Boultham Park. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite
The 50 acre park on Boultham Park Road has green space, woodlands, a lake and a variety of wildlife.
Some of Lincoln’s famous swans are regular visitors to the park’s lake, as well as geese and coots. There are also large green spaces and a bandstand, along with a host of other facilities.
The Arboretum
The Arboretum. Photo: Visit Lincoln
The Arboretum on Monks Road is a 22 acre park situated in Lincoln’s Cultural Quarter.
The park is of Grade II historical importance and contains gardens, lakes and fountains.
South Common
The South Common. Photo: Copyright Glyn Drury
The South Common is a popular grassy park in Lincoln.
It can be entered from South Park Avenue or Newark Road and contains more natural spaces with ponds, shrubs and wildlife.
West Common
Lincoln West Common. Photo: Visit Lincoln
The West Common can be entered from the west end of West Parade, from Carholme Road or from Long Leys Road.
The 100 hectare green space has lovely views of Lincoln Cathedral and horses can also be found grazing across the whole area.
Whisby Nature Park
Whisby Nature Park. Photo: Visit Lincoln
Whisby Nature Park in Thorpe-on-the-Hill near Lincoln is full of wildlife, walks and trails.
The lakes at the park are surrounded by grassland, marsh, scrub and willow carr and there is an abundance of lovely surroundings to walk around. The car park is currently open, but the cafe and other activities are closed.
Witham Valley Country Park
Whisby Nature Park is one of the locations within the Witham Valley Country Park. Photo: Visit Lincoln
Witham Valley Country Park is made up of a variety of individual public green spaces, with plenty of opportunity for walking and cycling.
It stretches south from the Fossdyke Navigation and contains sites of special scientific interest, nature reserves and local wildlife sites.
Millennium Green
Millennium Green. Photo: Explore Lincolnshire
Millennium Green is a small reserve in North Hykeham of just over 40 acres.
Its predominant feature is a large lake, which is surrounded by a pathway that can accommodate buggies and wheelchairs. The green is bordered by residential housing and more lakes.
Greetwell Hollow Nature Reserve. Photo: Russell Jackson
Greetwell Hollow off Outer Circle Road is a limestone grassland in the valley.
The stream that flows through the centre of the reserve supports wetland plants and attracts wintering snipe, moorhen and heron. There is also an extensive quarry face to the east of the nature reserve. There are dozens of paths that take you over a nice brook which runs through the middle of the nature reserve.
Liquorice Park
Liquorice Park. Photo: Visit Lincoln
Liquorice Park on Yarborough Road is a former orchard and meadow located in Lincoln’s West End.
Until 1818, the park was mainly used as an orchard and meadow, and these features remain in the park today.
Skellingthorpe Woods
Old Wood, Skellingthorpe. Photo: Katherine Jaiteh, WTML
The Old Wood in Skellingthorpe is an ancient woodland that was once a haunt of the vikings.
It has an extensive network of trails for walking, cycling or horse riding.
Temple Gardens
Temple Gardens. Photo: Visit Lincoln
The grounds of the Usher Gallery, Temple Gardens, are situated in Lincoln’s Cultural Quarter.
Temple Gardens, which now includes sculpture art, has earthworks that are the remains of the walls and defences of the lower Roman city of Lindum Colonia.
Fossdyke Canal Trail
Cycling along the Fossdyke Canal Trail. Photo: Mat Fascione
Fossdyke Canal Trail runs alongside the Fossdyke Navigation, which was built by the Romans to join Lindum Colonia to the River Trent.
It is an important waterway leading west out of Lincoln and you can walk or cycle along the Fossdyke Canal Trail, which runs alongside the canal from Lincoln to Saxilby.
Georgie Twigg Track
The route is entitled the Georgie Twigg Track. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A safe off-road route between Lincoln and Doddington Hall, which was opened by Olympic gold medallist Georgie Twigg MBE.
The track provides a link between Doddington village and the Sustrans Route 64, which carries on to Lincoln and arrives at the Brayford Waterfront.
Lincoln Castle
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincoln Castle is getting ready to re-open its beautiful grounds to the public from Saturday, May 23.
A one way system is being introduced as the gateways are narrow and wouldn’t allow for a two metre gap to be created if visitors were allowed to enter and exit at the same time.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The 2024 Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are now open for nominations, seeking to spotlight outstanding businesses within the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Hosted by Stonebow Media, the publisher behind The Lincolnite and the MyLocal platform, this prestigious event is designed to honour the achievements of the regional business community.
Thanks to the headline sponsorship from the University of Lincoln Enterprise & Research department, the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are a unique opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of local enterprises.
The awards are also sponsored by Ringrose Law, Duncan & Toplis, Sills & Betteridge and Pearson Hydraulics. A small number of sponsorship opportunities remain available. Contact [email protected] to discuss partnerships.
Businesses can nominate themselves across eleven awards categories:
The deadline for nominations is May 24, with the judges’ deliberation lunch set for May 29.The judging panel includes business experts and professionals from Lincolnshire and event sponsors.
The Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2024 gala will take place at the Engine Shed on July 12, 2024.
Enhance profile & credibility: Securing an award or being shortlisted acts as a powerful endorsement, signaling trustworthiness to potential customers and helping to distinguish your business from competitors. Displaying the award on your communications can significantly boost your brand’s perception.
Insightful focus & feedback: The application process encourages deep reflection on your business strategy and direction, offering invaluable feedback and clarity, even for new ventures.
Team confidence boost: Recognition from the awards can significantly uplift your team’s morale, affirming the value and potential of your business in the eyes of industry experts.
Marketing & PR boost: Being associated with the awards, even as a nominee, can enhance brand visibility, providing ample content opportunities for social media and other marketing channels.
Networking opportunities: The awards connect you with local business leaders and experts, offering a platform to seek advice, share ideas, and foster future partnerships. The ceremony itself is an excellent occasion for networking with peers and celebrating mutual successes.
Potential to win: Entering offers a chance to win and gain all the associated benefits, but even without taking home a trophy, the process can yield significant advantages for your business.
A Lady Gaga loving kitten owned by a couple who run a charity for disabled pets featured on Channel 5’s The Pet Psychic.
Pet Psychic Beth Lee-Crowther comes to the aid of pet owners and in Tuesday night’s episode she met Cookie the kitten, a depressed camel, and looked at whether a dog can predict the future.