Join us in celebrating Spalding’s historic town and riverside as the Spalding Reconnected project nears it’s completion
Image Credit: Transported. Detail of Willow Eel Trap, Ayscoughfee Hall School Green
Spalding Reconnected (2022-2025) the project that emerged from the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Programme, is nearing its completion this March. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, the project has proved the power of collaboration across arts, heritage, environmental and wayfinding initiatives in celebrating the historic market town of Spalding and its uniquely picturesque riverside. The project has been developed and delivered by South Holland District Council, Heritage Lincolnshire, Transported, East Mercia Rivers Trust and Landmark with expertise from Lincolnshire County Council.
Over the past 3 years, the project team has worked closely with local people at heritage workshops, free arts activities, and enriching volunteering opportunities, all of which has helped inform the exciting outputs. These include a series of living willow artworks, an environmental education programme with local schools (the Eels in the Classroom initiative) ‘floating eco-systems’ and wildflower planting, enhanced way-markers and the Spalding Heritage Strategy - which envisions the future of heritage in the town over the next 10 years.
Spalding Reconnected and it’s partners would like you to join us in celebrating these successes on Saturday 8th February. The celebratory riverwalk will begin at Ayscoughfee Hall School Green at 10am.
The event has kindly been organised by our creative leads on the project, Transported, and will include talks and performances at the Willow Eel Trap, a live music accompanied walk, leading along the artworks and concludes with Morris dancing performances and music by Spalding Community Choir followed by refreshments at Ayscoughfee Hall.
The event is completely free to attend and all participants that have gotten involved with the project activities are encouraged to come along with their families to celebrate their part in this community effort to bring the riverwalk trail and other elements together.
Katy-Jayne Lintott, Project Manager (Conservation and Heritage) for Heritage Lincolnshire said,
"It's been fantastic to support South Holland District Council in delivering this transformational project for Spalding - celebrating the town's unique history and heritage. The collaborative and creative approach taken by project partners and local people has been inspiring and is testament to what can be achieved when nature, arts and heritage initiatives come together. We encourage everyone to come along on the 8th February to share in the successes of the project."
Liz Kelleher, Artist said,
"Making the river trail banner has been such a great experience. The participants from different groups and the general public have worked alongside each other to learn new skills and create a fantastic, beautiful banner for the town. This was in response to the thoughtful and powerful design by local artist Robbie King. We also worked with our adult and youth cooking groups in Spalding and Holbeach to provide delicious cakes for the celebration event. Inviting local music groups to the celebration means that the whole event showcases the considerable talent and wonderful personalities of South Holland. This is something to be proud of and will set the course for more fun and creative engagement in the area."
Patricia Oliveira Antunes, Welland Project Manager at East Mercia Rivers Trust, said
"It's been fantastic to be a part of the Spalding Reconnected Project, celebrating the river Welland, an important natural and historical asset of the town. We worked with local school children to teach them about the European Eel, a fascinating and critically endangered species which is closely intertwined with the heritage of the region. The river channel improvements will offer refuge and food resources for wildlife along an artificial part of the riverbank, greening the area. These features, along with wildflower patches planted by kind volunteers, are complemented nicely by the riverwalk artwork."
Please find full event details here:
https://transportedart.com/?p=20213
If you have any access information that you would like to discuss please email transported@lincoln.ac.uk
