-Low Priority Archives - Grantham Matters

Part-night streetlights to begin adjustment to Greenwich Mean Time as clocks go back

October 16, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Residents are being reminded that on Sunday 25 October the clocks will go back, temporarily affecting the timings of the county’s part-night streetlights.

There are around 42,000 part-night streetlights across the county that are switched off between the hours of midnight and 6am.

Cllr Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways, said: “Over the next few weeks you might notice that the part-night streetlights start to go off and come on at slightly different times.

“Please be assured that this is not due to a technical fault. The street lights have sensors that monitor the number of daylight hours, which is how they set their internal clock.

“During the autumn, the lights enter a period of adjustment, when their timings may vary as they adapt to the switch to Greenwich Mean Time.

“Unfortunately, this is unavoidable, but it is only temporary.”

The council’s 26,000 lights that operate all night will not be affected and will continue to come on at dusk and go off at dawn.

Scariest Movies, revealed!

October 13, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

A new report by thortful.com reveals scariest horror films
Alien ranked the scariest movie with the Shining coming in second place
Prom Night ranked least scariest film

With the spookiest day of the year nearly upon us, a new report by thortful.com uncovers the top 10 scariest (and least scariest, if you’re a bit of a wimp, easily scared), films of all time…

After crunching the data on IMDB, thortful can reveal the scariest film is… Alien! Surprising, huh? The 1979 sci-fi flick directed by Ridley Scott, is set in outer space, and follows a crew who are terrorised by a deadly and aggressive alien.

This is followed closely by classic horror film The Shining, featuring Jack Nicholson. Other cult classic horror films that have made the top 10 are The Exorcist, and Halloween, the franchise that features iconic serial killer, Michael Myers.

The top ten scariest movies are:

Rank (scariest)	Sub genre	Movie Title
1	Science-fiction	Alien
2	Thriller	The Shining
3	Comedy horror	Get Out
4	Supernatural	The Exorcist
5	Science-fiction	A Quiet Place
6	Slasher	Halloween
7	Slasher	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
8	Post-apocalyptic	28 Days Later…
9	Post-apocalyptic	World War Z
10	Supernatural	The Conjuring

According to the research, the least scariest film is Prom Night. Starring Brittany Snow, the film shows an obsessed teacher released from jail, who kills Snow’s friends on (you guessed it!), her Prom night. Several supernatural films feature in the bottom 10, including The Devil Inside, Annabelle Comes Home, Boogeyman, The Unborn, and Ouijia.

Classic thriller film Jaws has been voted as the third least scariest horror film of all times, with the killer shark clearly not as scary as it was back in the ‘70s and ‘80s!

The top ten least scariest movies are:

Rank (least scariest)	Sub genre	Movie Title
1	Slasher	Prom Night
2	Supernatural	The Devil Inside
3	Thriller	Jaws 3-D
4	Supernatural	The Doll Comes Home
5	Slasher	I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
6	Supernatural	Boogeyman
7	Action	Wolf
8	Supernatural	The Unborn
9	Thriller	When a Stranger Calls
10	Supernatural	Ouija

For more details, go to: https://www.thortful.com/blog/top-10-scariest-movies-revealed/

Bex Fairbrother

Five tips for preparing your home for Autumn

October 2, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Good Move unveils tips to prepare your home for the chillier months

As we’re officially in Autumn, there is no time like the present to prepare your home.

Below Nima Ghasri, Director at regulated property buyers, Good Move offers five simple tips to get your house ready for the chillier months and save yourself time, money, and stress.

Clear gutters and drains

It is nobody’s favourite job, but maintaining your gutters and drains is an essential part of getting your home ready for autumn and winter. Check for obvious cracks or damage and make time to clear your gutters of debris like leaves, moss, and mud before the wet and windy months start. Autumn leaves are lovely to look at, but they can easily cause a blockage – and come heavy rain or snow, you risk leaks or even greater damage if water cannot drain away from your house.

Protect your pipes with lagging

A little investment in the milder months can pay off when the temperature drops – and one of the things you can do now to save you time and money come autumn and winter is to lag your pipes. Lagging simply refers to foam insulation tubes, which are inexpensive to buy and easy to install – just slip the foam tubing over external pipes (particularly plastic pipes) to reduce heat loss from your system. This will make your heating more efficient, helping you to save on energy bills – and lagging will also protect your pipes from freezing and bursting in cold weather.

Check your roof and chimney

Your home’s roof is one of those things that you do not think about – until there is a problem. Water leaking in from an improperly maintained roof or chimney can damage your home, discolour your walls, and in the case of a bad leak, could mark or spoil anything you may keep in your attic. Even if everything seems fine now, all it takes is a heavy snowfall or a bad spell of wind and rain to dislodge tiles or mortar, allowing draughts and water to sneak into your home. Save yourself some stress come winter – check that your tiles are still firmly in place and that any flashing and pointing is still in good condition, or get a roofer to have a look if you don’t have easy access.

Winter-proof your windows

If you have wooden window frames or windowsills, they might need a little bit more care and attention during autumn and winter. Wet weather and freezing temperatures can make untreated wood expand and even rot, so ahead of time, make sure you fill in any cracks, check that any sealant is still firmly in place and holding a good seal, and top up any paint if needed.

Get your boiler serviced

It is easy to put off a boiler servicing – it can be expensive, and if your boiler is tucked away in a closet or airing cupboard it is a case of out of sight, out of mind. But the very last thing you want is for your boiler to stop working in the dead of winter, leaving you and your family shivering. Not to mention, in the colder months you may struggle to find someone who can fix your boiler right away – and you may also end up paying more due to out of hours rates or emergency callout prices. Even if you have cover for your boiler, most policies may not pay out if your heating system has not been properly maintained – so get your boiler serviced now and enjoy a cosy autumn with fully-functional heating.

“The autumn and winter months may be cosy, but if your house isn’t prepared ahead of time, you may find that the cold weather brings plenty of stress – and extra expense,” Nima explains.

“Hopefully, our helpful tips will help homeowners beat the cold temperatures, rainy days, and blustery winds.”

For further tips from Nima, head to: https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/selling-advice/six-ways-you-should-prepare-your-home-for-autumn/

Lincolnshire coast lands £1,250,000 Government funding for regeneration

October 1, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Two Lincolnshire Coastal Towns are set to receive £1,250,000 of initial funding from the Government under the Town Deal Programme.

Pedestrianisation of part of the Skegness foreshore and plans to accelerate delivery of a new Colonnade development in Sutton-On-Sea will now come to fruition after the announcement was made today.

The funds come from the Towns Deal Accelerated Funding, which is part of the Towns Deal, an ambitious project that will see around 100 towns across the UK benefit from more than £3.6 billion for improvements that each town identified can use to put forward strategic plans for in the form of Town Investment Plans.

Skegness and Mablethorpe and Sutton have joined forces for their bid of more than £50 million to boost employment and training opportunities and community facilities under the Town Deal. A group of local stakeholders, businesses and community groups have formed a board called the Connected Coast to ensure the bid is as strong and representative of local needs as possible.

Chair of the Connected Coast, Sarah Louise Fairburn, said: “This is amazing news, we are very confident that after lengthy consultation with local people, businesses and residents in both towns that we can deliver an ongoing vision for the two towns. This first tranche of funding is intended to spur on the two projects which by their very nature will improve the offering that both towns have the potential to capitalise on.

“Our hopes are that this is just the beginning. We want to see the Connected Coast benefit from even more funding, and there are some incredibly passionate teams behind getting that secured. Further funding will see us meet the challenges of connectivity, travel, health and education as well as improving the tourism offering that both towns do so well already.”

Sarah Louise continued: “The works in Skegness will see the part-pedestrianisation of Tower Esplanade and follows East Lindsey District Council’s approved Skegness Foreshore Masterplan. The improvements will be key to enhancing the trading environment in this area and will no doubt unlock the economic potential of a number of other under-utilised sites along the Southern Foreshore that will become more commercially-viable as a result of the pedestrianisation works.”

The works will also mean traffic will now be re-routed along Princes and South Parade into the Festival Car Park.

In Sutton on Sea, the existing, unsafe 1950’s Colonnade concrete structure will be demolished to make way for an extensive redevelopment scheme to boost footfall and trade in the town as well as increased opportunities for outdoor leisure activities for all of the family. The new development will soon be submitted for detailed planning consent and includes a new landmark multi-use building housing a café, gallery and exhibition space and viewing decks.

It will also offer sheltered trading areas, craft and performance spaces as well as 15 new modern beach huts and six luxury holiday lodges. The surrounding green and open space areas will also be enhanced around existing heritage features to provide a mix of outdoor leisure facilities and recreational space for local residents and future visitors to enjoy. Plans of the new Colonnade scheme will be available to view online at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/colonnade

Where’s Wally? Spooky search at Lincoln Castle and Collection Museum at half term

October 1, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

This Halloween, Wally, the world’s favourite children’s book character – wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and black-rimmed specs – will be travelling to Lincoln – visiting Lincoln Castle & The Collection Museum.

From Saturday 17^th October – Sunday 1^st November, families will be able to join the search for Wally as part of the Where’s Wally? Spooky Museum Search, organised by Walker Books and Kids in Museums, to celebrate the release of the new book, Where’s Wally? Spooky Spotlight Search.

Families will be able to hunt for Wally in the Castle grounds or amongst the Collection’s collection of amazing Roman or Viking artefacts, as well as spelling out a spooky phrase with letters hidden alongside mini Wally standees. Those who complete the search will receive a special “I found Wally!” bookmark, as well as having the chance to enter a grand prize draw competition to win an ArtFund Family Membership and a bundle of Where’s Wally? goodies.

As well as hunting for Wally, families will be able to have a go at activity sheets and have selfies with Wally.

Laura Ince, visitor experience team leader at Lincoln Castle, said: “Fancy trying something new this half-term? Kids and grownups alike will love this special hunt for Wally! You never know where he will be hiding in our Victorian prison or in the Magna Carta Vault – what a spectacular setting!”

The Collection Museum and Lincoln Castle are both COVID secure sites – with one way systems in place, social distancing measures in place and regular sanitising stations.

The activity is included within the entry to The Collection Museum and included within the price of a Castle day ticket, free for Lincoln Castle annual pass holders.

https://www.thecollectionmuseum.comhttps://www.lincolncastle.com/

The UK’s biggest neighbour disputes and the worst areas

September 8, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Noise (28%), parties (26%) and overgrown trees (19%) revealed as the main cause of arguments with neighbours
Wales unveiled as the location where most neighbour disputes take place
A quarter (24%) of Brits still have unresolved issues with neighbours

We’re all guilty of having a little moan when our neighbour does something out of place, however, according to new research by regulated property buyers, Good Move two-thirds (64%) of Britons have had arguments with their neighbours.

Good Move delved into Britons relationships with their neighbours to determine the reasons why they have had disputes. According to the research, the top ten reasons are as followed:

1. Playing music loudly (28%)

2. Having loud parties (26%)

3. Plants/trees overgrowing into their property (19%)

4. They park over their driveway or in their spot (17%)

5. They put their rubbish in their bin (16%)

6. They cut their trees down (15%)

7. They don’t take their bins out (15%)

8. They keep knocking things into their garden (13%)

9. They won’t pay for their half of the garden fence (13%)

10. Noisy children (13%)

Other reasons include having loud sex, smoking drugs in the garden and howling dogs. One respondent even said: “They are just a pair of scruffy tramps who live in the dirtiest house in the street.” Awkward!

Delving further into the research, Good Move can also reveal the locations where Brits have had the most disputes with neighbours. The top five are as followed:

1. Wales (72%)

2. Northern England (70%)

3. South West England (69%)

4. South East England (63%)

5. Scotland (60%)

When respondents were asked whether they had resolved issues with their neighbours, 76% said they had meaning a quarter (24%) still have festering problems.

Commenting on the research findings, Nima Ghasri, director at Good Move says: “It’s interesting to see just how many people have had disputes with their neighbours across the UK and the factors that caused these arguments.

“If you’re experiencing issues with your neighbour, I’d always advise to try and discuss the problem with your neighbour first. If you’re worried about approaching them, maybe write a letter and explain the problem clearly. If, however, the problems become serious, I’d recommend making a formal complaint to your local council.”

To read more about the research, head over to: https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/these-are-the-uks-biggest-neighbour-disputes-and-the-worst-regions-for-it/

Surprise for dog lovers

August 24, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Hi dog lover,

No matter what your dog’s problem behavior is…

Be it jumping, peeing inappropriately, aggression, pulling on the leash…or whatever…

There is ONE SOLUTION that can help STOP this problem now

The sad fact is…

Most Dog trainers miss this solution entirely.

They give you cookie cutting training programs.

They use outdated and ‘mean’ dominance techniques.

Or worse yet…

They have no qualifications and are complete phonies.

So what’s the answer to stopping your Dog’s behavior problems?

In 4 simple words…

Discovering your dog’s hidden intelligence.

Let me explain…

In my 10 years as a certified trainer…there’s ONE BIG LESSON I have learned.

More intelligent dogs are better behaved.

A More intelligent dog takes commands easier

…and understands what you need from them.

The good news is…

No matter how clever you think your dog is.

You can >>>unlock their hidden intelligence quickly and easily.

>>>I’ll explain everything on this page.

Don’t waste a second longer coping with problem behaviors you don’t need to be dealing with.

Check out the brain training for Dogs course now. It’s great for eliminating any bad behaviors by tapping into your dog’s hidden intelligence.

check out the cool dog pictures on this page.

The interior design trends we would all like to forget

August 21, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Inflatable furniture, toilet seat covers and wallpaper boarders

The interior design trends we would all like to forget

New report by Wren Kitchens has revealed the worst interior design trends of all time
The 1970’s has been revealed as the worst decade for interior design styles
Inflatable furniture and taxidermy top the list of trends we wish we could all forget

What goes around, comes around – or it certainly does for does for interior designs.

What was once deemed the most desirable feature/style to have in your home can be easily replaced a few months later. Furthermore, design trends can often come back into fashion as consumer preferences continually change.

However according to a new study by Wren Kitchens there are some interior trends we would all like to forget!

The best and worst decade for interior design

The study of 2000 UK homeowners asked for their opinions on which decades were the best (and worst) for interior trends.

Asked to rank the following decades in preference (1 being the best) the results revealed that the 1970’s with its earthy tones, dark cabinets and wooden features was revealed as the worst decade for interior style

The retro 1950’s with its soft shades, coloured appliances, and statement black and white floor tiles weas revealed as the best decade for interior style.

Full list can be seen below:

Ranking (best to worst)	Decade	Score (Lower the better)
1	1950s – soft shades, coloured appliances, and statement black and white floor tiles	3.5
2	1990s – beginnings of minimalism with all-white furnishings, and warm wooden accents.	3.6
3	2000s – excessive use of stainless steel appliances, paired with granite counter tops.	3.7
4	2010s – all-white kitchens are back, with metallic accents adding a pop of colour	3.7
5	1960s – antique cherry cabinets, bright colours, with entertainment at the heart of design.	4.3
6	1980s – coloured cabinets, tiled counter tops and busy wallpaper	4.5
7	1970s – earthy tones, dark cabinets and wooden worktops to create a cosy space	4.7

The best and worst interior design trends of all time

When asked for the best and worst interior design trends of all time it appeared that the UK has fallen out of love with inflatable furniture and taxidermy, whilst barn doors and painted open brick continue to stay loved.

Asked to rank the following trends on a scale of 1-10 (1 being disliked) the study revealed the best and worst trends for interior style. Full list can be seen below:

Ranking (worst to best)	Interior design trend	Score (higher is more liked)
1	Inflatable furniture	3.8
2	Taxidermy	3.9
3	Toilet seat covers	3.9
4	Carpeted or textured walls	3.9
5	Popcorn ceilings	3.9
6	Waterbeds	4.1
7	Animal print	4.1
8	Beaded curtains	4.1
9	Artex walls and ceilings	4.2
10	Carpeted bathrooms	4.3
11	Mirrored walls	4.4
12	Wallpaper boarders	4.5
13	Ladders used as shelves	4.6
14	Wall vinyl’s	4.8
15	Painted open brick	5.5
16	Barn doors	6.1

Wood that inspired Roald Dahl will be destroyed by HS2 this autumn

August 20, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Nearly half of the wood said to have inspired Roald Dahl to write Fantastic Mr Fox will be destroyed for HS2 this autumn.

That’s the view of Grantham-based charity Woodland Trust.

The author was known to be a regular visitor to Jones Hill Wood, near Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, where some 0.7 hectares of the 1.8ha site – home to bats, badgers, tawny owls, bluebells, dog’s mercury, dog’s violet, primroses and of course foxes – will be dug up.

Sitting amongst rolling British farmland, Jones’ Hill Wood is dominated by beech trees with an understorey of mostly holly. The dense canopy of beech provides a unique setting which allows for moss and shade tolerant plants to thrive in the open glades between the trees. The carpets of beech nuts on the woodland floor provide a particularly satisfying crunch as you walk through this ancient wood.

It is one of 20 ancient woodlands across Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire totalling 19.45 hectares that HS2 contractors will attempt to translocate from 1st October. Translocation is the moving of woodland soils from one place to another in the hope that the woodland will re-grow but there is very little evidence of its success. Natural England guidance clearly states that an “ancient woodland ecosystem cannot be moved”. It is therefore not an appropriate alternative to conservation in situ.

Luci Ryan, Lead Policy Adviser for Infrastructure at the charity said:

“Just over half a hectare of one wood might not sound much but every inch of soil in an ancient woodland is precious. When you consider ancient woodland is irreplaceable, accounts for just 2.4 per cent of land cover in the UK, and is probably the richest habitat we have, this will be devastating for the myriad of species that rely on it for survival.

“We are in the midst of climate and nature emergency with Government saying it is committed to being the first to leave the environment in a better state than they found it yet HS2’s wilful destruction of these vital ecosystems suggests otherwise.

“On top of that the removal of part of Jones Hill Wood is a literary loss. It’s culturally significant, the stuff of childhood memories. Millions of children and their parents have been captivated by the story of Fantastic Mr Fox and his friends the badgers, moles, rabbits and weasels with whom he shares the wood. The story of course will live on. The wood, however, will not.”

The 20 woods due for translocation and destruction from 1 October are:

1. Jones Hill Wood, Buckinghamshire (0.7 ha of the 1.8ha site will be lost)
2. Decoypond Wood, Buckinghamshire (1.1ha of 8.8ha)
3. Unnamed wood 1, north of Decoypond Wood, Buckinghamshire (0.49 ha of 0.64ha)
4. Unnamed wood 2, north of Decoypond Wood, Buckinghamshire (0.08ha of 0.34ha)
5. Mossycorner Spinney, Northamptonshire (0.29ha of 0.54ha)
6. Halse Copse East, Northamptonshire (0.3ha of 5.99ha)
7. Glyn Davies Wood, Warwickshire(1.35ha of 3.27ha)
8. South Cubbington, Warwickshire (2ha of 17ha)
9. North Wood, Warwickshire (1.8ha of5.43ha)
10. Unnamed Copse of Drayton Lane, Staffordshire (0.2ha of 0.21ha)
11. Rookery, Staffordshire (1.4ha of 7.44ha)
12. Roundhill Wood, Staffordshire (1.3 ha of 4.2ha)
13. Fulfen Wood, Staffordshire (0.4ha of 1ha)
14. Ravenshaw Wood, Staffordshire (1.7ha of 7.88ha)
15. Big Lyntus. Staffordshire (0.8ha of 6.63ha)
16. Little Lyntus, Staffordshire (1.4ha of 1.43ha)
17. John’s Gorse, including an area called Hanch Wood, Staffordshire (2.6ha of 3.42ha)
18. Vicar’s Coppice, Staffordshire (0.5ha of 7.65ha)
19. Roughknowles Wood, Warwickshire (0.4ha of 1ha)
20. Broadwells Wood, Warwickshire (0.64ha – a further 2.56ha of the 15.7ha site was previously translocated in Spring 2020.)

Revealed: The top ten most destructive pets

August 20, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Moggie cat crowned as the most disastrous pet breed
Labrador takes top spot as the naughtiest dog breed
Hilarious (but super cute) pictures of pets caught in the act

There’s no denying that a pet makes a house a home, and nearly half (44%) of households agree¹. But, as sweet as they are, they can wreak absolute havoc on your home – as new research by regulated property buyers, Good Move reveals².

Good Move spoke with pet owners across the country to determine the pets that are causing the most damage in their home. According to owners, the ten most destructive pet breeds are:

Moggie cat (9.3%)
Labrador dog (8.0%)
British Shorthair cat (6.3%)
Border Collie dog (3.0%)
Parrot (2.8%)
Beagle dog (2.7%)
Cocker Spaniel dog (2.6%)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog (2.6%)
English Springer Spaniel dog (2.4%)
Bengal cat (2.3%)

And the damage these little rascals have caused is as followed:

Dug up flowers/grass in the garden (35%)
Ripped furnishings including sofas, chairs, and cushions (29%)
Urinated/pooed on furnishings including sofas, beds, and carpets (28%)
Scratched furnishings including doors and cabinets (28%)
Chewed their owners favourite shoes and clothes (26%)

Some owners even revealed that their furry friends had ripped wallpaper off walls, chewed wood panelling and opened the kiddies Christmas presents. What’s more, some little devils have even left rodent entrails on carpets!

Considering the research findings, Good Move also put a call out for pet owners to name and shame their naughty four-legged friends. Here are some caught in the act:

Caption: Mario, Cavachon, destroyed his mum’s plants and got mucky paw prints everywhere.

Caption: Miya, British Shorthair cat, pleased with herself after destroying the Christmas tree.

Caption: Darcy, Boxer dog, stole her human sisters bedding off her bed and made a snowstorm.

Caption: Bear, Malinois dog, literally tearing apart everything he can get his paws on.

Caption: Magic, Dwarf Lop rabbit, chewed through her owner’s Apple MacBook laptop wire whilst it was still on charge (now that could have been fatal!).

Commenting on the research findings, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move, says: “It’s no secret that we all love our furry companions, but the little devils can cause damage to our household contents, as our research has revealed.

“If you’re looking to purchase one of the slightly “naughtier” pet breeds, be sure to keep valuable items out of their way to ensure nothing gets damaged. A lot of the time, when a pet acts out, it’s usually because they’re bored. So, take them for a walk, or grab their favourite toy to play with. After all, you don’t want your brand-new sofa, or freshly laid carpet to bear the brunt of their mischievous behaviour!”

For more information on the research and for Good Move’s advice on selling your home, go to: https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/revealed-the-pet-breeds-causing-havoc-to-households/

Local footballers prepare for next season

July 13, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

The Grantham Sunday League AGM will be held on Wednesday 5th August 2020, starting at 7.00pm @ Harrowby United Social Club.

The meeting has been moved from the traditional Thursday night so that the organisation can observe the social distancing procedures.

They are having to restrict the number of people attending so we ask that only two people from each club attend.

Brilliant home landscaping using timber

March 22, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

***CLICK ON PICTURE ABOVE FOR DETAILS***

Panic buying causing uplift in reusables

March 20, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

People across the country have been reporting that supermarket shelves are stripped bare of disposable nappies and feminine hygiene products as panic buying has set in for these necessary items.

As a result, many are turning to renewable nappies when their disposable nappies have run out. TotsBots, the reusable nappy company, have reported a 600% hike in sales in the past few days alone.

The same is happening for Bloom & Nora, an ethical reusable sanitary pad company, that’s also seeing a huge spike in sales at this time. Not only are they a sustainable alternative to disposable pads, but they contain no toxins, dioxins, carcinogens and can washed and reused again and again. Perfect for when supermarket shelves are bare.

TotsBots started selling their reusable nappies at 440 Boots stores nationwide in February. With the increase in panic buying due to Covid-19, parents are stocking up on reusable necessities instead of disposables. “It’s a smart choice,” says TotsBots co-founder Fiona Smyth, “disposable nappies and sanitary pads end up in landfill, cost more in the long-run, but at times like this it’s good to know you won’t be stuck if disposable items disappear from the shelves.”

Reusable nappies like TotsBots contain no nasty chemicals, are easy to wash and quick drying, and come in various styles and sizes for new-born babies to toddlers. There are nappies for daytime and more robust nappies for night-time as well as a range of accessories to makes sure babies bottoms stay covered if disposables run out. For parents self-isolating and keeping kids indoors, it’s a safe and reliable solution.

TotsBots award winning reusable nappies and Bloom & Nora reusable sanitary pads are made in the UK. You can pick up TotsBots at most Boots nationwide, or there is FREE UK shipping on orders over £50 from www.totsbots.com. Similarly, Bloom & Nora can be purchased online www.bloomandnora.com/

Virtual visits for university applicants

March 20, 2020 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

For the first time those planning to start university in September can get a taste of life as a University of Lincoln student, find out what the University offers and get a feel for the city through a completely virtual experience hosted by a student YouTuber.

From this Saturday (21^st March), prospective students can experience the Your First Day event – an event which offers a taste of university life, the course, and a chance to experience the city – online and from the comfort of home.

The fully interactive experience will be hosted by Lincoln student and YouTuber Charlotte Emily Price. Charlotte, who is in her third year studying Forensic Science at Lincoln, is a fashion and lifestyle content creator with more than 13,000 followers on Instagram and her YouTube channel, Charlotte Emily Vlogs, has upwards of 7,500 subscribers.

Emma Jubbs, who heads up student recruitment at the University of Lincoln, said: “The online experience of the Your First Day event builds on virtual open days already offered by the University, and ensures those planning to attend university can still look around the campus and accommodation, watch highlights throughout the day, ask questions online, and find out more the University and the city, even when they can’t attend in person, which we all know is not possible at the moment.

“The University of Lincoln is proud to provide a home from home for our students and this starts from the earliest stages of application. We are grateful that young people have trusted us to be their future home and we look forward to welcoming our next cohort to our fantastic city and University later this year.”

As well as this there will be an ‘ask a question’ feature on the Facebook and Instgram stories to enable prospective students and parents a chance to ask any questions in the same way they would if they were attending in person, and get a reply in real time. Any answers will be available for all viewers. Each College at the University will also upload content relevant to the disciplines it offers to their social channels.

Charlotte’s virtual tour takes in the library, Brayford Waterfront, Student Wellbeing Centre, Isaac Newton Building, student accommodation, the Students’ Union and the Minerva Building. Applicants can also get a taste for graduation, the student support services, teaching, research and accommodation.

You can follow the live and interactive virtual Your First Day on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/universityoflincoln) and Instagram (@unilincoln) from 10am until 3pm on Saturday March 21^st. The content can also be accessed after the event from the same channels.

Local hospice will recycle your Christmas trees

December 31, 2019 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Staff and supporters of St Barnabas Hospice will be recycling Christmas trees this January.

The St Barnabas Hospice Tree-cycle has launched once again, which will see staff and supporters of the Hospice driving across Lincolnshire to collect and recycle Christmas trees.

Let’s face it, the last thing you want to worry about once the festivities are over is disposing of your Christmas tree. But don’t worry, teams from St Barnabas Hospice will be out and about in January, collecting trees. For a suggested donation of £10, their team of cheeky elves will collect your tree, chip it and recycle it. It’s a win for you, the Hospice and the environment!

St Barnabas will be collecting trees from Saturday 11 th January and will accept tree registrations until Monday 6 th January, or until they reach capacity. They are asking members of the public to leave their trees in an easily collectible spot outside their house.

When you register, there is an interactive map showing the parts of Lincolnshire in which the Hospice will be collecting. These locations include Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford, Sleaford, Boston and more.

This year, the Hospice is hoping to raise more money than ever before from the Tree-cycle. Their aim is to reach a £30,000 target, which would cover the cost of running the dispensary so around 400 terminally ill inpatients can access pain relief medication next year.

Melissa Gaffney, Event Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, said: “Donations to our Tree-cycle campaign are crucial in helping us care for more people across Lincolnshire who are living with a life-limiting or terminal illness. We are very fortunate to have such generous supporters and hope they will join us to make this year’s Tree-cycle the most successful yet!

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the people and businesses who have chosen to support our Tree-cycle this year. Thanks go to Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Lincolnshire Coop, Gelder Group, OSB Events, Wallbreaker, Delta-Simons, Hurst Arb, Continental Landscapes, Simpson Arboriculture, Manor Farm Tree Services, KWP Plant Hire, Bytham Trees, Sam Trimmer Tree Services, Arborez, Downtown Garden Centre, Stamford 2 nd Scouts, Inspire+, Anwick Garden Centre, Nunton Christmas Trees, Fillingham Christmas Trees and Doddington Hall.”

Tree-cycle is the perfect way to dispose of your Christmas tree in the most environmentally conscious way. Recycled trees are turned into wood chippings that can be used for multiple uses. Wood chippings can be used for biomass boilers, which heat many Lincolnshire homes. They can also provide shelter and layering for farmyard animals and in some cases can be turned into BBQ charcoal which is then sold from local farms.

To register your tree for the January Christmas Tree-cycle, visit

www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/tree-cycle.

Unfortunately, we can’t collect in every area due to capacity, but please do get in touch if you would like us to collect in your area and know of a wood chipping company or van driver who can help with this. Contact melissa.gaffney@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or 01522 540 300.

St Wulfram’s to welcome the relic of its own saint

December 30, 2019 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

St Wulfram’s Church with rear of rectory in the foreground.

On the 20^th March 2020 St Wulfram’s in Grantham will celebrate the 1300^th anniversary of the death of its Patron and Dom Jean-Charles Nault, Abbot of Wandrille in France will present to the people of Grantham with the last remaining relic of Wulfram.

The relic will then be kept at St Wulfram’s for a number of months during their celebration year before being returned to Wandrille. This is, it is believed, only the second time in modern history that relics have been shared with another church.

St Wulfram was a 7^th century missionary born in about 650 AD near Fontainebleau, south of Paris. He died in 720 and was canonised after numerous miracles had been attributed to him.

Fr Stuart Cradduck, Rector at St Wulfram’s said: “We are truly blessed to be able to welcome the relic of St Wulfram to Grantham. This is a rare and remarkable ecumenical act of faith, love and trust and we are honoured that our saint is coming to us on the 1300^th anniversary of his death.

“This special privilege is not only of the recognition of the Roman Catholic Community in France to an Anglican Church, but also a significant sign of friendship and trust in us as a community of faith. A faith which goes beyond geographical and political bounds.”

The church is already making plans on how to mark the March 2020 anniversary with an appropriate memorial.

So far, the programme includes a formal greeting by the Mayor and Charter Trustees at the Guildhall, to be followed by a torch lit procession with accompanying music through the town which the church hopes will include the people of Grantham with the town’s children dressed in costumes; local, regional, national and international dignitaries, and representatives of all the Benedictine Houses in England and other senior church representatives.

The parade will end with the formal reception of the relic of Wulfram at St Wulfram’s Church.

New ballot bin set to tackle cigarette litter

December 18, 2019 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Moves to tackle littering in Stamford took a positive step forward this week with the installation of a new SKDC ballot bin for cigarette ends.

The bin, located where Silver Lane meets Broad Street, encourages smokers to dispose of cigarette ends in an environmentally friendly way. The idea is they can have a bit of fun at the same time by answering a question. The first, on bins in both Grantham and Stamford is: Brussels sprouts with Christmas dinner: Yes or No? SKDC Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations, Cllr Dr Peter Moseley, said: “Dropped cigarette ends are the most common form of litter in our district. I hope that encouraging smokers to have a bit of fun as they bin their cigarette butts will reduce that.“The serious side is that cigarette filters contain plastics and other chemicals that don’t degrade, and these can be harmful to wildlife if they end up in surface water drains leading to rivers.“SKDC has pledged to crack down on littering and other anti-social behaviour that can blight our communities. It is part of our work to keep the district looking attractive and clean for residents, visitors and those who work here. Our message is clear: don’t drop litter.”A ballot bin which displays a question and two possible replies has already proved a success in Grantham Market Place. Smokers vote by putting their cigarette ends in the slot beneath their preferred answer. The litter stacks up in two columns behind a clear glass front showing which answer is more popular. The last question was X-Factor or Strictly, with X-Factor the clear winner.The move reflects SKDC’s commitment to a Higher Street Standard throughout the district which already consistently exceeds the national average.

Lincolnshire County Council set to approve £1.8m IT investment

December 18, 2019 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Leaders from the Lincolnshire County Council are set to approve an investment of around £1.8m into redesigning the authority’s IT systems, seeking to fix the series of “significant” issues which have beset the current system.

The council will look to adopt systems from, and become part-owner of, Hoople Ltd.

Hoople currently overseas a number of services including human resources, payroll and finance for a number of public sector organisations.

The current system used by the council, delivered as part of its £70m IT, finance and HR services contract with Serco, suffered from number of issues related to poor performance and difficulties in configuring the software. Those issues affected both the local authority themselves, as well as the 160-plus schools it looks after.

Lincolnshire County Council’s current contract with Serco – who also took over operation the authority’s customer services centre – was due to end in 2020, before being voted to be extended last year until the end of March 2022.

In a report presented before councillors on Tuesday, officers said the current system was incorrectly set up and is “contributing to the inability to address a number of ongoing issues and is limiting the ability to take advantage of the full functionality.”

When addressing the inclusion of Hoople into the council’s IT systems, the officer’s report said: ““Whilst the investment in the reconstruction of the system is significant, [it] is not sustainable in its current state and a re-design will remove duplicated and inefficient processes.

The authority praised Hoople’s previous success and said incorporating the company would cost the council half a million pounds less than if it had taken on the job itself. In becoming part-owner of the company – alongside Herefordshire Council and Wye Valley NHS Trust – the council would also have greater control over the development of the system.

Hoople is looking to agree a seven-year agreement from the authority with an option to extend for a further two years. It is hoped the move will be finished by April 2021.

Swans enjoy garden party

December 8, 2019 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Swans on Belton Lane gardens – taken from Queen Elizabeth Park on Sunday. Photo: Abbie Pinchbeck

Swans on Belton Lane gardens – taken from Queen Elizabeth Park. Photo: Abbie Pinchbeck

Part Exchange your way to a new home this Christmas

November 25, 2019 by Grantham Matters Leave a Comment

Lincolnshire property seekers looking to upgrade their home should look no further than the final homes available to purchase at Lovell Homes’ The Oaks development, where almost 80% of homes have sold.

TheOaks_Exterior_Shot51 – The Oaks development near Sleaford, Lincolnshire

Located on Murrayfield Avenue in Greylees, near Sleaford, potential purchasers are able to Part Exchange their existing home and move into the Lincolnshire development in time for Christmas.

The Oaks is home to a charming selection of two, three and four-bedroom homes, perfect for all types of purchaser looking to settle down in the thriving area of Lincolnshire.

The Embsay style home at plot 19 is one of the few available properties at The Oaks and comes complete with fitted flooring. Priced at £271,995, this four-bedroom home is suitable for families looking to upsize their current property and is available with Part Exchange.

Embsay plot 13 CGI – CGI of the Embsay style home at Lovell Homes’ The Oaks development

This spacious home features a large open plan kitchen/dining room with French doors opening out to the rear garden, as well as an additional cloakroom and utility. There is also access to the integrated garage from the hallway.

Upstairs, The Embsay house type boasts four bedrooms and a family bathroom, with the master bedroom benefitting from the added privacy of an ensuite.

Situated in the picturesque village of Greylees, The Oaks is surrounded by many local amenities including a primary school, a local shop, Sleaford Golf Course and Rauceby train station. Greylees is located on the outskirts of the popular Lincolnshire town of Sleaford, just off the A15.

Current availability at The Oaks includes two-bedroom homes priced from £158,995, three-bedroom homes priced from £199,995 and four-bedroom homes priced from £256,495.

For more information on the homes available at The Oaks, visit the marketing suite and showhomes open Thursday to Monday from 10am – 5pm, call 01529 664 371 or visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/developments/the-oaks-greylees/.

You can also like Lovell on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lovellhomes and follow Lovell on Instagram at @lovell_homes, and on LinkedIn @LovellPartnershipsLtd.

Friends of GM: