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What we are doing

Find out what projects the council have been involved in on our road to A Green Future.

Solar panels for schools

A ground-breaking new scheme using Government cash to help Scunthorpe schools go green and reduce their energy bills has moved to its next stage – a community share offer.

£1.4m of Government Towns Fund cash is being used to fit schools with solar panels free of charge – reducing carbon emissions and dramatically slashing energy costs.

News story: Help schools reduce their energy bills with new community share offer

Aerial view of a school with solar panels on the roof and pupils standing on the field in the shape of a heart

The 100000th tree being planted on Scunthorpe's Kingsway by elected members with council officers looking on

Major milestone reached as 100,000th North Lincolnshire tree is planted

The 100,000th tree in the council’s ambitious plan to create swathes of new green areas across the region has been planted.

The council originally pledged to plant 172,000 trees – one for every person in North Lincolnshire – but this target has been increased to 250,000 as the need for more trees and green areas becomes clear.

The scheme is part of the Government’s Northern Forest plan – a 25-year vision to plant 50 million trees across the North of England, stretching from Liverpool to the Lincolnshire coast.

News story: Major milestone reached as 100,000th North Lincolnshire tree is planted

New partnership builds on council pledge to cut waste sent to landfill

The amount of North Lincolnshire waste going to landfill will be slashed even further thanks to a new partnership.

The new contract with Wastewise, which process waste from brown bin collections, will see more than 95 per cent recycled into quality compost.

This will be used for horticultural and agricultural use – the majority of it in the local area, helping reduce the carbon footprint of the whole of North Lincolnshire.

News story: New partnership builds on council pledge to cut waste sent to landfill

A Wastewise tractor moving green waste

New raised planting and landscaping at Scunthorpe Train Station

North Lincolnshire Council teamed with Transpennine worked as a joint project to enhance the departure and arrival experience at the Scunthorpe Train Station.

The project was designed around sustainable planting to an undeveloped large-grassed area so the first arrival via train link into Scunthorpe immediately promotes Scunthorpe as a Garden Town committed to greener futures.

Area of grass before the planting of flowers.

Flower bed outside Scunthorpe Train Station after flowers have been planted.

Area of bare grass before flowers were planted

Rasied flower bed outside Scunthorep Train Station after flowers have been planted

Extensive work on paths

Picture 1: a newly created woodland path at Sheffield Park to extend park access into the woodlands and expose some of our hidden nature.

Picture 2: a new expansive pathway to enable disability access into Jubilee Park (Fifth park over the last 18 months to have disability at the core of development)

Picture 3: The soon to be created “meadow path” at the museum that will have meadow either side. This will enable the museum to run features on environment and biodiversity.

Image of three footpaths being created in parks around North Lincolnshire
Five people in high vis jackets in front of a North Lincolnshire council bin wagon

Record lows general waste going to landfill

Record lows of waste going to landfill from North Lincolnshire homes will be slashed even further through an ambitious new partnership. Already, less than one per cent of waste collected from resident’s green bins goes to landfill.

This will be reduced further as North Lincolnshire Council partners with Transwaste – a company which has made huge investments in new technology and advanced sorting processes.

News story: Target Zero – Ambitious new partnership aims to eradicate waste from North Lincolnshire homes going to landfill

Solar energy comes to the heart of communities

Rural hubs including town halls and sports pavilions, as well as a town centre project that helps the homeless, are to receive a share of £88,240 of grant funding so they can install solar panels on their buildings.

The panels will drastically reduce energy bills, help protect the centres against price increases and put North Lincolnshire further down the road towards a green, sustainable future.

News story: Solar energy comes to the heart of communities thanks to £88,000 of grant funding

solar panels on a roof
Leaf mould station

Leaf mould station at Sheffield Park

A second dedicated leaf-moulding station has been installed at Sheffield Park. This means that leaf collection from the park will now be stored on site and rotted down and reutilised on the park. This saves the polluting journeys previously undertaken for leaf disposal and aids the sites self-sustainability.

Electric vehicle charger in your street?

Thirty-five new electric vehicle charging points are to be installed on streets across North Lincolnshire with Government cash to further enhance the strategic green network.

The locations of the new chargers have not been set and the council would like to hear from residents who have electric or hybrid vehicles or are considering buying one but do not have access to off-street parking.

News story: Do you want an EV charger in your street – tell us where?

Electric car being charged from a charging point on a street light post.

Newly plated trees on the south bank of Bottesford Beck

Tree planting at Bottesford Beck

On the south bank of Bottesford Beck, we have initiated a tree planting project that involves the planting of 3400 trees of various species. We are immensely appreciative of the assistance provided thus far by more than 50 volunteers, who have diligently planted an estimated 1500 trees over the course of two days.

Waters’ Edge, hedge laying

The local nature reserve officers and volunteers from Waters’ Edge, who are responsible for maintaining the local nature reserve, have recently commenced the process of laying a hedge. This is not just a measure to create a strong and durable barrier that will endure for many years, but also to create essential habitats that provide unparalleled shelter to a diverse range of wildlife.

Laying a new hedge at Waters' Edge County Park

People wading in water to clear scrub at Alkborough Flats

Alkborough Flats scrub clearance

Our dedicated team of volunteers and officers at Alkborough Flats have completed another round of scrub clearance. The purpose of this activity is to safeguard a unique habitat from being threatened by small trees and shrubs that can alter soil conditions and cause shading. This can have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. We recognize that the loss of certain species can be permanent, as they cannot regenerate without a nearby source of new populations. Therefore, our efforts are crucial to ensure the preservation of this valuable habitat.

Showing pride in our places: Great British Spring Clean 2023

We are encouraging residents and businesses to pledge to help clear up litter from across our area during the Great British Spring Clean 2023.

This year’s mass campaign, from 17 March to 2 April, brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep.

Read our News story: North Lincolnshire Council supports Great British Spring Clean 2023

Great British Spring Clean 2023 advert

Image of boardwalk spanning the nature reserve at Frodingham

Frodingham Nature Reserve

Frodingham Nature Reserve’s boardwalk was rotten and unsafe to use, and has been replaced it for an entire new one.

Air quality improving in North Lincolnshire

Air quality in North Lincolnshire continues to improve.

The council is now further investing, alongside industry, Government and local businesses. This includes replacing monitoring stations with new state-of-the-art technology to give even more accurate detail.

News story: Air quality improving in North Lincolnshire

Aerial view Berkeley circle

Image of new dog and litter bin

Litter and dog waste bins

We continue to install some new bespoke bins that have additional wildlife protection which will prevent litter escaping.

Protecting and enhancing our green spaces

Work focusing on the environment and horticultural diversity has continued at Central Park in Scunthorpe, which has recently had its Green Flag status confirmed following an inspection by the Royal Horticultural Society.

There are now eight numbered birdboxes around Central Park. The challenge is to visit and find them all, a free outdoor activity that celebrates Park diversity.

Four other beautiful spaces – Woodlands Memorial Gardens, Kingsway Gardens, Sheffield Park, all in Scunthorpe, and Baysgarth Park in Barton, have also received Green Flag status.

Working with the newly formed Friends of Lincoln Gardens, work has begun preparing the second largest meadow creation zone across the county.

Find out more about parks in North Lincolnshire.

ariel view of Central Park Scunthorpe

Pile of rotting leaves

Leafmould in Central Park

Leafmould is formed from decaying leaves and produces an invaluable soil conditioner.

We have built an in-house construction of our first leaf-mould bay at Central Park. It may seem small in concept, but we are now able to accumulate leaf fall from the park (as opposed to transport off site and dispose) and allow it to rot down to then use on shrub beds and donate to communities as supplement to wider environmental works across the county. Read more on the RHS website.

Investing in a greener future for the North Lincolnshire community

North Lincolnshire Community Energy (NLCE) is a community benefit society, set up in 2022 with a Towns Fund grant received by North Lincolnshire Council. A community benefit society enables individuals and businesses to invest in a project that will benefit the local area.

North Lincolnshire Community Energy has been created to help reduce energy costs for local community organisations, such as schools and community settings. Solar panels will be installed to roof spaces, offering a clean and green energy source and, in turn, enabling everyone to better understand and benefit from renewable energy. Read more on the NLCE website.

Photograph of North Lincolnshire Council gritters

Gritting our roads

We are now using a salt for gritting roads that is coated with a bi-product of sugar beet, which makes it stick to the roads better and is less affected by heavy rain, meaning a reduction in the amount of salt that is required per square meter, saving on emissions due to the lighter weight of the gritters. As the salt is sticking to the road, this also means less spray into verges, protecting verge habitat.

Further work is ongoing looking at a demand led approach to gritting, using thermal mapping to further reduce the impact on the environment while still providing safe roads for residents during the cold icy months.

Baysgarth Park

At 125,000 SQM it is one of the counties largest green spaces hosting a safe environment for families and visitors of all ages to enjoy and appreciate its natural beauty and sympathetic management which fuses environmental sustainability, public facilities and horticultural diversity.

Find out more about Baysgarth Park.

Ariel view of Baysgarth Park

photo of Spoonbill, photographed at Alkborough Flats North Lincolnshire

Reversing nature’s decline

By creating more habitats that are bigger, better and joined up, we can begin to reverse nature’s decline.

20 years ago, Spoonbills would have been almost unheard-of in North Lincolnshire. With the creation of extensive areas of wetland habitat at Alkborough Flats, they are now almost a daily presence in the summer.

5,000 pink-footed geese and six marsh harriers have recently been seen on Bonby Carrs. Another good news story for reversing nature’s decline.

Photo of Spoonbill courtesy of Graham Catley

Waters’ Edge

Work has been carried out at Waters Edge to reduce the overgrown brambles to encourage water vole habitats.

Find out more about Waters’ Edge Country Park and Visitor Centre, including events and activities.

Man cutting back overgrown brambles at Waters Edge

Planting evergreens and perennials at Barnetby Top

Green spaces – Barnetby Top

NLC boasts some nationally leading Green Spaces. These accredited sites scoring highly on the basis of their sustainability and environmental impact. The team continue take this formula and scatter it around the county in various locations. This week has seen the team attending Barnetby Top to create a mini-urban park utilising the Green Flag formula towards planting and environment. That is to say that the area has been planted with evergreen/perennial themes, weed controlled and over-laid with reclaimed bark/chippings.

Tree planting

Over the last week the arboriculture team began planting trees across the county to have an immediate environmental impact. Over the coming weeks 230 trees will be planted for different projects such as the Queens Green Canopy and NLC A Green Future.

Find out more about tree planting in North Lincolnshire and see how many trees have been planted to far.

Tree planting across North Lincolnshire

Andy Fidell receiving an award

Green Spaces

The RHS were in town this week presenting North Lincolnshire Council with various awards for our work on environmental projects and commitment to ‘green management’ and development. The picture shows the Silver Gilt for Scunthorpe being received by Andy Fidell and was presented for works spanning the full breadth of Scunthorpe. This includes environmental work, community involvement and standards in horticulture.

Central Park’s Carbon Garden receives award

This garden was designed and created as an NLC/John Leggott partnership and the photo sees Karl Dalzell receiving the certificate. The garden, with a 100-year olive tree at the heart of the scheme, was highlighted for its creation and purpose.

Karl receiving award

Poly tunnel greenhouse

Expanding our nurseries

The Parks and Green Spaces team have added in-house growing capacity by 140% with the addition of two large polytunnels. In 2020 NLC procured 100% of seasonal plants externally with shipments arriving from the South and Wales. NLC can now proudly extoll that 50% can now be grown in-house with local suppliers now used as we move towards 100% in-house.

Kingsway Gardens project

The Parks team are underway with a major Kingsway Gardens Project. The team are enthusiastically lowering/taming peripheral shrubbery/vegetation so driving/walking past via Doncaster Road/Kingsway reveals the gardens and showcases another of the council’s great green sites that residents and visitors can enjoy.

flower beds at Kingsway Gardens

community volunteers planting trees

Working with community volunteers on their local park

Surveys were conducted with the local community on what they want for their park. As a result of the surveys the following were identified as priorities – enhanced tree planting, wild-meadow creation, bulb planting, additional seating, edging and reshaping curbed areas, a raised planter with bedding, additional bins, bird/bat boxes and new signage.

After three days in the park with Green Space staff and the volunteers, we are pleased to update that – tree population in the park has increased 40%, two large wild-flower meadows have been created and are now showing stems, 4000 bulbs have been planted, new seating has been ordered, all edging works have been completed, a raised planter is now in and being planted with colour, 20 bird/bat boxes have been installed, new signage ordered.

Tree planting to be fast-tracked as council set to join Humber Forest partnership

People across North Lincolnshire will see even more trees planted across the area as the council joins a pan-Humber organisation delivering the Government’s ambitious Northern Forest scheme.

Already more than 90,000 trees have been planted towards the aim of 172,000 – one for every resident in the area.

News story – Tree planting to be fast-tracked as council set to join Humber Forest partnership

newly planted trees

bicycle on cycle path

New Scunthorpe cycle path planned

Cyclists will soon be able to travel safely between key facilities in Scunthorpe, connecting Frances Street with Lloyds Avenue via a route that passes the train station, The Pods, University Campus North Lincolnshire, and Central Park.

It is the latest phase of the council’s multi-million pound transformation of North Lincolnshire’s cycle network, and follows the £500,000 extension to the hugely popular Scunthorpe Ridgeway route, which opened earlier this summer.

News story: New Scunthorpe cycle path to connect landmarks in latest active travel boost

Green space protected for families to enjoy

A wildlife haven between Bottesford and Ashby is to be protected to create a three-mile corridor of green space for nearby families and visitors.

The two-and-a-half-acre site, to the south of Lakeside Parkway and east of Wisteria Way, will now be cared for and protected to secure and enhance its natural features after being formally designated as a village green.

News story – Green space protected for families to enjoy

Photo of a young woman walking through a meadow holding hands with two young boys

Royal Horticultural Society logo

Three awards for our  green spaces

The town of Scunthorpe received a Silver Gilt for its broad work around environment, horticulture and approach to green space commitment.

Scunthorpe was the outright winner spanning the full spectrum of the East Midlands for meadow creation. Another demonstrator of NLC committing to a national cause and leading the way.

The Central Park Memorial Garden also picked up an award for ‘new landscape’ and a ‘Judges’ pick’.

NLC have now collected eight external certificates of excellence for the year 2022 so far.

Haxey Nature Reserve transformed

Haxey Nature Reserve has been transformed in a dramatic makeover: work was carried out to enhance the seven-hectare site to make it easier for people to enjoy. Tree work and scrub clearing have created areas for wildflowers to flourish as the council drives forward its Green Future commitment – slashing carbon emissions and achieving net zero by 2030.

News story – £10,000 transformation of Haxey Nature Reserve completed

Photograph shows the Axholme Line Nature Reserve in Haxey

variety of vehicles involved in litter picking

Cleaning up the A15

In partnership with multiple council services and local landowners we undertook our closure and cleaned up the A15. A number of works were carried out including, drainage, gully cleaning, street lighting, line marking, road sweeping, verge cutting, arboriculture, hedge maintenance, fly tip clearance and litter picking. Over 200 bags of litter have been collected.

Look out for the new signs coming soon.

Hugely popular Scunthorpe walking and cycling route opens

A popular cycling route has been further extended, meaning even more people across Scunthorpe can safely access jobs, education and leisure.

The Scunthorpe Ridgeway – just part of hundreds of miles of cycle paths available across North Lincolnshire – has been extended from Burringham Road to Hammerton Road, expanding access across the town from north to south.

News story –  Hugely popular Scunthorpe walking and cycling route opens after £500,000 levelling-up cash injection.

People stood near a cycling route

ariel view of carbon garden

Carbon Garden in Central Park

North Lincolnshire Council are very proud of their association with John Leggott College, specifically their commitment to using North Lincolnshire’s greenspaces as locations to deliver horticulture and environment education while supporting improvement and development.

The Parks and Green Spaces Team visited the team of students and set out the parameters of the project; a garden within the park that focuses on capturing carbon, promoting positive carbon behaviour, enhancing our green spaces and providing education and consciousness on positive environmental impact.

We were overwhelmed with the ingenious design proposals submitted by the students. The winning design came from Charlie Farquhar.

Charlie suggested the should follow the shape of a carbon atom. The nucleus is a mature olive tree (olive trees have good carbon absorbing qualities). The shells (rings) will be planted with native wild-flowers with denser planting representing the electrons (pollinator zones).

There will also be wider planting of trees and evergreens around the carbon atom.

Resurfaced footpath at Templar’s Bath

We have resurfaced the public footpath at Templar’s Bath Well so people can use this for walking.

Resurfaced footpath

Worker sweeping the pavement

Town centre beat sweepers

Now the extended and exceptional dry weather has passed and risk reduced, all our Town Centre Beat sweepers have now been trained on the operation of some newly purchased weed burners. This will enable regular treatments in the town centre, reduction in the use of chemical treatments and overall improved street scene, supporting Greenspace colleagues with the wider weed programme.

Protecting green spaces against unlawful camping

Work is underway to start securing sites and protecting green spaces against unlawful camps. In this instance it is fencing, but tree planting is being used where possible to combine site security whilst enhancing the natural environment.

workers erecting fencing

image of community allotments

Wheatfield allotments

Wheatfield allotments has been identified as a pilot area for fusing allotment management with A Green Future. We are supporting the development of a potager – an ornamental vegetable garden – featuring ha-has and a bog-garden for pollination, ecology and biodiversity.

Young Mayor’s Environment Award

To kickstart the Young Mayor’s Environmental Award Project the Young Mayor, Alexia Dibdin, has launched a competition for residents to get creative and reuse old goods for new projects.

The initiative involves recycling fly tipped tyres from around the area, giving residents the opportunity to use their creative flair and put these tyres to beneficial use in other environmentally friendly ways.

News story – Win a family pass to Normanby Hall Country Park by re-using rescued fly tipped tyres.

children playing on a tyre swing

Electric charging point in car park

Rapid roll out of electric vehicle chargers

Twenty new electric vehicle chargers will be installed in car parks across North Lincolnshire – giving drivers unprecedented access to clean, green energy.

The project is designed to create a future-proof network of charging infrastructure ahead of the global transition to electric vehicles.

News story – Rapid roll-out of EV charging points as strategic network expanded with Government cash.

North Lincolnshire’s parks amongst the best in the country

Five parks in North Lincolnshire have been awarded the coveted Green Flag Award 2022 and are officially recognised among the country’s best parks.

They are Central Park, Kingsway Gardens, Sheffield Park and Woodlands Memorial Park in Scunthorpe and Baysgarth Park in Barton.

News story –  North Lincolnshire’s parks are among the best in the country.

flowerbed in a park

Working with community to develop their local park

We have worked with the Friends of Lincoln Gardens; Transforming Jubilee Parks community group, attending their monthly meetings and we prepared a large space of the local park for a large native-British meadow. They all came out to throw the seed down.

Green transport boost for homecare workers

A new fleet of clean, green and affordable electric mopeds will help homecare workers ensure more residents stay safe and well across North Lincolnshire.

North Lincolnshire Council has purchased 20 new mopeds, which make it easier for care workers to travel and deliver care across communities.

News story –  Green transport boost helps more homecare workers to support residents.

Photograph showing Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft and councillors pictured on electric mopeds

solar panels on a roof

Solar panel rollout set to slash energy bills for schools

A ground-breaking new scheme using Government cash to help schools go green and reduce their energy bills will be rolled out  summer 2022.

Schools in Scunthorpe will be fitted with solar panels free of charge – reducing carbon emissions and dramatically slashing energy costs.

News story – Government cash delivers major green boost for schools as solar panel rollout set to slash energy bills.

Brambling Way, Scunthorpe tree planting

A meeting was held with Neighbourhoods’ staff to plan street tree planting for next season. Work with Humber Forest is ongoing for the 0.5 hectare planting scheme at Brambling Way, Scunthorpe.

Sign about not dropping litter

Council launches new offensive in war against litter

A new offensive is being launched across North Lincolnshire as the council’s crack-down on litter louts intensifies.

Hundreds of bins across the county will be doubled in size and emptied more frequently, enhancing the network of more than 1,500 already in place.

News story – Council launches new offensive in war against litter.

Council’s flower displays

The North Lincolnshire Council bedding/flower displays for 2022 are done (excluding a few small schemes). Over 25,000 plants in and ready to be enjoyed for the summer.

display of flower beds

Wrawby footpath cleared for walking and cycling

A length of approximately 200 metres of Public Footpath 288 along Moor Lane at Wrawby, just west of Keeper’s Cottage, has been resurfaced after severe waterlogging was occurring and it wasn’t usable as a walking or cycling route.

Samaritans donate ‘talking benches’

Thanks to the Samaritans, we have received four additional benches that will be sited around our parks. Made of a composite material designed around woodland blending , they are themed around talking and will encourage people to enjoy nature and come outdoors, improving both mental and physical health.

volunteers clearing reed beds

Alkborough reed beds cleared

Local Nature Reserve Officers along with volunteers at Alkborough cleared reeds by hand to improve the views from the bird hides.

Monster bin

One of our operatives, Stephen, came up with an idea to recycle and repair an old bin to site in a park where we have lots of litter issues. In his own time, he has repaired, painted and designed a litter picker arm attachment as a way of encouraging visitors to keep the area clean. If it works, we will move the bin around so watch out – it could soon be coming to a park near you!

waste bin decorated like a monster

row of terraced houses

Warmer homes

An award-winning scheme that kept 163 North Lincolnshire homes warm last winter is rolling out its third phase to residents. This aligns with the council’s Green Future strategy.

Last winter, 163 homes benefited from the grants – resulting in an overall potential annual energy savings bill of £24,363, as well as 153.5 tonnes of carbon.

News story –  More local families to enjoy warmer homes thanks to Government grant cash.

New planters at Crosby One

A garden and large planter have been created at Crosby One. Vegetables grown in the planter will be donated to the local food bank.

new flower beds planted

new hedges planted along roadside

Hedging the Queensway

Our pledge to replace old fencing with laurel hedges along the Queensway is almost complete.

Community clean day

The street cleansing team organised and led a community clean day in Crosby with support of Scunthorpe Litter Pickers, Broughton Wombles and other local volunteers. We collected in excess of three tons of waste in the form of fly tipping, bagged waste, bulky items and general litter.

group of volunteer litter pickers

Alkborough Flats bird hides painted

The volunteer group at Alkborough Flats cleaned and painted bird hides.

Volunteer painting bird hide

Elsham Quarry pathway cleared

At Elsham Quarry the grass and hedges were cut around all pathways to make a lovely walking route.

Goxhill bridleway (Nan Bingham) cleared

Goxhill Parish Council alerted us to the fact Public Bridleway 58, also known as Nan Brigham, was extremely difficult to use, especially on horseback, owing to low-hanging trees. Offending branches have been lopped and the bridleway is now passable.

Tree planting at Central Park

One huge piece of feedback for Central Park from the Green Flag judges was its array and diversity of trees. So, it was fitting that the week saw a further 20 trees planted. That’s 58 trees planted over the duration of the last 12 months, meaning it has averaged a new tree every week. It all helps us reach our target of planting 172,000 new trees – one for every person in North Lincolnshire.

newly planted trees