Crowds gathered in Spalding riverside for a celebration featuring music, art, and the River Welland.
The event included talks and performances at the Willow Eel Trap. People enjoyed a musical walk accompanied by Morris dancing. The Spalding Community Choir sang, and refreshments were served at Ayscoughfee Hall. Last year, groups created a banner showing a town map and wildlife.
Nick Jones thanked everyone involved, mentioning beautiful banners, music, and delicious food. New public artwork was revealed, and river walkway markers add to the experience. Jones said that Willow artworks are growing there, and these are just the beginning.
The artworks will grow stronger yearly. Collaboration made the joyful event happen, connecting people, stories, and places. This effort makes Spalding better. The project, called Spalding Reconnected, is the start of a larger ambition to regenerate the town, also boosting the local economy.
South Holland District Council and Heritage Lincolnshire participated. Transported, East Mercia Rivers Trust, and Landmark were also involved in the project. The National Lottery Heritage Fund donated money in 2022, with Spalding Reconnected receiving £250,000.
The project celebrates local history and incorporates arts and nature. Willow sculptures were added to the river, creating ‘floating eco-systems.’ These sit on the banks of River Welland, and they made these additions before the event.