Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories, a three-year community-driven heritage project, is calling on residents to help preserve the city’s green space heritage through its new online legacy archive.
The Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories project is made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and City of Lincoln Council. The project is a place-based heritage project, which works with communities, individuals and organisations across the city.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the archive is designed to celebrate the rich history of seven of Lincoln’s green spaces, each with its own unique landscape character and set of tangible and intangible heritage assets.
The spaces are Lincoln Arboretum, South Common and Cow Paddle, Boultham Park, Hartsholme Park, Birchwood Nature Park, and West Common
To build a publicly available online archive, the Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories team invites contributions from the community, including old photographs, journal entries, postcards, letters, maps, documents, personal stories, and memories; anything that acts as a clue to the past and is related to one of the seven green spaces encompassed in the project.
Every piece, no matter how small, serves as a vital clue to uncovering the past and preserving it for future generations.
The Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories team asks that all potential donors provide as much information as possible about their items so they can be processed as efficiently as possible.
In addition to collecting materials, the project is actively seeking volunteers to support the initiative by assessing, categorising and uploading information to the archive.
Volunteers will receive comprehensive training, developed in collaboration with the University of Lincoln’s heritage team, making this an excellent opportunity to learn new skills while contributing to a meaningful cause.
Members of the public can share their memories and items in person by dropping them off at the City Hall reception at a time that best suits them.
City Hall’s opening hours:
- Monday – 9am to 5pm
- Tuesday – 9am to 5pm
- Wednesday – 10am to 5pm
- Thursday – 9am to 5pm
- Friday – 9am to 4:30pm
Alternatively, you can get in touch by emailing LL.HH@lincoln.gov.uk to discuss other ways to contribute.
If you plan to contribute, please remember to provide as much detail as possible about your item.
Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories aims to make history accessible to all, fostering inclusivity through engaging activities such as history cafés, walking tours, and nature walks. By involving underrepresented groups, the project ensures that Lincoln’s green spaces remain a shared treasure for everyone.
Cllr Bob Bushell at City of Lincoln Council said:
“We’re seeing parts of Lincoln’s heritage slowly fade with time with fewer people having knowledge about the history our parks and open spaces represent.
“The goal of this project is to create an accessible, user-friendly archive that belongs to everyone, ensuring our city’s history remains vibrant and alive for years to come. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players for making this all possible.”
The archive is not just for academics but for anyone curious about Lincoln’s past, whether exploring family histories or learning about the evolution of their local park.
For more information visit the Local Landscapes & Hidden Histories Facebook page here.