Community rallies for village

Villagers are set to benefit from a trio of initiatives, with one representing a £10,000 investment in the community.

After a few months of negotiation, Post Office facilities are now available every week in the village hall.

The service began at the start of December, alongside a separate initiative, a community market, where people can buy local produce such as cakes, vegetables, preserves and handicrafts, and then have a cup of tea and a chat.

Cheryl Burbidge, chairman of the village hall committee, said: “We’re particularly concerned for those in our community who most need local services.

“Many of them were there on launch day, as was a good cross-section of villagers, and it was great to see people talking and laughing.

“Providing a focal point for social gathering is one of our main priorities.”

The community market was officially opened by Patricia Bradwell, deputy leader of Lincolnshire County Council and ward member for Billinghay and Metheringham.

The next community market at Timberland Village Hall is planned for Thursday, February 11.

Meanwhile, the post office will operate in the hall every Thursday between 10am and 2pm.

It is run by Lindsay Fulton, postmistress at the neighbouring village of Martin.

“I was certainly kept busy on the opening day,” said Lindsay. “I’m providing all the facilities that are available at my shop in Martin.

“I may only be a mile away, but that’s not much use if you haven’t got a car and can’t walk far.”

She added: “I’m really excited to be part of this initiative.”

The latest good news for Timberland comes in the form of £10,000 in funding from the Big Lottery’s Awards for All scheme for the village’s green space.

The scheme offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 and aims to fund projects which ‘address the issues, needs and aspirations of local communities and people’.

The parish council applied for the grant and chairman Terry Audis welcomed the boost for locals.

He said: “We’ve recently converted some land leased from the county council into an open space for children to play, people to walk and perhaps families take a picnic in the summer.

“Now we’ve got the money, we need to provide better equipment and keep it properly maintained.”