Community Mind Matters and ‘Liepa’ Spalding Lithuanian Community give out 550 flowers on International Women’s Day

Community groups got together to hand out flowers in recognition of International Women’s Day on Saturday (March 8).

More than 500 tulips were handed out in Spalding town centre by Vanessa Browning, founder of Community Mind Matters and Laima Kontrauskaite and Jolanta Trabsiene from the ‘Liepa’ Spalding Lithuanian Community.

The day is a big occasion in Lithuania where flowers are given to celebrate mothers, sisters, daughters and grandmothers which for three years has been organised by Vaida Trabsaite and encouraged by South Holland District Council.

Laima said: “We wanted to bring some joy to all the women in Spalding by gifting a card and flower.

“Vaida, the superwoman and chairman of our community started the project with 100 tulips which she bought with her own money.

“Last year we managed to get 300 tulips to give away and this year was the most powerful - handing out 550 tulips.”

The theme of the day this year was ‘rights, equality and empowerment for all women and girls.’

Helen Chambers from Evolve Flowers donated buckets of daffodils to the cause.

Laima added: “I can only expect with the continuous help of the council, Vanessa and local businesses that the 2026 project will be bigger and more people will hear about it.

“It was a pleasure to give ladies flowers on this day and we made so many ladies smile.

“It was lovely to be part of this amazing event on International Women’s Day.”