Hopes to build on tourism brought to South Holland by Matthew Flinders return to Donington
Leading figures are hoping to come up with ways to attract more tourists to the area — and build on the spotlight provided by explorer Matthew Flinders’ homecoming.
Hundreds of Australians - including a high ranking politician and a national rugby star - travelled across the globe to watch as the man, who was the first to circumnavigate their coastline, was laid to rest in St Mary and the Holy Rood Church, Donington.
And it was not just Australians - who hold Capt Flinders in high esteem with a university and even an island named after him - who were drawn to the village to take part in this ceremony as it also attracted British tourists as well.
South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth is hoping that the return of Flinders could be the catalyst to help bring more tourists to the area but also wants to celebrate the area’s wider history.
He said: “The Matthew Flinders story is a massive story and a real opportunity to bring people from Australia and other places, however we can help to achieve that - and we have to be working with the people of Donington but also there is Crowland Abbey with a massive amount of history.
“We have always had Ayscoughfee Hall and Spalding Gentlemen’s Society over the next five to six years is going to be an attraction once their work (on a new museum) is done.
“I feel that now is the time to be pushing those things.
“For all its criticism, Springfields attracts a lot of visitors and we need to get those visitors to stay in the district.
“I think from a tourism prospective, people tend to travel past us and go along the A17 further up the east coast or into Norfolk.”
Coun Worth also highlighted the stunning fields of daffodils which are grown in the area in the spring - the area once attracted tourists to tour the tulip fields - and highlighted the need for signage.
He added: “For me it is about trying to get people off the A17/A16 to come and stop rather than travelling past us.”
Destination Lincolnshire has been compiling a destination plan for South Holland after receiving £60,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund last year.
Charlotte Goy who leads the tourism development and marketing at Destination Lincolnshire, said: “There was a fantastic sense of community pride when the people of Donington welcomed Mathew Flinders home. His story is one of adventure, survival and scientific achievements. And whilst the ceremony only last a day, we’re now entering an exciting period where the story of Flinders could be used to attract tourists from across England and overseas.
“It would be brilliant if we could work with Jane Pearson and businesses to develop a Flinders Tour for visitors and bring it to life through our local arts, culture and heritage interpretation.
“With the right product development and marketing Mathew Flinders reburial could certainly help the local visitor economy.”
One of the people who was key in ensuring that Capt Flinders returned to Donington after his remains were discovered during HS2 excavations in London, is Jane Pearson, who said that the church has had more than 200 visitors in the week after the reburial.
She said discussions have been held in the village about an annual Flinders Day along with the creation of a museum - but was supportive of the idea of a trail to celebrate the explorer and his friend George Bass.
Jane, who has paid tribute to Carol Holt and Coun Jane King for their hard work over the last five years, said: “As a concept I think a Flinders Day is a lovely idea. The village pulled together so nicely. A July date would be nice and appropriate for them.
“We have so much stuff connected with Flinders that we have to think long-term about it.”
What do you think? How can we attract more people to our area? Post a comment below…