British Heart Foundation Fabulous fashion Feeling positive Homes and gardens British Heart Foundation Fabulous fashion Feeling positive Homes and gardens £2.95 FEBRUARY 2023 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk BLM GROUPGROUP BLM £2.95 FEBRUARY 2023 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE 01.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:30 Page 1For All Business Development Enquiries Please Contact Business Development Manager Lara Day Email: Lara.day @ st-connect.co.uk Mobile: 07384 450 701 Visit us at the Lincoln Property & Business Show 26th April www.businessshowsgroup.co.uk 02.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:31 Page 1It’s been a cold, cold January and we’re hopefully looking forward to some nicer weather in February. That’s no guarantee however, as based on recent years there’s been the potential for snow in Feb as well, playing havoc with local wildlife and on the roads. That hits a little close to home for me after my car skidded off the road on ice this January and I was sent careening into a ditch. While I am okay since I was driving slowly already, the conditions of the icy roads leave me worrying for people in the future. With any luck we’ll have a warmer February and not have to worry about all that! To me, February is when the new year really feels like it starts. January is for making (and breaking) resolutions and catching up on work from before the break period, but February is when it feels like the year truly begins. This year has a lot to live up to since 2022 was so difficult, and it’s easy to look at events taking place further afield in the UK, or across the globe, and feel miserable. That’s why we want to focus on the good things happening across Lincolnshire. February plays host to Valentine’s Day as well – so it’s a romantic month for many. With how challenging last year was, and this winter, Valentine’s is a great excuse to get out and do something a little more special, and you shouldn’t feel like that only applies if you aren’t single. Get out, mingle, have fun, and perhaps even meet someone – or love yourself and take a day off to eat out and make yourself feel better. The fun shouldn’t be limited to a single day, however. There are a range of shows across Lincolnshire in our What’s On sections, and while some of those difficult new year’s resolutions may have fallen by the wayside, why not try a more reasonable one and pick up a new hobby this year? There are plenty of inexpensive hobbies across the region, from crafts to music to art, that will not only improve mental and physical health, but also let you meet new people and broaden your friendship circles. Give it a try and see if any ideas this month jump out at you. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor and the Lincolnshire Today team from the editor The magazine that cares WE CARE because we want to leave our world a better place than we found it Lincolnshire Today believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key to maintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff will be proud to be part of. Community - From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes and charities. Environment - Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise. Group Editor: Steve Fisher Editor: Michael Fisher Journalist: Tess Egginton Sales Director: Angela Cooper Sales: Kerry Randerson Accounts & Circulations: Angela Sharman, John Downes (01472) 310301 Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson Advertising: Tel: (01472) 310302 Editorial: Tel: (01472) 310305 Part Of The Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk Website: www.lincolnshiretoday.net ISSN No: 1366-1299 FRONT COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.STOCK.ADOBE.COM/MACROWILDLIFE LincolnshireToday @lincstoday lincolnshiretoday.net This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. If you are unable to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a local hospital or charity? 03.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:32 Page 1Features 6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIRE What’s been going on in the county this month? 22GAINSBOROUGH ON THE RISE A market town close to the border, Gainsborough used to have a poor reputation due to a lack of amenities and much in the way of development, but that has all changed. 26IN LOVE WITH A NEW LOOK With Valentine’s Day this month, love is in the air – why not fall in love with a new outfit too? 32PERFECT YOUR OUTFIT Accessories are essential to complete any ensemble. 34CHIC CLASSICS Lincolnshire Today highlights some simple pieces that are sure to enhance any man’s wardrobe. 36PREPARATIONS FOR SPRING It’s nearly spring and while that’s worth looking forward to, it’s also worth taking care of some skin and haircare groundwork now to make sure you make a splash in the new season. 38FEELING POSITIVE Exercising in February can be a challenge due to the cold weather and shorter days, but it is important to maintain a regular exercise routine for the numerous health benefits it provides. 40WARMER DAYS February may have Valentine’s and we’ve made sure to include at least one recipe for those wanting to cook for a loved one – but it’s also the last month of winter, and that means it’s still bitingly cold on some days. Therefore, we’ve collected some nice warming food to keep you nice and toasty. 44LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGE EXPLORED Among Lincolnshire’s enviable heritage is its 500 or so parish churches. This month we look at those on the Wolds. 46BEGGING TO BE DISCOVERED Sharing the shores of the river Ancholme with the wildlife that also calls it home, Brigg is a town of unassuming charm that begs to be discovered. FEBRUARY WITH VALENTINE’S DAY THIS MONTH, LOVE IS IN THE AIR – WHY NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH A NEW OUTFIT TOO? contents 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:32 Page 1WE’VE COLLECTED SOME NICE WARMING FOOD TO KEEP YOU NICE AND TOASTY. 50THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION One of the UK’s leading charities, the British Heart Foundation have been assisting people for over 50 years and saving lives along the way. 55HELPING OUT IN 2023 With life expectancy increasing with every generation, it is important to assess how we can support people to live healthy and independent lives well into their elderly years. This includes evaluating our own attitudes towards older people. 58THE MOST AFFORDABLE CARS TO RUN IN 2023 As the world emerged from lockdowns and restrictions, fuel prices – which had been at their lowest for many years – surged following a massive increase in demand. 64VALENTINE’S DAY JOY It may seem like an arbitrary date in February for what should be love throughout the year, but it’s also a reminder, to those who haven’t, that relationships take effort, time, and love. 68WHAT’S ON There’s always something going on in Lincolnshire. Desirable homes 10LIVING IN LUXURY A new build that maintains a warm country feel, this welcoming property has been finished with close attention to quality and detail. 16BRIGHT AND VIVID This month we look at the works of Ben Jeffrey, an artist whose style combines traditional techniques with bright colours for a uniquely modern look. 18VALENTINE’S DAY FLOWERS …WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT? If you are looking for something different this Valentine’s Day Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping has some ideas. 20RIPPON HOMES Why Rippon Homes’ Rose Gardens Development is the place to be in ’23. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:32 Page 2New solar farm proposed for North Kesteven, powering over 180,000 homes EDF Renewables UK and Luminous Energy have announced plans for Springwell Solar Farm, a proposed new solar farm with battery storage located between Lincoln and Sleaford in Lincolnshire. Springwell Solar Farm would provide enough clean energy to power over 180,000 homes every year – that’s the equivalent of around half of all the homes in Lincolnshire. EDF Renewables UK’s head of solar, Ben Fawcett, said: “At EDF Renewables UK, we’re passionate about creating a future where clean energy powers our lives. Springwell Solar Farm would produce much needed low-carbon electricity here in the UK, helping to power thousands of homes and businesses every year. “We are currently at a very early stage on Springwell, with local views vital to helping us develop our plans.” Plans for a new hotel in Skegness have been approved by East Lindsey District Council. Burney Property Group are behind the proposals for the former Crazy Golf site on South Parade, which has been left vacant for the past four years. The new scheme involves two units on the site; a six storey Travelodge hotel with 80 rooms, and a drive thru Starbucks restaurant. A design statement indicates that the development would create a significant number of local job opportunities, and have knock on beneficial impacts associated with the wider regeneration and investment in the local area. EV charging points would be included in the development, along with cycle parking spaces, 65 car parking spaces for the hotel and 17 spaces for the Starbucks unit. A publicly accessible food and drink outlet is also proposed on the hotel’s fifth floor, with panoramic views across Skegness beach and coastline. Generous donation made in memory of popular nurse A midwife has donated her mum’s wigs to help other people receiving cancer treatment. Clinical education midwife, Laura Christopher, has given three wigs to the Macmillan Wig Bank at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust after her mum, Donna Christopher, lost her battle against pancreatic cancer. Laura said: “My mum was a district nurse for many years in the Market Rasen area. She began her nurse training when she was just 17 and devoted her whole life to helping others. She cared for many cancer patients during her career and even applied to Macmillan just before she became poorly. “She really was amazing and I know she would definitely approve of the wigs being used to help others. I didn’t know what to do with them when mum died, but then I heard about the wig bank and it just sounded so wonderful and perfect.” © stock.adobe.com/ Duncan © stock.adobe.com/sewcream latest news New Skegness hotel gets green light 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:33 Page 1New council refuse collection lorry ‘wears it pink’ Breast cancer awareness across South Kesteven has moved up a gear with the launch of an unmissable pink refuse collection lorry. The South Kesteven District Council vehicle has taken cancer charities’ call to ‘Wear It Pink’ to another level, with prominent health check adverts on each side. The launch of the freighter – weighing 26 tonnes when fully laden – underlines health messages broadcast annually as part of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and national ‘Wear It Pink Day’. It’s a colourful demonstration of the Council’s continuing support for the cause and, specifically, Breast Friends Grantham, a support group formed by breast cancer survivor and SKDC employee Rachael Bradley. The group, open to men and women, now has 120 members from across the district. Cllr Kelham Cooke, leader of South Kesteven District Council, said: “We are proud to be providing a highly unusual vehicle to take vitally important messages right across the district. “Our new freighter is the ultimate in wearing it pink, all year round, and it carries advice which can literally save lives.” The final phase of Charterpoint’s housing development in Louth is poised to get under way after the developer sold the remaining 40 plots to Snape Properties. Planning permission was granted for a total of 240 homes at Westfield Park on the edge of the town in 2018. Snape has been building the homes in phases and this latest deal between Charterpoint and Snape paves the way for the final 40 homes to be built on the 35-acre site, which also includes a new care home, now operational. Charterpoint CEO Adrian Goose said: “Westfield Park has become an extremely desirable place to live and as a result of its popularity, we are excited to be releasing the final phase of the original development to Snape Properties. “This will pave the way for the completion of the original 240 homes planned for the site, which has become a thriving community close to Louth and all the amenities that the town offers.” The housing development features a mix of three and four-bedroom semi-detached houses and four and five-bedroom detached houses. Final phase of Louth housing scheme Lincolnshire pharmacies sold Stagedale Limited, the operator of two high-dispensing volume pharmacies in Lincolnshire, has been sold. The sale comprised West Elloe Pharmacy, which sits adjacent to a busy health centre in Spalding, and Knight Street Pharmacy, which occupies a prominent high street location in Pinchbeck. On average, West Elloe Pharmacy dispenses a huge 53,000 items per month – making it one of England’s highest dispensing bricks and mortar pharmacies – and Knight Street Pharmacy dispenses over 9,000 items per month. Stagedale Limited, which owned and operated these pharmacies for over a quarter of a century, was put up for sale following the impending retirement of some of its shareholders. Through a confidential sales process managed by Carl Steer and Tony Evans at Christie & Co, it has been sold to BMP Healthcare Limited, a Leicester-based, eight-strong pharmacy group. in the pipeline 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:33 Page 2Immingham firm gets grant to make jet fuel from black bin bag waste Immingham company Velocys is one of five companies given a share in £165m from the Government to help it convert black bin bag waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company is currently working on a commercial scale factory to make the fuel, and is expected to have it operational in 2028. Velocys CEO Henrik Wareborn said: “Velocys is delighted to receive two grant awards from the Advanced Fuels Fund, which will help to accelerate the production of SAF at commercial scale in the UK using our technology.” Building on the success of the green fuels, green skies programme, the five projects alone will produce over 300,000 tonnes of SAF a year – enough to fly to the moon and back an estimated 60 times. The successful projects will also slash CO2 emissions by an average of 200,000 tonnes each year once fully up and running – the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road. New hedgerow planted at Sleaford nature reserve Volunteers have planted around 150m of new mixed native hedge at Mareham Pastures Nature Reserve. Vital features in the landscape, hedges are more than an essential refuge for wildlife. Small but mighty, they also clean our air, capture carbon, help reduce flooding and give clues to historic land management. Hedges come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can include many different species. Rural hedges are often a mix of shrub and tree species, such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, ash and oak. The hedge plants were funded by CPRE The Countryside Charity as part of their campaign to see a 40% increase in the extent of hedgerows nationally by 2050, as recommended by the Climate Change Committee to help achieve carbon net zero. It’s one of two hedgerow projects funded by the charity in Lincolnshire, alongside one at Dunston Playing Fields, which will be planted in the coming months. Sleaford’s new hedges were planted by volunteers from the Friends of Mareham Pastures and members of the Sleaford Rotary Club. Investor snaps up latest phase at Leafbridge Business Park in Lincoln The latest phase of Lincoln business park, Leafbridge, has been snapped up by a private investor. Located on Station Road in North Hykeham, Leafbridge Business Park is owned by Leafbridge Limited and is being developed by Lincoln contractor, Stirlin. Stirlin has sold all 6 units off-plan in the third phase to a repeat investor client, which will all be made available to lease when they are build complete later in the year. Construction is well underway on the new phase, which will provide over 23,000 sq ft of employment space to support the local business base. The new units range in size from 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft, each benefiting from an electric sectional door, DDA compliant toilet facilities and ample parking. latest news © stock.adobe.com/ aapsky 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:33 Page 3Honour for Corby Glen firefighter dedicated to his community A Lincolnshire firefighter has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year 2023 Honours list. Bryan Lynch has been an On Call firefighter in Corby Glen for 34 years, and the watch manager running the station since May 1997. Under his leadership, the station has been able to provide cover for fire and rescue incidents but has also delivered the co-responding scheme – supporting East Midlands Ambulance Service at medical emergencies. In 2012, he was commended for his actions at a road traffic collision he came across, while off duty. In 2014 Bryan was again commended, following a house fire where three people were rescued. Three further occupants of the property had escaped after being woken by smoke alarms – fitted by Bryan at the property several months before. Lincolnshire’s chief fire officer, Mark Baxter, said: “Bryan has been the heartbeat of the fire station for more than 30 years, but also a pillar of the community.” Bryan has served on Swinstead parish council for over 20 years, helping to save the village hall and raise funds for its refurbishment. He has tended the clock in the village church for all of this time – maintaining and winding it, as well as ensuring the correct flag is always flying on top. A blood donor for over 30 years, he has also raised money for various charities. As the voluntary groundskeeper at Swinstead Football Club, he mows the pitch, paints the lines and completes general up-keep tasks around the clubhouse. © stock.adobe.com/ Tupungato Welcoming day students from 3 months to 19 years and boarders from Year 3 www.qe.org | admissions@qe.org | 01423 333330 | York YO26 9SS Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate Set in more than 220 acres of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside • Over 80% of our students go on to their fi rst choice university • Rated ‘Excellent’ by ISI 2019 • 81% A*/A achieved at A Level Join us at our next Open Day on 11th March 06-09.qxp_Layout 1 23/01/2023 09:33 Page 4Next >