£2.95 FEBRUARY 2024 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk BLM GROUP GROUP BLM £2.95 FEBRUARY 2024THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE Fantastic Fashion British Heart Foundation Valentine’s Day Glorious Gainsborough Fantastic Fashion British Heart Foundation Valentine’s Day Glorious GainsboroughT: +44 (0) 1472 872248 E: weddings@oaklandshallhotel.co.uk Oaklands Hall Hotel Barton Street, Laceby, DN37 7LF OAKLANDS WEDDINGS www.oaklandshallhotel.co.uk The perfect backdrop for your big day. Get in touch with one of our Wedding Coordinators and come have a look around our beautiful grounds, choice of 3 function rooms and the perfect spot in our garden for your civil ceremony. Wedding Fair Open Day 01522 530217www.countrycourtcare.comRuckland Avenue, Lincoln, LN1 3TP Tucked away in the quiet Ermine district just north of Lincoln, Ruckland Court Care Home provides residential and dementia care in a homely and comfortable setting. Our staff are on hand 24-hours a day to deliver personal, individualised care, getting to know each resident and build meaningful relationships that create a true family environment. To find out more about life at Ruckland Court Care Home contact Home Manager Adam Atkin on 01522 530217or email rucklandcourt@countrycourtcare.com Ruckland Court Care Home Our family, caring for yoursFebruary is here and if you’re anything like me then you’re looking forward to driving home in actual sunlight for a change – and hopefully on roads a little less covered in ice. It’s still the wintry months but we’re finally seeing the oncoming spring and a little hope for some nicer weather. The month is about rebirth in many ways, from the rebirth of the trees and the seasons to the rebirth of relationships. Valentine’s Day dominates the month, making lonely people lonelier and couples stressed about whether or not they will satisfy their partner’s expectations. Like many holidays, it’s become overly commercialised by greedy corporations, but that’s not to say there aren’t good values at the heart of it. You just need to look beyond brand messages by soulless firms looking to squeeze every penny they can from even the thought of “love”. We take a look in this issue at how to focus on forming connections with your partner instead, and the questions you should be asking your partner if your goal is to form a long-lasting relationship. But it’s not all about one day of the month in this issue, of course. We look at the trends and fashion coming into spring and how you can get ahead on them, and also what jobs and opportunities there are to start on building up your garden for spring. Many flowers may not be growing yet, but if you get the groundwork done now then you’ll have a great start coming into March. All that and more in our February issue. Good reading, as always. Michael Fisher Editor and the Lincolnshire Today team from the editor 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 STOCK.ADOBE.COM/STEPHEN BUTLER 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? LincolnshireToday @lincstoday lincolnshiretoday.net 9 Market Place, Brigg, DN20 8ET CALL: 01652 408200 TXT: 07765 466 901 hollandjames.co.uk Choose from an eye popping range of stunning frames at Holland & James – something to suit every budget & style! Discover Lincolnshire’s expert eye care & eye wear specialists. Oodles of glasses! Features 6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIRE What’s been going on in the county this month? 20WHERE THE HEART IS We dive into the fascinating backstory of British Heart Foundation, exploring the vital research this organisation spearheads, as well as looking at how you can help support them. 26A NEW MONTH, A NEW LOOK As we near the end of winter and prepare for spring, there are plenty of new clothes to bring into your wardrobe. 32ALLURING ACCESSORIES With a couple of pieces of jewellery, a bag and well- chosen shoes, accessories can take an outfit to the next level. 34LOOK FRESH FOR FEBRUARY Lincolnshire Today shares some sharp menswear to refresh your style with. 36SIMPLIFYING BEAUTY: ACHIEVING THE SAME LOOK WITH FEW PRODUCTS In an era saturated with an abundance of beauty products, the trend of embracing a minimalist approach has taken centre stage. 38HOW TO ENJOY YOUR WINTER HEALTH KICK Whether you really have kept up with your New Years’ Resolutions, or you’re starting to feel the effects of the traditionally stodgy food consumed during winter, approach to fitness has to come from a desire to enjoy it. 40ROMANTIC TREATS Valentine’s Day may only be the 14th but there’s no law that says you can’t treat your partner repeatedly through the month. Here are some ideas and ways to treat them - be that to a meal, breakfast in bed, or a nice snack. 44FORMING CONNECTIONS Valentine’s Day has been commercialised to death, but the core values still hold true. This year, focus less on the day and more on forming a meaningful connection with your partner. We look into how. FEBRUARY AS WE NEAR THE END OF WINTER AND PREPARE FOR SPRING, THERE ARE PLENTY OF NEW CLOTHES TO BRING INTO YOUR WARDROBE. contentsWE DIVE INTO THE FASCINATING BACKSTORY OF BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION, EXPLORING THE VITAL RESEARCH THIS ORGANISATION SPEARHEADS, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THEM. 48GLORIOUS GAINSBOROUGH There’s so much to love when in comes to Gainsborough. Whether you live there, you’re just visiting, or haven’t yet had the pleasure, we explore this charming market town. 53TAKING CARE We only have one body and it can sometimes feel too late to start caring for it once you’re already older. That isn’t the case, however. It’s never too early to start and never too late to make a meaningful change to both your life expectancy and your quality of life. 56SPRING MOTORS New year new motor? Perhaps not with the rising cost of living, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep an eye on the new entries coming to market that we can buy a couple of months into the year. 60WHAT’S ON There’s always something going on in Lincolnshire. 65AN INTERVIEW WITH… Lincolnshire Today spoke with Philippa East, the Lincolnshire-based author of psychological thrillers, ahead of the publication of her fourth gripping book, A Guilty Secret. Desirable homes 10A MODERN FAMILY HOME This month’s featured property is a high-spec house ideal for family life. 16RAW AND HONEST Joey Parkin’s works are a raw and honest portrayal of people, nature, and everything in between. Each piece is stripped back to reveal secrets behind the shades. They are truly original, with no prints existing. 18A DECADE OF ADVICE Having shared ten years of advice with Lincolnshire Today, Ed Fuller reflects on the growth of Fullers Landscaping.122 affordable homes set for Sleaford brownfield site Kitten Scanner helps children prepare for hospital scans An interactive toy is helping to prepare some of the county’s youngest patients for hospital scans without the need of sedation or a general anaesthetic. A Kitten Scanner is being used at Grantham and District Hospital to help children understand how an MRI scanner works, what it feels like to have a scan and how the results can help them in their recovery. In the first few months, it has enabled dozens of children to have their scan without the need for any sedation. Play Leader Sandy Crook and Radiographer Helen Disbrow- Carpenter are part of the team that introduced the Kitten Scanner and both continue to play an instrumental role in the clinics. Sandy said: “Coming to hospital is daunting for anyone, but especially when you are a child. By using the app and playing with the Kitten Scanner the children understand what is happening and can ask any questions they might have. Only when they are comfortable, I bring them from the Kingfisher Suite and across the courtyard for them to have their own MRI scan with Helen and the team.” Countryside Partnerships, the provider of multi-tenure, affordable homes, has exchanged contracts with Tesco Stores Ltd on a 12.8-acre brownfield site in Sleaford, Lincolnshire with a view to building 122 new affordable homes, 5 First Homes and a 66-bed care home. They will also be providing a new county standard bowls green and club house to replace the ageing facilities currently on site. The regeneration project will transform the former industrial site, previously used for seed processing, into much-needed housing with a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom family homes for the area. The First Homes are market-sale properties discounted by at least 30% and available to first-time buyers meeting certain eligibility criteria. The land is allocated for mixed-use and residential development in the Lincolnshire Local Plan, adopted in April 2023. Countryside now expects to submit a Reserved Matters planning application in the first half of 2024 with a view to starting work later in the year. The latest sale of land at Kirton Distribution Park will create an additional 80 jobs for the local economy. Lincolnshire County Council has recently finalised the sale of 10.28 acres at the site, which completes phase 3 of the development. The sale to Dhoot Transmission UK, known locally as Parkinson Harness Technology, will allow them to construct a new factory – manufacturing specialist vehicle parts, following planning permission being granted last year. Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at the county council, said: “This new factory will be a fantastic addition to the 27-acre Kirton Distribution Park, and Parkinson Harness Technologies will be joining other high profile businesses on the site such as Duckworth Jaguar Land Rover and Sportsbikeshop. All of the land here has now been allocated, and Kirton is another example of how the council is providing the investment to encourage businesses to start-up, re-locate and grow, in our county.” latest news Land sale at Kirton to create 80 jobs for local economy Image courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust © stock.adobe.com/bneninInternational Bomber Command Centre awarded grant The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) has been awarded a grant of £231,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop a new Post-War Digital Archive and carry out works to drive the future sustainability of the project. The project has created the world’s largest free-to-access digital collection of WW2 Bomber Command. It will use this experience to create a new archive protecting and preserving the heritage of the Post-War era. This will include recruiting new staff and providing training for new and current volunteers. Additionally, the funding will also be used to commission an architect to design a state-of-the-art learning facility to be built in the grounds. The Heritage Fund grant will see the new space designed, necessary surveys carried out, and planning applications prepared. Nicky van der Drift, Chief Executive of the IBCC, said: “With this funding, we’re able to make a number of improvements to our centre and our team that will help us deliver our mission of remembering, recognising, and reconciling the actions of Bomber Command.” Classic Ibiza is returning to the grounds of Burghley House on Saturday 27 July, promising over five hours of Balearic-infused dance music headlined by the 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra. The concert, which performed to nearly 60,000 people up-and-down the country last year, has announced it will once again be teaming up with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) to help raise funds for the outstanding work it does. Classic Ibiza’s Lisa Ward explains: “For the first time, we’re giving our Burghley audience the option of donating to EACH when they purchase tickets from our website. Helping Classic Ibiza concertgoers to keep costs down is important to us, so unlike many promoters we don’t charge for parking and allow our guests to bring their own food and drink to our shows. If people can donate a fraction of these savings, I’m confident we can surpass last year’s total, assisting EACH to continue the incredible work it does.” There will also be fundraising initiatives taking place on the evening. Classic Ibiza at Burghley House aims $ΨϛΨ$Ψ8d Ad$Ψ¬dΨWd¥$ È«!I1³يÁR0názًÁR0RXJR «X(J0ًá0nÁ zàXnnJ0 IÁ0«z zÁ0۴JXIÁà È!R0«³۴0æ¨0«X0z!0³ to raise even more Image courtesy of David Evans Photography funds for EACHPlans in for first phase of Barton link road A planning application has been submitted to build the first phase of the Barton-upon-Humber link road. The plans funded by Government cash would see a link road built to connect Barrow Road, A1077 and Caistor Road. Junction improvements would be made and a cycle path and pedestrian footway added, making travel more convenient and slashing carbon emissions. Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have spent a lot of time across several rounds of consultation listening to residents in Barton to understand how they would like to see their town develop. As with all major developments having the proper infrastructure in place as a community continues to grow is absolutely essential and we’re confident that is what this link road delivers – taking HGV traffic out of the town centre and making it more convenient for residents to get around, while considering our impact on the environment.” Last year Barton received almost £20m of Levelling-Up funding to improve travel and connectivity. latest news ‘Wonky House’ to be brought back to life in Lincoln Lincoln’s iconic 40-42 Michaelgate is being brought back to life, with completion of works expected by May this year, after which it will become holiday accommodation. The iconic leaning 40-42 Michaelgate is set to be safeguarded through funding of £350,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Investors in Lincoln and City of Lincoln Council. The grade II listed 40-42 Michaelgate falls within Lincoln’s Cathedral & City Centre Conservation Area. 42 Michaelgate is an example of a late eighteenth century house and shop. 40 Michaelgate is a timber framed house dating from the sixteenth century. Cllr Naomi Tweddle, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “40-42 Michaelgate is an important part of Lincoln’s heritage and we understand the value in maintaining, protecting and restoring this building. Securing this funding is fantastic news and will allow us to protect the condition of the property and help us in creating new holiday accommodation.” Waltham primary school gets go-ahead Plans for a primary school in Waltham have been approved by Councillors at a meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council’s Planning Committee. The primary school, which is being funded by North East Lincolnshire Council, the Department for Education and through Section 106 contributions, will be run by Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust (LGAT). Plans for a second primary school in Scartho, on land off Matthew Telford Way, were approved in December last year. Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I’m really pleased to see planners approved these proposals. The two primary schools in Scartho and Waltham are desperately needed by 2026 to accommodate pupils. I know that we are keen, along with Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust to work with local residents to minimise any disruption. These school spaces are sorely needed, and it’s vital that we start to plan now for the future.” Image courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council © stock.adobe.com/StockrPrinting|Copying|Graphic Design LOGOS | BRANDING | BUSINESS STATIONERY FLYERS & POSTERS | BROCHURES | NEWSLETTERS A0 COPYING & SCANNING | OS MAPPING CAD & PLAN PRINTING | PRINT FINISHING High Quality Print & Design in Lincolnshire N 01522 546118 E sales@lincolncopycentre.co.uk www.lincolncopycentre.co.ukNext >