< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping gives tips on how to build your perfect water garden. maintenance equipment also need electrical power. 2. Choose a structure that is not buried If the earth is compacted and the water does not freeze during the winter seasons, go with an above-ground pond instead of one in the ground. In many cases, this means it may be made more quickly and with less mess since digging is not required. 3. Ground-based pond As for the appearance and ease of construction and maintenance, an in-ground pond is your best bet for a traditional pond that will look great in any landscape. 4. Make it as big as possible An odd thing about ponds is that they tend to be better for plants and fish the larger they are. They will have a more consistent temperature and chemical balance throughout the year. I n many of the gardens we create our clients want a water feature of some sort. With today’s technology, creating a water garden is not as difficult as it used to be. In exchange, you’ll receive a tranquil setting that will improve your garden space and please your senses. Whether you want a contemporary steel ball water feature, or a more elaborate fountain pond with cascading waterfalls and mood lighting, you’ll find the following tips very helpful. 1. Determine where you want it to go Choose a location for your water garden based on aesthetics, but don’t forget about practicality. Avoid putting it in a location that may be obstructed or disturbed, such as near where your children play football. The aeration system should be kept away from trees to prevent clogging due to falling leaves. However, keep in mind that aeration and Creating a wonderful GARDEN ADVICE Creating a wonderful* Protect new spring shoots from slugs * Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes * Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as Allium, Frecsia, Begonia, Crocosmia and Bearded Iris * Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) and buddleias * Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain and remove pond heaters * Open the greenhouse or conservatory doors and vents on warm days * Get rid of slimy patches on the patio but using a scrubbing broom and cleaning fluid or a pressure washer (be careful it is not too powerful or it will damage the grout) * Sow sweet peas * Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent the plants becoming leggy * Keep feeding the birds LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 FULLERS Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com GARDEN ADVICE Specialised Service in Garden Design and Landscaping Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored garden design and construction services. Around the garden 5. Depth Don’t go deeper than 20 feet into your pond. If you go above that, your expenses will go up since you’ll have to purchase more expensive water aeration equipment. 6. Shape Do not construct a pond with an unusual form. Circulation issues may occur if your pond isn’t circular. You’ll also have to spend extra money on diffusers to make sure the aeration is done correctly. 7. Locating a good location Look for a place with more cover from the sun than direct sunlight. While pond plants need sunshine to thrive, fish prefer shady environments. For a pond, an alternative to a tree is preferable since it doesn’t have leaves: stone fountains, big boulders, or fences. 8. Get the appropriate kind of fish Local vendors typically have the greatest selection of fish since they specialise in species that thrive in your area. The kind and size of your water garden, on the other hand, must be taken into account. Do your homework and get guidance from the provider. Once you have followed these tips you will be able to create a water feature ready for you to enjoy when you are sitting in the summer sun. Photos used are of water features installed by Fullers22 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS The humble bumblebee is a vital helper in our gardens, pollinating plants as well as key crops such as apples, tomatoes, and peas, but it is under threat. How can we assist them in the garden? As the weather starts to get warmer in spring, queen bumblebees awaken from hibernation, looking for flowers to provide nectar to fuel their flight, and protein-rich pollen to feed the developing larvae of worker bees. With The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recently launching a nationwide initiative to monitor ‘Bumbles on Blooms’, in a bid to help the under threat creature thrive, Lincolnshire Today considers how to create a bee-friendly garden. Flower power Changes in agricultural techniques have meant that there are now less wildflowers in the landscape, leaving many bumblebee species struggling to survive. However gardens can become a haven for our buzzing friends, whether you have extensive beds, just a few pots, or couple of hanging baskets. Ensuring you have plants in your garden that are rich in pollen and nectar and will flower from early spring to late autumn and winter will help bumblebees, but it is important to be aware that many ornamental plants like pansies and begonias offer no value to wildlife, following years of cultivation meaning they often produce little pollen or nectar. There are hundreds of other beautiful flowers that do offer these rewards, though, including foxgloves, lavender, alliums, herbs and wild roses. Choose plants with long flowering times and keep them flowering by ‘deadheading’ as flowers die. Providing a variety of different shaped flowers is also important as some bumblebees have short tongues, suited to simple flowers such as apple blossom, and others have long tongues, suited to deeper tube-shaped flowers like foxgloves. You can additionally assist bumblebees by planting flowers in clusters of © stock.adobe.com/ Игорь Кляхин A bumblebee friendly garden A bumblebee friendly garden 24 ÁEXCELLENT PLANT SELECTION WITH 5-YEAR HARDY PLANT GUARANTEE •RESTAURANTS WITH A LARGE SELECTION OF HOME-COOKED MEALS •A WIDE RANGE OF GIFTS•FREE PARKING•GARDENING EXPERTS SINCE 1780 ESTABLISHED IN 1780 CLEETHORPES Humberston Road, Cleethorpes, N E Lincs DN36 4RW Tel: 01472 313600 LINCOLN Newark Road, South Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 9NT Tel: 01522 880033 SLEAFORD London Road, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford NG34 8NY Tel: 01529 304970 Making your ideas grow Visit www.pennells.co.uk for more information! •FREE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL ENJOY24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS the same type, to help them save energy and flit between flowers more quickly. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has a vast list of flowers that suit bumblebees and suggests thinking like a bee when choosing plants. Can you see the centre of the flower? It is probably a good choice if so. If you are not sure what to buy in the garden centre, you can also let the bees do the work for you, selecting the plants that you see bees visiting. A simple way to start this year is by sowing annual and perennial plants on the windowsill in early spring and planting them out in early summer when they are large enough. Then they will be flowering in a few months. Grow your own Taking part in the ‘grow-your-own’ trend not only produces delicious food for ourselves, but the flowers that develop into fruits and vegetables can provide important forage for bumblebees. Beans and blackcurrants, which can be grown easily in pots, grow bags or directly in the ground next to other flowering plants, are almost always bee-pollinated, and do not take up much space. Dwarf fruit trees are another option and can be grown in pots or against walls. wildflowers bumblebees rely on for food, or killing bumblebees. When sprayed on plants the nectar and pollen can become laced with pesticides, therefore exploring natural control methods is advised, such as encouraging beneficial predatory insects like ladybirds and lacewings into the garden to eat aphids and other pests. Companion planting is another option to deter insects (growing certain plants together can discourage some creatures), for example chives grown alongside carrots can confuse carrot fly. In addition, some plants, bulbs and seeds available to buy have been pre- treated with pesticides, so ensure to choose organic, pesticide-free plants and ask for advice at your local garden centre or nursery. Less lawn mowing By mowing your garden less and letting your lawn grow longer, different wildflowers are often allowed to grow to feed bumblebees, from dandelions to catsears, clovers and ground ivy. Alternatively you could leave a small patch of lawn un-mowed to make a difference for local pollinators. When you do start mowing again, ensure to look for any carder bumblebee nests, as these bees like to nest in long tangled grass. Offer a home Gardens can also be useful in providing bumblebees somewhere to nest; as wild pollinators, bumblebees do not live in hives. You can let a patch of grass grow long and tangled for bumblebees who like to nest on the ground, for instance Common carder bumblebees, who make their homes inside thick grass, and use pieces of moss and grass for nesting material. For species like the Tree bumblebee, who enjoy nesting at height, put up a bird box with nesting material inside, consisting of natural material such as straw, leaves, moss, wool, or pet hair. Try to place these boxes somewhere north facing, as bumblebees do not like nests to be in direct sunlight. Other bumblebees nest underground in abandoned mouse holes, including the White-tailed bumblebee, the Buff-tailed bumblebee, and the Garden bumblebee. Consider making a bee hotel for solitary bees as well. Nests last just a few months until new queens hatch and fly out to mate and hibernate. Pesticide-free Many treatments for pest control are harmful to bees, whether harming their ability to find flowers, destroying © stock.adobe.com/ KieranORDER FORM Yes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazine for the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1. Personal Details: First name: Last Name: Address: Town: County: Post Code: Tel: Mobile: Email: Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT card Name as it appears on card: Type of card: Mastercard / Visa / Visa Debit / Other Card Number: Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip) : Expiry Date: Amount Authorised: Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions, Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. N.E. Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Make cheque payable to Business Link Magazine Group & Call now to subscribe on 01472 310301 8 or order online www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341 Total Price: £27.55 Subscribe today 4 great reasons to subscribe... 3 Each issue is brimming with a diverse topic range... • Heritage • Fashion • Hair & Beauty • Leisure • Homes & Gardens • County Motoring • Dining Out • What’s On • Free Reader Giveaways and much much more… 3 First 3 issues only £1! 3 FREE delivery to your door 3 Receive your copy before it hits the shops or Scan QR Code T OCTOB £2.95 BER2023 BreastC Hair & B Cce Bty WithLou In Love Month Awaren B th BLM GROUP ww w.blmgroup.co.uk Heritage Lincolns hi WWW.LINCWWW.LINC OLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO ODAYNEODAYNE T Fashion Fantasti Dining Food an SldiSpalding Visiting d Fitness Health a D d OLNSHIRETODAYOLNSHIRETODAY. 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The wellspring of bromo-iodine water, which accidentally We explore the fascinating history of Woodhall Spa, and why it’s one of Lincolnshire’s cultural and shopping hotspots. 28 Á28 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WOODHALL SPA cured ill cattle that drank from a nearby stream, heralded the Spa’s future and namesake. This natural wonder soon became the local area’s identity, attracting visitors far and wide seeking its much buzzed-about health benefits. Capitalising on this burgeoning interest, Lincolnshire landowner Thomas Hotchkin erected a modest bathhouse, laying the foundation for the village’s transformation into a health and wellness retreat. The ‘Iodine Spa’ underwent remarkable expansion in the ensuing years, evolving into a premier destination complete with six treatment rooms and an adjacent hotel. Its burgeoning popularity led to its purchase by a consortium of gentleman investors, signalling a new chapter in Woodhall Spa’s success story. London architect Richard Adolphus Came played a pivotal role in this transformation, designing the Broadway – a bustling thoroughfare that today serves as the village’s centre for retail therapy. Gift shops, craft stores, and bakeries adorn its wide tree-lined avenues, evoking Woodhall Spa’s illustrious past with the occasional health and aromatherapy store. Despite the trend that sparked its development, the village’s power to charm has endured, a testament to its rich heritage and spirit of innovation. The legacy of Woodhall Spa’s humble yet industrious beginnings is enshrined in its wealth of historic buildings. From the grandeur of St. Peter’s Church to the warm quirky character of St. Leonard’s chapel, these architectural marvels stand as testaments to the village’s enduring legacy. The Cottage Museum provides a more detailed view on the village’s past with displays illustrating the village’s transformations down the centuries, highlighted by glass plate photographs taken of the surrounding area by John Weild. His family owned the cottage that now houses the museum from 1887 until the mid 1960s, but the collection of Weild’s negatives were sold with the building along with his equipment and studious notes. The museum showcases several period rooms, including the living room, kitchen, parlour, and bedroom, all of which have been meticulously restored and furnished with original period pieces. Further exhibits include artefacts, photographs and textiles that shed more light on the area’s rich cultural heritage. With its pleasant setting and informative exhibits, this museum is a must-see for anyone interested in diving into the local history as a way to learn about the area, or make their visit even more memorable. After you’ve taken in all the history you can Jubilee Park offers strolls around a variety of gardens, perfect for letting your new knowledge percolate. The rock garden features an array of rocks and stones from all over the world, while the LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 Sunday 19th May 2024 The 17th Annual Woodhall Spa Country Show The New Showfield, Green Lane, Woodhall Spa LN10 6QY. Tel: 07903 205811 Email: info@woodhallspashow.co.uk • www.woodhallspashow.co.uk A great day out for the whole family with not to be missed shows and livestock competitions. FREE ONSITE PARKING TEA HOUSE IN THE WOODS WOODHALL SPA Est 1903 Coronation Road, Woodhall Spa T: 01526 354455 E: info@teahouseinthewoods.co.uk www.teahouseinthewoods.co.uk Coffee, Cake, Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Sunday Lunch Our team at The Tea House In The Woods extend to you a warm welcome and hope you enjoy every aspect of your dining experience. Monday and Tuesday Closed Wednesday 10am 4pm Thursday 10am 8pm Friday 10am 8pm Saturday 10am 8pm Sunday 10am 4pm herb garden showcases an extensive collection of fragrant herbs and flowers, and the sensory garden brings calm and tranquillity to all its visitors. Spanning over 22 acres, the park also hosts plenty of sports and games for all ages. The tennis courts, putting green and children’s playground are free to take some exercise in on a sunny day, while the open-air theatre hosts a variety of cultural and entertainment events throughout the year. As springtime approaches, here is a great place to spot the variety of local waterfowl and wildlife as they nest and, of course, for introducing your little ones to their babies. For those who prefer their entertainment on the cultural side, Woodhall Spa offers delightful attractions not to be found anywhere else. The Kinema in the Woods continues to captivate audiences with its timeless style, and means there’s always somewhere to stay warm and dry on a rainy day or on evenings post-sightseeing. For that you can thank Lady Grace Weigall. Her singular cinema, first opened in 1922, looks much the same to this day, up to and including the low roof trusses. These make Screen One unsuitable for projection from the back of the auditorium, so films are instead projected from behind the screen and flipped using a mirror. What could have been considered an obstacle, means that the Kinema may well be the only cinema in the UK that uses the old method of rear 30 ÁNext >