< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS ‘Edimentals’ — a term coined by horticulturalist Stephen Barstow for plants that are both edible and ornamental — are increasing in popularity, providing an easy and gorgeous way to grow food. D electable and decorative, ‘edimentals’ make great additions to gardens as plants that can both be eaten and offer a stunning display. Bringing fresh life to the ‘grow your own’ trend, for many, embracing edimentals may not even require any extra gardening, with numerous plants and flowers already growing in gardens being edible, without people realising. This was highlighted by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) during its last Festival of Flavours, when the society shared edible plants providing beautiful flowers and garden interest that can also help to diversify diets and boost harvests. The shoots, leaves and flowers of lilies are gobble-able, while lily bulbs can be cooked as a substitute to potatoes, and the peppery taste of pot marigold lends itself well to soups, stews, and puddings, whereas all parts of alliums are edible with an onion or garlic taste. There are also commonly consumed fruits, vegetables and herbs that present a prettier picture when planted in gardens than one might realise, like onions, leeks, and blueberry bushes. The different types of plants you can include in an edimental garden are endless. This mix might include: * attractive vegetables — rainbow chard for example brings bright colour while globe artichokes offer an ornate feature * fragrant and stylish herbs — with sage for instance producing lovely flowers in mid-summer * shrubs and trees to add height — such as cherry with its spring blossom and bright autumn foliage * the many available edible perennials — which can live for many years, offering great value and requiring less labour, with an abundance of common options having edible parts, like hosta shoots. Look to bring together plants with vibrant colours, unique textures, varied heights, and good nutritional and taste value to create visual interest and healthy meals. Beneficially, with a diverse selection of plants, more pollinators will be attracted and supported too. When introducing edimentals to your garden, one will need to decide where to position these plants. The fun thing here is that edimental gardening is a more informal method than an official, dedicated patch, not requiring this. This allows you to play around without straight and stringent lines, incorporating © stock.adobe.com/Khairil An edimental approach An edimental approach LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 GARDENS ABBEY TREE SERVICES Professional tree care n OUR SERVICES: n All aspects of tree care n Hedge cutting n Dangerous trees & call outs n Wood mulch/chip & Logs We cover Woodhall Spa, Coningsby, Horncastle & surrounding areas in Lincolnshire CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE 01526 352 573 n abbeytreeservices1@gmail.com abbeytreeservices-woodhallspa.co.uk 01526 352 573 / 07717195089 abbey_treeservices abbeyts edimentals in between and around classic ornamental plants that you plan to have in the ground permanently, dotting food throughout your current displays. Making use of empty spots, this produces a creative, multipurpose space through which you can forage rather than harvesting an entire crop at once. It also means you can get more out of your gardens, especially smaller ones. Though edimental planting can be more relaxed, there are some things to keep in mind to encourage your edibles to flourish, particularly soil type, location and sun exposure. Most edibles prefer sun and can handle a little, but not full, shade; a quick search online will share what your selected plants need. A wise consideration is to make your space functional, pairing edimentals with plants with similar water and microclimate requirements, with Mediterranean herbs for example planted alongside dry-loving plants. One might additionally apply companion planting to naturally deter pests and support growth, such as planting sage near brassicas. With a wealth of plants to choose from, remember to take into account the climate you live in, opting for plants that will thrive in the weather you experience through the year. Of course, edimentals aren’t restricted to the ground; many enjoy climbing, like peas over trellises, making them ideal for vertical garden designs, while pots, containers, and hanging baskets can be a prime home for certain edimental plants where space is limited. They can further be employed as ground covers if seeking an alternative to a grass lawn, or act as borders, frame flower beds, or could replace hedges. When buying and eating plants, however, ensure to check exactly what you are growing, with some edimentals looking similar to non-consumable plants. It is also important to know which parts of a plant are edible and whether they need to be cooked before being suitable for consumption. The red stems of rhubarb, for instance, may be a great crumble base, but rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid which is toxic to humans if eaten in large amounts. Edimentals are hailed as a win-win for gardens. Both practical and pretty, they enhance displays while elevating meals and encouraging creativity. © stock.adobe.com/ Валерия Зеленева © stock.adobe.com/aleksandra_5522 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WOODHALL SPA A charming village with Edwardian character, set amongst magnificent pinewoods, Woodhall Spa came to be by accident, emerging as a resort in the 19th century. Its story begins in the early 1800s with John Parkinson; an entrepreneur unsuccessful in his search for coal in the area, sinking a shaft and instead hitting a spring of iodine and bromine-rich water. With the shaft then abandoned, this water eventually overflowed into a stream, where it was said to have been drunk by and cured sick cattle, laying the groundwork for the area’s future. Gaining a reputation for improving the health of people, years later the local Lord of the Manor, Mr. Thomas Hotchkin built a bathhouse promoting the water’s benefits, followed An enchanting village With a rich and fascinating past and bustling present, Woodhall Spa has a lot to explore. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 WOODHALL SPA by a hotel and parkland: the Spa Baths and the Victoria Hotel. With the Spa’s popularity, it was then enlarged and purchased by a syndicate of gentlemen in the late 1880s — starting a new chapter in the village’s narrative. With the appointment of London architect, Richard Adolphus Came, Woodhall Spa began to grow into the settlement recognised today, with Came taking charge of the design of a ‘Spa Town’, creating the wide, tree-lined Broadway that remains a bustling centre for retail therapy, including ‘Britain’s Smallest Shoe Shop’ Peter Scott Shoes. To achieve a vision of a small garden city, with a spacious community in a woodland setting, Came created a strict set of design and planning guidelines. While the Spa became less frequented after the First World War, the village continued to prosper as a leisure destination, with its internationally famous golf course redesigned in the 1920s and still popular today. Though renowned itself, the golf club, now the National Golf Centre, hosts the octagonal Tower on the Moor; the remaining part of a hunting lodge built by Lord Ralph Cromwell who resided at nearby Tattershall Castle. Believed to date from the 15th century, the tower stands as a reminder of the history of the area before the Spa was born. The village’s reputation matured with the Second World War, standing at the heart of ‘Bomber County’. Transformed into a key centre of the war effort, paratroopers famously journeyed from Woodhall Spa to Arnhem. The village’s Pinewoods were used to camouflage military equipment, and the local Petwood Hotel served as an officer’s mess, best known as the home for the 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron, after the building already acted as a military convalescence hospital in the First World War. Woodhall Spa has since continued to evolve as a leisure and social centre and increasingly popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from across the county and country, whether they are history and heritage buffs, nature and wildlife lovers, © stock.adobe.com/Tony 24 Á24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WOODHALL SPA sportsmen, cyclists or walkers. Though the old Spa Baths have long closed — being redeveloped following their dereliction for a hair, beauty and wellness company — with its peaceful atmosphere, range of accommodation, restaurants, cafes, variety of shops, sporting clubs, and trails, the village has an abundance to explore. Amongst the attractions is the local treasure, Kinema in the Woods. Originally a sports and entertainment pavilion, the cinema opened in its woodland setting in 1922 and is believed to be the last in the country to use the method of back projection. Having grown to four screens, as well as a Woodland Courtyard for films to be shown outdoors in the summer, a trip to the Kinema is like stepping back in time, with the venue filled with retro decor. Those lucky enough may even hear a performance on the Kinema’s Compton Kinestra Organ. Also worth visiting, just a stone’s throw away, is the historic Tea House in the Woods. Dating back to 1903, the venue became a favoured destination for visitors to the village, serving refined teas in violet- patterned china. Originally operated by the Williams sisters, the tea house often featured on early 1900s postcards, helping to establish Woodhall Spa as a renowned inland resort. The Kinema and Tea House sit alongside The Pinewoods, a favourite relaxation spot for visitors during the height of popularity for the Spa Baths and Victoria Hotel (now the site of the Coronation Hall following a fire at the hotel in 1920). The 7.6-hectare wood is made up of beautiful broadleaf woodland and is full of wildlife — look out for Spotted Woodpecker, Muntjac and Treecreeper — while paranormal enthusiasts will be intrigued by folklore stories of a man wearing a cloak and a tricorn hat drifting through the woods, a phantom woman in white and the sound of wailing. The Pinewoods form part of the scenic Spa Trail, a simple, traffic-free route ideal for walkers and cyclists. Part of the Viking Way, this three-mile path and bridleway runs from Woodhall Spa to Horncastle, with sculptures reflecting local wildlife and history made from wood, stone and metal along the route. To further get lost in wildlife there are numerous nature reserves around Woodhall Spa, including Roughton Moor Wood, Moor Farm, and Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve, a former airfield becoming a haven for animals and a monument to the area’s aviation heritage. To deeper explore the village, there are a number of walks around Woodhall Spa, which can be found in detail online, with many starting at Royal Square. 26 ÁLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 ooW dhall Spa 9300 tht 18 A fant May 202 nasicda 25 ay out! Fea oodha The New Sho 9.30a W aturing all Spa LN10 6Q eeound, Growgr am - 5p uiq g YQ n Lane, pm Inspire e tion ct od ro ne pr uc FeaF ocL eR aturing cuodoPac tnehmsreef lr g ,e,c ,s,ts e Inspire S etsetic heaperfor c SCAN HERE v k Adults £14.00, Children £6.00 and Under 5s FREE Advance cheaper tickets available from our Website Tel: 07903 205811 www.woodhallspacountryshow.com PETER SCOTT 1 The Broadway, WOODHALL SPA 01526 353935 Open 7 days26 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WOODHALL SPA Woodhall Spa Country Show 2025 Woodhall Spa’s Country Show is a gem of an event. Held on the third Sunday in May in one of Lincolnshire’s most attractive villages, the 2025 show, taking place on the 18th, incorporates all the features of a traditional local event. Run by an enthusiastic local committee, it draws together many aspects of rural life in Lincolnshire, including livestock, vintage machinery, and a wide range of trade stands. Woodhall Spa Country Show boasts 100 different classes for sheep and cattle where local breeders compete to demonstrate their skill in breeding, preparation and showing for trophies, rosettes, and cash prizes. Proud enthusiasts show off their immaculately conserved vintage tractors and other vehicles, where appreciation by their fellow exhibitors often ranks higher than the actual awards! Foodies and shoppers always appreciate the offerings of local independent food outlets, a great variety of trade outlets, a full craft marquee, and a fascinating heritage area. Among the new attractions for 2025’s show is horseman Guillaume Gotts with his ‘Inspire Equine Production’; a wonderful display of exciting acrobatic riding that requires an amazing degree of high-level human-horse interaction. Fens Falconry returns this year with their magnificent flying display of native and exotic birds of prey in the main ring, supported by a very informative educational commentary. The birds can also be seen closer to hand on a static display elsewhere on the showground. For visitors fancying a seat and some musical entertainment, the music trailer hosts the ever-popular 3rd and Church; Nicky Haxby and Purple Steve; Woodhall’s own Sing it Loud and local musicians, The Soul Collective. For further information and early-bird cheaper tickets see the website, woodhallspacountryshow.com or email info@woodhallspashow.co.uk These gardens were once the site of the Royal Hotel and Winter Gardens which stood in the village until destroyed by German parachute mines in 1943. Now the plot holds the official memorial to the Dambusters Raid by 617 Squadron. At the heart of the village is the picturesque Jubilee Park, which is especially popular in the summer months when its heated outdoor swimming pool is open. Comprising of 10 acres of ornamental gardens, featuring a bandstand, the park also offers a camping and caravanning site, children’s playground, a sensory garden, bowling green, croquet lawns, cricket pitch, putting green, tennis club, fitness suite, and a cafe. A gift from Sir Archibald and Lady Grace Weigall, who also built the Petwood and were a party behind the Kinema, to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V in 1935, the park was opened by Princess Marie Louise, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, frequent visitor to the Spa, and friend of Lady Weigall. Providing a further detailed view of the village’s past, the Cottage Museum features a variety of exhibits that are regularly changed, aiming to preserve the community history of Woodhall Spa while also sharing the life of the Wield family who lived there from 1887 until the 1960s. Their house is a rare surviving example of a Boulton and Paul bungalow constructed of corrugated iron on a wooden frame, making the structure itself a major exhibit. The museum opened its doors in 1987, but began with the vision of John Wield over a hundred years ago. Predicting that people would one day ask about the origins of the then young Victorian spa community he started recording what he could for the future. His photographic collection is the basis of the Cottage Museum today. With a rich and fascinating past, bustling present, and even its own annual country show, Woodhall Spa offers a destination prime for short breaks and day trips. Whether exploring its history, enjoying some retail therapy, relaxing in nature, getting active, or taking a peaceful stroll followed by a bite at one of the village’s restaurants, and settling down with a film in the distinctive Kinema, Woodhall Spa is a gem in the heart of rural Lincolnshire.ORDER 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. 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A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round!28 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Cotton Traders As we head into warmer seasons a pretty, printed dress is a must, such as this leafy, shirred bodice maxi dress from Cotton Traders. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 FASHION With brighter days coming, a new season of clothes are ready to be adorned. Spring into a new season Spring into a new season Next >