< PreviousCollege of Art, he gained a degree in animation – the lessons of which are still incorporated in the vivid colours of his art today. Andrew later progressed his career to fine art and began to focus on painting full time instead of carrying on as a graphic designer. With a style that emphasises the use of acrylics and bright colours, Andrew’s art is eye catching and filled with passion. 20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE F rom the age of six, Andrew Johnson knew he would have a career in art. The pull was so strong for him that even at an early age were his heart and mind set on it. Andrew says that the joy of painting is like a magical escape into what feels like another dimension – a magical realm with no boundaries but for what he chooses to express. Having studied in Dungee at the Jordanstone brightness Vivid This month, Andrew Johnson takes us into another dimension. If you’d like to see Andrew’s work for yourself, head down to Lincoln’s Little Red GalleryLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE 22 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains how to get heavenly hanging baskets. to do. And that is tightly packed plant spacing. To achieve the full, cascading blooms that you envy, you must cram the plants into every available space. It’s perfectly fine to do this in this instance as the plants in there are only temporary. The second is food. Hanging baskets are not your normal outdoor container. They hold a lot of plants in a very small space, which means food and water gets consumed very quickly. Water your baskets twice a day, morning and evening. As soon as they start to dry out you’re on the road to disaster, so remember not to skip this step even if it has rained. And, feed with a liquid fertiliser every two weeks. If you are going away then you need to arrange for a friendly neighbour to pop round and keep your basket watered. © stock.adobe.com/ Irina Schmidt H anging baskets can be simply spectacular. However, most attempts to achieve these summertime staples end up looking less than average. To be brutally honest, being responsible for a hanging basket is not a job for the faint hearted. They are incredibly needy. If your summer is likely to be spent at home, it’s a great opportunity to learn how to master the art of planting and maintaining a hanging basket. A full, blooming basket will bring you many months of joy. But only if you follow two key tips. The first instruction to acknowledge when planting up a hanging basket is one that goes against the most critical rule that every gardening book tells you not Heavenly hanging baskets* Watch out for last frosts and protect tender plants * Collect rainwater * Earth up potatoes, and plant any remaining * Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month (unless it is still cold) * Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days * Feed pond fish regularly * Clip hedges but check for nesting birds first * Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs * Start planting vegetables for a harvest this year such as asparagus, rhubarb, carrots, cauliflowers, artichokes, brassicas and courgettes * Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs and use natural sprays to control them LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 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 Otherwise, you may return from your holiday to a lifeless basket. You can start to plant up your hanging baskets now but they will need protection from Frost until late May/early June. It is usually better to plant your basket once the risk of frost has passed. Also regularly deadhead your flowers and this will encourage a succession of flowers and prevent the plants’ energy going into seed production. You may also want to start thinking about a winter hanging basket. They are a brilliant way to bring colour and interest into your garden during the colder months. They’re easy to manage and a way to keep you gardening throughout the winter months. There is a wealth of hardy plants to choose from and combinations for winter hanging baskets are endless. Whatever the time of year you decide to have your hanging baskets they are always a great addition to any garden, no matter the size, and a great way to bring colour and interest. © stock.adobe.com/Joewilson/evelyna636 © stock.adobe.com/sushytska24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS Relaxing to watch and helpful around the garden, eating pests and assisting with flower pollination — how can we entice birds into our gardens? I t is well known that Lincolnshire is blessed with numerous stunning locations and nature reserves from which a diverse variety of birds can be spotted. But many in our county are also lucky enough to be visited by an array of feathered friends at their own homes. For those who may not be, Lincolnshire Today shares how to create a bird-friendly garden. Attracting birds to your garden is easier than one might think, with just a few simple additions to your outdoor space required. Feeders Installing bird feeders — whether freestanding, hung off a tree, or on the ground — is one of the best ways to welcome birds into your garden. Plus, once they know there is a food source available, they will be back for more! There are many different types of bird feed that can be used, but should you wish to attract a specific species, you can tailor what you buy. Suet balls, for example, are particularly enjoyed by robins, blue tits and long tailed tits, and are helpful in winter to provide birds the calories they require through the long, colder months. Meanwhile niger seeds are loved by siskins, greenfinches and goldfinches, and mealworms are appreciated by blackbirds, starlings and robins. Simply top your feeder up regularly and position it somewhere safe, ideally by a tall hedge or tree that can offer cover from danger. Another option is to leave a few rotting log piles in a shady spot, or a mini beast hotel, to promote the insect population in your garden, to be gobbled up by birds. Baths Birds need water to ensure their survival, for drinking and bathing. They can therefore be tempted into your garden by a fresh, clean, water source. Investing in a bird bath is a great idea, or even utilising a normal bowl of water. Place this somewhere shaded, safe from predators, and keep the water shallow and refreshed as often as possible to give birds a nice space to take a splash and Bringing in birds 26 Á © stock.adobe.com/Stef Bennett Bringing in birds EXCELLENT 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 ENJOYA 26 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS Charles H Hill Ltd. Moor Lane, Horsington, Woodhall Spa, LN10 5HH. Tel: 01526 388281 • www.charleshhill.co.uk BUY AN AP SYSTEM TOOL AND AP 200 OR AP 300 S BATTERY AND GET ANOTHER OF THE SAME BATTERY FREE STIHL 2024 SPRING PROMOTION 15TH MARCH 2024 TO 30TH JUNE 2024 quench their thirst. If you want to make a feature of it, there are numerous ornate bird baths to choose from. Nests Birds can also be encouraged into gardens by presenting them with more options for a safe place to nest. Add a couple of nesting boxes in sheltered areas of your garden, where they are not in direct sunlight or where they may be hit by strong winds. This can promote a family of birds to take residence, which you can watch flutter in and out. There are many different nesting boxes in varying sizes and designs, and each draws different species, including the most common traditional small-holed nest boxes, to be positioned up trees or walls, and open-fronted nest boxes, which should be set low to the ground, hidden by plants. Plants Planting a plethora of bird-friendly plants, trees, shrubs and climbers should be considered by those wanting to entice birds into their gardens. These will help supply natural food sources, shelter and nesting sites, such as from berry-rich trees and shrubs like holly and hawthorn. Plants with a lot of seeds are a good choice too, like sunflowers, while ivy and honeysuckle, which provide cover, fruits and attract insects, are popular with birds. By offering birds food, water, and a safe space to take shelter, your garden is sure to be a haven for feathered friends. © stock.adobe.com/Chamois huntressLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 GARDENS s warmer weather arrives and we can start enjoying our gardens again, the desire to have somewhere to appreciate your outdoor space from is growing. This is seeing the expert team at Andrew Dams Sheds and Summer Houses offer their help to enhance your outdoor space, with guidance on choosing the best timber sheds, summerhouses, pergolas, Elite Greenhouses, and more to suit your needs, from an area for relaxation to a spot to invest time in your gardening hobby. The family business, started by Andrew Dams in 1983, have been working with customers for 40 years, supplying and installing sheds, summerhouses, and Elite Greenhouses into Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and far beyond. Despite the wide market for their products the Billinghay-based business keeps a personal touch, with manager Daniel Dams noting: “We manufacture our buildings with care and attention on our own site, including all summerhouse joinery doors and windows, and in addition supply and assemble all of our buildings. We also sell directly to customers, to remove the middle men, allowing for more personal service.” He added: “We have erected buildings in England, Scotland and Wales, though mainly in our own county, where we have a large show site with a plethora quality timber sheds and summerhouses on display. Why not enjoy a day out in Lincolnshire to share your requirements with us? We take pride in displaying what we make and look forward to helping you select the ideal building for your garden.” The business, which utilises the highest quality materials, takes further delight in its pricing. “We aim to produce and sell our 19mm thick loglap T&G buildings at a similar price to competitors’ 12mm sheds. You may be surprised at what we offer! Plus our quality structures are strong and durable, ensuring they last for years,” said Daniel. You can purchase buildings from Andrew Dams Sheds and Summer Houses on their website (www.andrewdams.co.uk) or visit the show site on Walcott Road, Billinghay, LN4 4EW, which has around 20 sheds and summerhouses and 11 aluminium Elite Greenhouses on display. The showroom is open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, and on Saturday 10am - 4pm. Hand-crafted excellence in Lincolnshire Working with customers for 40 years, supplying and installing sheds, summerhouses, Elite Greenhouses, and more, Andrew Dams Sheds and Summer Houses manufacture a wide variety of options to enrich gardens with. Follow us for regular updates… A For further information call 01526 861737, email sales@andrewdams.co.uk, or visit www.andrewdams.co.uk28 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CAISTOR Caistor’s cosy vibe and connection to Victorian, Georgian and even Roman history give you a place to pause for calm reflection. With plenty of cafes and artisan shops providing shelter, restoration and curiosities, it’s a quietly picturesque patch for weathering away the last vestiges of winter. Photo courtesy of Mike Galligan Cosy Caistor LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 CAISTOR Knapton Wright ‘Small rural businesses have a big impact, especially when they collaborate’ is the message being championed by Knapton Wright which is celebrating settling down into a new, sustainable office space in Systematic’s recently renovated building in Caistor. As a planet-positive creative and digital marketing agency, Knapton Wright is laying the foundations for a ‘creative hub’ primed for growth; a sentiment which has already caught the eye of plenty of young talent, potential recruits and other collaborators. While urban landscapes are typically seen to offer a competitive edge when it comes to business success, it’s clear that innovation, big actions and impactful results aren’t just reserved for big cities; it’s the very reason Knapton Wright chose to exist in the Wolds. By challenging brands to do more to improve the planet through considered yet creative marketing solutions and ‘green’ website development, clients are reaping the rewards. Increased brand awareness, targeted audience engagement and award nominations and wins, all just four months into this year. Find out more about Knapton Wright at www.knaptonwright.co.uk T he site of a Roman camp, Caistor is peppered with blue plaques commemorating historical events and buildings. An ideal first stop to escape the cold and rain is the Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre, which has made its home inside a former Victorian Methodist chapel. The sense of peace nurtured by the building’s façade and trio of arch windows follows you inside, where a six-metre-long timeline retells the town’s history from 8,000 BC up to the present day, and exhibitions bring local artists centre stage. The celebrations of Lincolnshire creativity don’t stop there, since every Friday night brings Music Night, featuring new and returning support and main acts. The variety of events and workshops are where this museum and gallery comes alive as a community hub, and a venue for enjoying the new and familiar with good company. The Knitting and Natter group meets weekly, welcoming members and visitors of all abilities, supplying needles and wool to those without and encouraging you to give the craft a go. The friendly community spirit extends Photo courtesy of Mike Galligan 30 Á ÁNext >