£2.95 JUNE 2023 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk BLM GROUP GROUP BLM £2.95 JUNE 2023 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE Farm & Country Link Summer Fashion Discovering Lincoln Homes & Gardens Farm & Country Link Summer Fashion Discovering Lincoln Homes & GardensRated Ň Excellent ň SyèʼnŇ ®®ºňʼnÒºʼnÖÌʼnyÒʼnÒ ʼn5¡µº®µÌ ¡ÈʼnS ºâġ Taking broadband to the Next Level ®µÌ ¡ÈʼnS ºâġ ÖÅÅĜº´ µ«ºèʼnÈ®¡y ®ĝʼnÖ®ÒÈyyÌÒʼnÌÅÌġ DISCOVERANEWLEVELOFTASTE Caythorpe SimonandBeckyarecommittedtoprovidingqualityfood,drinkandawarmandfriendlyatmosphereinthe relaxedenvironment,quirkywithahintoftraditionalcharm. DogFriendly Locallysourcedproduce . . Vegan/vegetarianoptions AlFrescoDining Asthetemperaturerises,enhanceyourdiningexperienceatTheRedLionbydiningoutdoorsinourseatingarea. 62HIGHSTREET,CAYTHORPE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NG323DN 01400272632 WWW.REDLIONCAYTHORPE.COM HELLO@REDLIONCAYTHORPE.COM TheSummer is here! And it’s about time. The year has been a busy one already despite lacking a pandemic like the ones previous. We’ve just come off the back of the coronation and a slew of bank holidays, and weather that has been quite unpredictable. Burning hot days, brutally cold days, showers that come and go with no warning whatsoever. We can probably look forward to more of that this June, including warmer days, but it’s worth remembering that our summers have been getting hotter and hotter – repeatedly breaking records. While this may feel pleasant to some, it’s still a bad sign, and if you have children or elderly relatives then take some time to make sure they’re protected with some sunscreen. Also make sure to take water with you if you’re walking your dogs, and to let them take a break in the shade. If it’s hot for us then you can rest assured it’s much worse with a coat of fur. It’s also the school holidays soon so those of us with children will be a lot busier toward the end of the month. We’ve taken a look at how you can help your children learn some valuable life skills this summer, and the importance of teaching them outside of school. We’ve also gathered plenty of great ideas for days out this June, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the weather so long as they’re doing it responsibly. Have a great summer! 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/ANDRII SALIVON 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.netFeatures 6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIRE What’s been going on in the county this month? 22LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGE EXPLORED This month we explore the house and grounds of Belton House. 24DISCOVERING LINCOLN: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME From its origins in 300 BC to its bustling high street today, Lincoln is a city steeped in history. Explore its rich past, from Roman forts to Viking trading, Norman conquests to industrial revolutions, and find hidden treasures in its magnificent landmarks, grand halls, and independent boutiques. 30THE ALLOTMENT KITCHEN & DELI Q&A This month we speak with Gemma Whitelock at “The Allotment”, which is opening this month in Collingham promising food that is both healthy and delicious. 32CHANGING WITH THE SEASONS As we step into June, we enter the warmer summer months; the perfect excuse to refresh your wardrobe. 42IT’S ALL ABOUT THE VOLUME IN SUMMER 2023 The warm and hazy summer months inspire many of us to change up our look, and for summer 2023, we’re going voluminous. Often associated with youthfulness, vitality, and glamour, hair with some oomph is never out of style. 44ENJOYING THE JOURNEY TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE With summer upon us, it can be easy to panic about getting in shape for the warmer weather. However, physically punishing exercise routines and being hard on oneself can have the opposite effect if you’re not enjoying it. 46THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS Lincolnshire man Chris Jones recounts how strangers brought him from the brink of suicide and are supporting him during a 7,500-mile trek around the coastline of Britain to repay the charity that saved his life, so it can do the same for others. 48SUMMER FOODS There's a lot of focus around the warmer months on healthy foods and cutting down on carbs to look better in the hotter months. We collect some hearty meals here along with a few snacks. JUNE AS WE STEP INTO JUNE, WE ENTER THE WARMER SUMMER MONTHS; THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO REFRESH YOUR WARDROBE. contentsFARMING MAY BE AN INDUSTRY THAT CAN NEVER TRULY DIE, BUT AS THE ECONOMY STRUGGLES IN OTHER AREAS THE KNOCK-ON EFFECTS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR FARMERS. 52WILLOW CHARITY BALL Belton Woods Hotel in Grantham welcomed a charity ball in support of the Willow Foundation, raising over £2,600. 62REAL LIFE SKILLS Schools are constantly under pressure to teach “real life skills” to their students, but how much of this is justified and are parents blameless when their children leave school with no direction in life? 66STAYING SAFE AND COMFORTABLE THIS SUMMER From planning in advance to staying hydrated, there are several ways to prepare for and mitigate the effects of high temperatures. We offer some handy tips and strategies to keep your loved ones cool and comfortable this summer. 70COUNTY MOTORING We take a look at some of the new motors that might be hitting our roads this year. • We put the McLaren GT through its paces 76CHAPEL FIELDS HOLIDAY PARK Lincolnshire today had the pleasure of a short break at the Chapel Fields Holiday Park located on the East coast at Chapel St Leonards. 78WHAT’S ON There’s always something going on in Lincolnshire. Desirable homes 10MODERNISING THE TRADITIONAL Having undergone a sympathetic refurbishment programme, this month’s property offers contemporary living amongst traditional features. 16POPULAR CULTURE IN ART Born in 1996, Emily Crook studied graphic design at Middlesex University, but always had a passion for art. Upon graduating Emily changed her career path and became dedicated to creating art and finding her unique artistic vision. 18GOING VERTICAL With vertical gardens increasing in popularity, the trend is ideal for space-conscious gardeners, but also those looking to create an impressive focal point. 20REVAMP YOUR GARDEN Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping shares some easy ways to transform your garden. Farm & Country Link 54FARM & COUNTRY LINK NEWS The latest news from across the countryside. 56THE FARMING SCENE Farming may be an industry that can never truly die, but as the economy struggles in other areas the knock-on effects can have a big impact on our farmers. From financial constrains to mental health and a rise in countryside crime. It’s worth thinking of our farmers who have to deal with it all. Sir Mo Farah support spurs on Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Marathon runner When North Hykeham marathon runner, Andy Ayer received the ultimate encouragement from Sir Mo Farah prior to the start of his London Marathon, he knew it would spur him on to cross the finishing line. By pure chance Andy ended up staying in the same hotel, on the eve of the marathon, as the professional athlete. Andy said: “Sir Mo was happy to give up his time and talk to me and my family. He high fived my children and chatted with them about which football team they supported. He also asked me about my marathon race and wished me the very best of luck. He was most personable, an inspirational athlete who has inspired a generation with such genuine humility.” Andy was one of nine fantastic runners who took on the gruelling 26-mile London Marathon in aid of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) and together raised over £23,000 for the charity’s life- saving work. A new Stamford Poet Laureate is in place following a competition at Stamford Arts Centre. Emily Dickens is the new holder of the title, with Aiden Surridge and Abbie Blair chosen as joint Youth Laureates for the year. Performance poet Emily said: “This is a huge honour and I am so grateful that I get to grow and take care of the poetry and arts scene in Stamford. I’m looking forward to watching the community grow so that the rest of the country can see what we have to offer.” Emily believes strongly in the diversity of voices and would like to see more women and LGBTQ+ groups at local poetry sessions, sharing their unique perspectives of the world. A crowd of more than 50 watched as the finalists took part in a live reading for a panel of judges, which comprised Stamford Deputy Mayor Andy Croft; SKDC Arts Programme Officer Karen Burrows; and outgoing Poet Laureate Scott Coe with inaugural Youth Poet Laureate Daniel Paice. Environment Agency begins £7m beach-boosting sand import on Lincolnshire coast A beach regeneration programme costing £7m will see 400,000 cubic metres of sand topping up beaches between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point, reducing the risk of flooding for Lincolnshire’s coastal communities. The Environment Agency’s annual beach management sees sand dredged from licensed areas of the seabed. This is then pumped onto the beach to replace levels naturally lost to the sea throughout the year. This reduces the risk of flooding for 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans and 35,000 hectares of land. Replenishing the sand means that the beaches, instead of hard defences like sea walls, take the brunt of the waves’ force and energy. This reduces the amount of damage and erosion to those hard defences and lessens the risk of water overtopping them. In addition to reducing flood risk, the work brings supplementary social and economic benefits by retaining the sandy beaches for a vibrant tourism industry. © stock.adobe.com/ mizar_21984 latest news Stamford welcomes a new Poet Laureate © stock.adobe.com/ GillBRIC gifted 60,000 pens to support communities in need A generous donation of 60,000 pens has been received by BRIC in a bid to support vulnerable families and children across Lincolnshire. Gainsborough-based charity BRIC (Building Resilience in Communities) provides emotional support and practical help to children and their families to get them back on their feet after dealing with issues such as illness, disability, abuse, isolation, and the demands of having a young family. BRIC organised a ‘Be Kind To All Kind’ event, which encouraged children to write a story about kindness and send it to BRIC’s office where a select few would be shared on the charity’s website, social media channels and newsletter. The storytelling activity was so popular that BRIC ran out of resources for families that wanted to take part, so they sent out an appeal to the community. R.E.A.CH (Resources for Extra Activities for Children), a charity also based in Gainsborough, responded to the appeal and donated 60,000 pens, believing that the ethos of work at BRIC matched its own. Local contractor and developer, Stirlin, has completed a new phase of employment space on their development in Lincoln: Kirk’s Yard. Kirk’s Yard is a commercial business park located just outside the village of Branston, approximately 4 miles from Lincoln City Centre. Stirlin completed the first two phases of the development back in March 2019, with all units occupied by a variety of established local businesses, including Gateway Automation, Lincolnshire Radiators Direct and TL Electrical Engineering. Following the success of these phases, Stirlin has now delivered a third phase, to provide 10 industrial units suitable for a variety of business uses, ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft. Sustainable elements of the scheme include energy efficient lighting, bike racks to encourage the cycle to work scheme and the recycling of existing topsoil from the land, which has been used for the landscaped areas around the site. Stirlin also offer the option to include a renewable energy solar system on the units. New phase of employment space Red Arrows ‘Make a Wish’ at Neale Court Staff at Neale Court Care Home in Lincoln were thrilled when two of their residents’ wish to see the Red Arrows up close came true on the day of the King’s Coronation. As part of the Country Court ‘Make a Wish’ initiative, residents are given the opportunity to tell members of staff about somewhere they had always wanted to go or a special activity they had always wanted to do. Residents Alan and Laurie spoke to staff about their time serving in the Royal Air Force and mentioned how much they admired the Red Arrows. Christine Harding, the wellbeing coordinator at Neale Court began by contacting RAF Waddington and posted on social media to see if anyone would be able to help. Eventually she was contacted by Steve Kelly, the chief technician at RAF Red Arrows, who kindly invited Alan and Laurie to visit RAF Waddington to meet the Red Arrows team. The pair were invited to watch as they prepared to take off for the flypast on the day of King Charles III Coronation, over Buckingham Palace in London. delivered in Lincoln L-R: Vikki Hern (BRIC), Perry Smith (R.E.A.CH), Sheila Jennings (R.E.A.CH), Kamila Zolotar (BRIC).Restaurant group cooking up a brighter future with purchase of flagship site in Lincoln An independent East Midlands hospitality group has cemented its future in the region through the purchase of its flagship site in Lincoln, with support from Lloyds Bank. Established in 2009, Ever So Sensible Restaurants now operates ten food-led hospitality venues across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. A £700,000 finance package from Lloyds Bank has enabled the group to purchase the freehold of one of its most popular venues, the Duke William Hotel – pub, restaurant, with a boutique style hotel, located in the centre of the historic Bailgate in Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter. The hotel has nine ensuite rooms and an adjacent cottage. The purchase now means Ever So Sensible will be able to consider enabling long term investment in the building and the opportunity to expand its accommodation options in the city through the purchase of nearby properties. It marks the first freehold site purchased by the group and will act as a template for future acquisitions of its other leased buildings to help maximise the potential of all its sites. This, in combination with further planned acquisitions of new locations. Redevelopment, refurbishment and extension of Boston leisure centre approved Plans for the redevelopment, refurbishment and two-storey extension to a Boston leisure centre have been approved. The proposals for the Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre would see the existing two pools retained which combined with the proposed changes would make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the community. The plans form part of the £21.9m of funding received from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities Towns Funding programme which looks to provide additional facilities for the town, utilising here the public and training pools, under one roof. This important project seeks to significantly enhance the appearance and functionality of the leisure centre; with a focus on the provision of new and improved facilities including new entrance; gym facilities; and a new changing village suitable for all users. The access to the centre would be remodelled and there would be a shared pick-up/drop-off and coach facility, along with a new high quality public plaza, providing an attractive and functional new place for people to enjoy. latest news © stock.adobe.com/ I Believe I Can Fly First of King Charles’ national nature reserves will be in Lincolnshire Twelve square miles of Lincolnshire coastline are to become the first of 25 national nature reserves created to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. It’ll be declared by National England as the first in a series of reserves under the banner of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves. Five new reserves will be created every year for the next five years by Natural England, with the first – the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve – declared by Natural England this summer. The Lincolnshire Reserve contains a variety of sand dunes, saltmarsh, mudflats, and freshwater marshes which support many breeding and wintering birds, natterjack toads, special plants and insects. © stock.adobe.com/ S. Lyons Photography*A mortgage payment of £167.63 per week: Representative Example – A mortgage of £1158,396 paya- ble over 35 years, initially on a fixed rate of 4.31% until 03/07/2023, and then on a variable rate of 7.70% for the remaining 30 years would require payments of £726.40per month for 61 months, followed by 359 payments of £1,057.05 The total amount payable would be £424,472.00. The overall cost for com- parison is 6.70% APRC representative. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Correct at time of print 16.5.23 MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS FROM £167.63 PER WEEK Book your appointment today keepmoat.com or 01427 857950 This exciting new development of modern 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes will include public open spaces, play area, walkways, woodland views and proposed amenities. Designed for how we live today, our new homes combine high spec and lots of individual style. With many features as standard, plus a choice of options and extras to tailor your home to you, they are perfect for first time buyers and growing families. Warren Wood View 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £175,995 WITH Scan this code with your phone for more information Next >