< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY BIGG AND BARTON O’Brien’s Opticians launches Low Vision Service and Eyewear Styling Consultation Service O’Brien’s Opticians has launched a brand-new Eyewear Styling Service for existing and new patients at its practice in Brigg after recently training their team as professional eyewear stylists. This individually dedicated consultation service offers patients a unique and bespoke eyewear styling consultation to help them to discover their perfect eyewear to suit both their optical and style needs. The team has been professionally trained in how to assess individual colour analysis, colour psychology, facial and features analysis, style personality and eyewear selection. This will enable all patients to feel assured they are being given an unparalleled consultation service to find them their perfect eyewear. This service adds to the dispensing of ophthalmic lenses by exceptional and superior manufacturers such as Carl Zeiss, Nikon, Seiko, Rodenstock, Essilor (VARILUX, TRANSITIONS), Kodak, Hoya and many others. Eyewear Styling Consultations are available throughout the week and must be booked in advance by calling 01652 653 595 or 01652 649 024. Wilderspin National School Museum, a Victorian yellow brick building. The school was founded by Samuel Wilderspin in 1844. His ideas on education would be revolutionary and change England forever. The building today shows off a restored schoolroom and play area to present a peek into 19th century education. Moreover, Baysgarth House, a Grade II listed Georgian property in 30 acres of parkland which also hosts a leisure centre, waits to be discovered. The brick house is now a heritage museum with regularly changing exhibitions, and themed Victorian and Georgian rooms. Out in Baysgarth Park there is space for picnics and games, a bowling green, memorial garden for Chad Varah - founder of the Samaritans - a children’s play area, woodland walks with ancient trees, and the park enjoys outdoor events such as open-air theatre performances during the summer. In addition, near Barton is Thornton Abbey, famous for its large, ornate medieval fortified gatehouse and abbey ruins. Founded in 1140, it was one of Britain’s richest Augustinian abbeys. For those looking to fully embrace fresh air and wildlife, Barton has an ideal natural landscape and miles of walks and cycle paths. An area of open water, reed beds and meadows in the © Shutterstock /Luke Broughton 26-31.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:37 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 31 BIGG AND BARTON H Fabric and essentials to make face masks H Clothing Alterations & Repairs H Fitting Room & Express Service H Fabrics, Haberdashery, Patterns H Crafts Fabrics & Fat Quarters H Soft Furnishing Service YOUR ONE STOP SEWING SHOP Tel: 01652 650047 Email: info@jaylaurs.co.uk 54 Wrawby Street, Brigg DN20 8JE 37 years in business and so to bed... 01652 651828 Princess Street | Brigg | DN20 8HG www.briggbeds.co.uk BRIGG BEDS STYLE COMFORT & SERVICE GREAT PRICES ONLINE & IN-STORE PICKERINGS OF BRIGG 55 WRAWBY STREET, BRIGG DN20 8EJ T: 01652 652297 E info@pickeringsofbrigg.com www.pickeringsofbrigg.com • Shoe Repairs • Key Cutting • Engraving of Trophies, lighters, glass etc • Vinyl Signs • Tee Shirts and Watches shadow of the Humber Bridge, Far Ings National Nature Reserve has a Visitor Centre and wildlife hides. It is an important location for the conservation of reed beds and birds including the bittern, heron, kingfisher, and oyster catcher. Waters’ Edge Visitor Centre meanwhile sits in an 86-acre Country Park. Two sites of Special Scientific Interest and rare birds, plants and animals can be found. Offering a chance to watch the stunning wildlife that inhabits the park, and play areas, one can also pick up locally crafted gifts. Additionally, the town welcomes a variety of events like Barton Bike Night, a free annual event built on the passion of motorcycle enthusiasts which regularly attracts more than 20,000 visitors, and Barton’s annual Arts Festival, presenting an array of performers and activities. Thornton Abbey © Shutterstock /Bob Grim 26-31.qxp_Layout 1 08/10/2021 12:28 Page 6As autumn approaches, we are reaching the best time of year to roam the county in search of fungi. While there are more than 15,000 named fungi species in the UK, here Lincolnshire Today looks at some of the most distinctive mushrooms flourishing across Lincolnshire right now - from the tasty to the poisonous. Fly agaric Straight out of a fairy tale, the fly agaric mushroom is a red and white fungus commonly found in woodlands, parks, and heaths with scattered trees. Sitting beneath birch trees, pines, and spruces in the county between August and November, fly agaric has a flat or rounded red cap, with a diameter of between 8 and 20cm, sprinkled with white spots or warts, and a white stem reaching between 8 and 18cm. One may well have seen this savoury-smelling species of fungus in stories, TV shows, and video games as the home of 32 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY From the fairy tale fly agaric to the tasty chicken of the woods, there are myriad fascinating forms of fungi flourishing in Lincolnshire at this time of year. Lincolnshire wildlife Shaggy inkcap Holding a woolly, scaly surface, the shaggy inkcap, also known as ‘lawyer’s wig’, can be tracked down on roadside verges, in parklands, grassland, and lawns between May and November. With a cap diameter of between 5 and 15cm and a stem height of between 10 and 30cm, this white fungus stands out. Identifiable by its tall, narrow, cylindrical, fleecy cap, which gradually opens to form a bell shape, shaggy inkcap grow in small groups and are edible when young, often being used in soups and sauces. Using them quickly is key, as when shaggy inkcap age, they deliquesce for spore dispersal, creating a slimy mess that has in the past been utilised for ink. Its gills are crowded and white to start, before turning pink, then black, and dissolving, and its stem is tall, smooth and white with a moveable ring. Care should be taken when choosing to eat this fungus, as it is sometimes confused with the common inkcap, which can be toxic when eaten alongside alcohol. magical creatures. As with most other fungi, what we see of fly agaric is just the tip of the iceberg, the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) which produce spores for reproduction, growing from hyphae, a network of filaments forming a structure called the mycelium. The mycelium of fly agaric will often establish a symbiotic relationship with surrounding trees, wrapping around roots, and giving them nutrients from soil. In return the fungus receives sugars produced by the trees. Don’t be tricked by their charming exterior, however, as these iconic toadstools are poisonous. Though death from fly agaric is rare, eating them can cause stomach cramps and hallucinations. Interestingly, while highly toxic to humans, some animals do eat fly agaric, such as slugs and red squirrels, and fly agaric has been used traditionally as an insecticide, where it is broken and sprinkled into milk. It attracts and kills flies, giving the fungus its name. © Shutterstock/ Smit © Shutterstock/ DeymosHR Fly agaricShaggy inkcap 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:40 Page 1© Shutterstock/ Joan Carles Juar ez Chicken of the woods A bracket fungus with a unique bright yellow-orange colour that fades with age, found high up on the trunks of trees in woods, parks and gardens, chicken of the woods is commonly seen in large, tiered clusters on oak, though also appears on beech, cherry, chestnut, and yew trees. With a cap diameter of 10 to 40cm, the fungus can be discovered from June to November. Fan-shaped, chicken of the woods is usually made up of several thick, wavy-edged brackets that, when young, are soft and spongy and release a yellow liquid, and when older become harder and more brittle. Its upper surface is velvety, where the underside is covered with pores. Edible, chicken of the woods is often used in stews, casseroles, and stir fries. The texture of its flesh is what spurred its name, resembling cooked chicken, with some even saying it tastes like chicken. Indeed it is frequently employed as a meat substitute. It should be noted, though, that some people do have adverse reactions to the fungus and that it is not recommended to eat this mushroom if it is growing on Yew, which itself hosts dangerous toxins. Stinkhorn fungus Famous for its distinctive scent, akin to rotten meat, and phallic appearance, the stinkhorn fungus can be found between June and October in woods and gardens. Growing to 25cm in height, this foul-smelling fungus has a bell-shaped cap with a honeycomb appearance that is coated with brown slime called a gleba, and a white spongey stem-like structure that breaks free from an ‘egg’. The stinkhorn’s spores are contained in the slime atop its head, which attracts flies that then go on to scatter the spores. While at the egg stage the mushroom is reported to be edible, generally the putrid smell is for most, unappetising. It is said that Victorians, disgusted and embarrassed by the mushroom’s image, would flatten stinkhorns at dawn to prevent impressionable girls from seeing them. There are many more intriguing species of fungi to find across the county, and Lincolnshire Today would encourage you to seek them out with a trip to sites such as Snipe Dales, Linwood Warren, Legbourne Wood, Langholme Wood, Roughton Moor Wood, or Bloxholm Wood. However, never touch or eat fungi if you are uncertain of their identity. Without an expert, it is best to simply take in their beauty and leave mushrooms in their place. © Shutterstock/ DigitalPearls Stinkhorn fungus Chicken of the woods 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:40 Page 234 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Summer into autumn With autumn here, and encouraging signs of an Indian summer, doubtless September will have its far share of sun. With that in mind, we’re highlighting a few of our summery favourites alongside some choice picks of autumn style from a few of our favourite brands. 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:45 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 35 FASHION Masai A pair of super stylish ensembles from Masai’s pre-autumn collection should get you excited about the coming season. 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:45 Page 236 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Left: Ichi Simple and stylish, this outfit from Ichi is ideal for everyday wear, but stylish enough that you can strut your stuff confidentiality. Middle: Gerry Weber If we’re in for an Indian summer, this Gerry Weber ensemble is just the thing. Right: LauRie A lovely ensemble from LauRie that you’ll want to return to again and again this autumn. Opposite: Numph As summer turns into autumn, it’s outfits like this one from Numph that you’ll want to reach for. © DK Company – ICHI 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:46 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 37 FASHION 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:46 Page 438 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION © Barbour 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:46 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 39 FASHION Opposite: Barbour The striking pattern is what makes this Barbour dress. With this brand, you know it’s rugged enough to face the great outdoors. Above: Marc Cain Never one to play by the rules, this Marc Cain outfit borrows from alternative style and is certain to grab attention. Top right: Samoon Caption: Comfortable, but always flattering – Samoon have got you covered. Right: Jennifer Anne This Thomasina Blue and White Gingham Prairie Dress from Jennifer Anne is just darling and will pair well with heavier jackets and coats as we move into autumn. © Jennifer Anne 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 19/08/2021 10:47 Page 6Next >