< Previousat bedtime for his own children . The first book Roald Dahl and illustrator Quentin Blake worked upon together was The Enormous Crocodile. Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake soon became firm friends, cementing one of the most eye-catching and distinctive collaborations in children’s literature. Roald Dahl died in 1990. His work has been published in over 40 languages and today is considered a modern classic. Quentin remains active to this day at 87 years old. Barbara Firth Barbara Firth achieved success relatively late in life with her evocative illustrations for children’s books, the most successful being the classic Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear? written by Martin Waddell. Barbara Firth grew up in Cheshire and although encouraged in her art at school Barbara Firth never studied it and she delighted in this lack of 20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Anita Jeram Sam McBratney’s enchanting bedtime story, Guess How Much I Love You, is illustrated by Anita Jeram and is an international classic which has been translated into over 27 languages. Anita’s beautiful illustrations were a labour of love. Even today, she says, “Every time I read this book, I want to cry. The story reminds me of my son, who often plays these games with me when it is time for bed.” Guess How Much I Love You was first published in 1994 and, ever since, the story and illustrations have captivated adults and children the world over Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake Roald Dahl was born in Wales 1916. After a distinguished career as a fighter pilot and diplomat during the Second World War, Roald Dahl settled down to become a full time author; first writing popular stories for adults; then, later, retelling many of the stories he made up illustrators training: “I have been very lucky, as my career in drawing is also my favourite hobby.” Shirley Hughes Shirley Hughes is one of the best-loved and most innovative creators of books for young children. She has written and illustrated over 50 books and sold more than eleven million copies, won major awards and created some of the most enduring characters of children’s literature. Shirley has received the Eleanor Farjeon Award for distinguished services to children’s literature, was awarded an OBE in 1999 and has received the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice. We take a look at some of the UK’s best loved illustrators who have brought to life some of the most memorable and moving children’s books for the better part of a century. Illustrious 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 13:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Beatrix Potter Beatrix Potter was born in London in 1866 and grew up living the conventionally sheltered life of a Victorian girl in a well-to-do household. Her career as a children’s illustrator and storyteller began when The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published by Frederick Warne and Co. in 1902. The public loved it as soon as it appeared and Beatrix went on to produce on average two books a year until 1910. The money she earned from her “little books”, as she called them, gave her financial independence and Beatrix Potter began to purchase property in her beloved Lake District. In 1913 Beatrix Potter married William Heelis, a Lakeland solicitor, and made Sawrey her permanent home. Writing and painting began to take second place to farming, sheep-breeding and buying stretches of the beautiful Lakeland countryside to ensure their conservation. When Beatrix Potter died in 1943 she left over 4,000 acres of land and fifteen farms to the nation. Helen Oxenbury Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time. She has illustrated numerous books for children including Smarties Book Prize-winning Farmer Duckby Martin Waddell; We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen; as well as her classic board books for babies. She won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Alice in Wonderland. Helen Craig It wasn’t until she bought her small 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. son, Ben, a copy of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, that Helen Craig found the inspiration and determination to experiment with illustration. The first book Helen Craig illustrated was Wishing Gold by Robert Nye in 1970, since then she has illustrated over 60 children’s books including This is Bear series, written by Sarah Hayes, and The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse, which was short listed for the prestigious Smarties Book Award, and of course, the hugely successful Angelina Ballerina series of books written by Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina books have been translated into over 15 languages as well as been made into an enormously successful animated series and an original ballet by English National Ballet. Limited editions available from The Little Red Gallery in Lincoln with more coming in time for Christmas! Visit www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk for more details 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 13:47 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY We usually close the door on our gardens at this time of year as we spend more time inside. However, we do not stop landscaping, as we carry out this work all year round. Now is a good time to be doing larger hard landscaping projects and there are many reasons why, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains. O ne of the reasons why this time of year is great for carrying out larger hand landscaping projects is that your garden will be disrupted when you are least likely to want to use it. The work can be carried out while you enjoy the warmth of the inside, and then your garden will be ready to use straight away when the good weather arrives. Furthermore, your neighbours will also be mostly indoor and so they will not be affected by noise. As most trees and plants are dormant, they are least likely to be affected by landscaping work, and if you have newly laid turf there will be fewer problems with keeping it well watered. Birds and wildlife are less likely to be disturbed, especially if you are wanting to remove hedges, trees etc. Any drainage problems are immediately obvious due to the weather and can be fixed in the early stages of the project. Due to the darker and shorter days garden lighting can be tested thoroughly during working hours. Also, if you are worried that a project may take longer due to the lack of daylight hours then lighting can be brought your garden in Remember, remember November Remember, remember November 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:01 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 Specialised Services in Garden Design Landscaping and Tree Maintenance Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide professional, tailored gardening and forestry FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden •Clear up fallen leaves, especially from lawns, ponds and •Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year •Prune roses to prevent wind-rock • Plant out winter bedding •Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem •Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees by using grease bands around the trunks •Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden •Remove pumps and lights from shallow ponds and keep tidying your pond. Especially after fallen leaves •Lift parsnips and store in boxes with sand, and harvest brussels sprouts. •Dispose of excess debris unfit for compost by having a bonfire – but check for hedgehogs. in. We have used floodlighting before so that we can stay on site longer each day and get a project completed more quickly. A good landscaper will be fully booked during spring and summer months but is more likely to have spaces available in the Autumn and Winter. If you want your garden ready for when the good weather arrives then you shouldn’t wait until the spring to contact a landscaper as they are unlikely to be able to do the work until the end of the summer. I have a fabulous team that will work come rain or shine and they are highly skilled landscapers who can create anything from low maintenance gardens with artificial grass to romantic cottage gardens and state-of-the-art ultra-contemporary gardens. Over the last twenty years I have built up a family run business that prides itself on designing and creating gardens that suit each individual client’s budget, regardless of their garden’s size and shape. If you want to make some changes no matter how big or small, I advise you to consider doing them sooner rather than later so you have the perfect outdoor space for next summer. All the photos are from projects carried out by Fullers Landscaping GARDEN ADVICE 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:02 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY C ome rain or shine and whatever the season, our farmers and agribusinesses and the companies that supply them are hard at work. As with the approaching change of any season, November is a key time in the farming calendar. With winter on the way, farms will be beginning to feed their livestock more as the grass stops growing this time of year, meaning animals can no longer graze as before. With colder temperatures on the way, and night frosts soon to be a regular occurrence, livestock will usually be housed by November though, often, it’s before. As far as growing is concerned, this month sees arable farmers continue to drill wheat though, admittedly, this will come to an end by mid-month. Other jobs taking place this month will be the application of liquid fertiliser to sugar beet fields, while there’s a lot of ploughing going in across the countryside in preparation for next year’s harvest. As supermarkets continue to squeeze suppliers, and farmers continue to contend with labour shortages and increased demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, farm businesses will understandably want to gain an edge over competitors. One of the best ways to enhance produce – and, indeed, one that might not occur to farmers – is the use of biostimulants such as Algifol. This organic active biostimulant is based on marine alga can be used on all crops. The dilution is easy and economic for all growers, whether you use a knapsack, trailed or mounted sprayers or planes. For agricultural and horticultural use, it can be used alongside most pesticides and fungicides. As well as ensuring farmers have an edge, it’s also critical for farm businesses to remain up to date. Staying abreast of protective measures for diseases such as foot and mouth and bluetongue require a constant vigil, and the threat from hare coursing is far from over despite significant steps forward from landowners and Lincolnshire Police. Farmers must also be cognizant of changes in regulations and legislation or be faced with heavy fines and disciplinary action. A recent change in regulation regards cesspits and septic tanks, which are common on farms across the county. Unsurprisingly there’s already strict regulations in place an edge With suppliers spread across miles of vast rolling fields and farms, it’s safe to say that Lincolnshire is the nation’s fruit and vegetable basket. Not only that, we can lay claim to some of the UK’s best and most delicious produce. Our food sector contributes a massive £2.5 billion to the area’s economy, but it’s not without its challenges, as we explore. Gaining MJPSupplies mjpsupplies For the purpose of importing and selling Algifol™ biostimulant products to farmers and growers of specialist crops Watch your profits grow Small quantities Amazing results Special offer on 1 litre bottles bought direct from our website 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:04 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 FARMING regarding septic tanks, such as where they can be placed and where the water that leaves them can go. The latest regulations came out in 2015 and, back then, landowners were able to discharge the separate wastewater from their septic tanks in one of two ways – ether to a drainage field/soakaway system, or to a watercourse. But from the beginning of this year, that was no longer allowed, the reason being that the quality of this wastewater is no longer considered to be clean enough to flow straight into local watercourses without causing pollution. This won’t be shocking news to most, as for a number of years now property owners have not been allowed to install a new septic tank which discharges into a watercourse. There are two main ways in which property owners and farmers can comply with the new regulations. Firstly, a septic tank can be replaced with a sewage treatment plant. The benefit here is that sewage treatment plants produce a cleaner form of water which is considered clean enough to discharge straight into a watercourse. The second option available is to install a drainage or soakaway system. The benefit here is that the system will take the wastewater from the septic tank and disperse it safely into the ground without causing pollution. Lincolnshire has helped lead the nation’s farming sector into the modern age, both in terms of ability and innovation, a tradition that continues to this day. But our farmers can’t rest on their laurels, with rising demand to contend with, changes in legislation that requires compliance, as well as continuing to navigate the pandemic. © Shutterstock /Jaromir Chalabala © Shutterstock /Fotokostic © Shutterstock /Valentin Valkov The Diamond Sewage Treatment range is suitable for either individual homes or small population applications When Gravity Drainage is not possible choose Allerton Pumping Stations for Sewage or Dirty Water Servicing & Maintenance on a wide range of Sewage Treatment Plant and Pump Stations by BRITISH WATER ACCREDITED ENGINEERS. In rural areas without a mains drainage system, and where septic tanks will no longer reach environmental standards, Allerton can provide the ideal solution. Trading since 1974, Allerton are leading specialists in efficient treatment systems. They pride themselves on their individual, problem solving approach to dealing with alternative means of treating and disposing of raw sewage. Freephone: 0800 328 5492 Email: sales@allertonuk.com Website: www.allertonuk.com The Allerton ConSept converts your existing Septic Tank or Cesspit into a fully functioning Sewage Treatment Plant. The Dependable Choice in Drainage 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:04 Page 2I f you have seen a fox lately, it’s just as likely to be in a town or other urban area as the countryside. In the latter, they typically live in an underground burrow system called an ‘earth’, the territorial borders of which are marked with urine. Foxes also have scent glands on their feet to mark well-used trails, the better to follow them at night. But in every regard, they’re adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle, with keen eyesight and an even keener sense of smell. Readers will likely have heard the vixen’s mating call – a sharp, high-pitched and chilling shriek. It’s not easily forgotten, especially when it wakes you up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. We’re still a few months off as foxes tend to mate in winter. Though they’re solitary animals by nature, they come together to breed and the male fox – or dog – will support the vixen by bringing her food come spring. When it comes to communication, red foxes have quite a complex language made up of some twenty-eight sounds; complex facial expressions, and scents. They’re also famously omnivores and will eat just about anything. In their natural habitat, that means tucking into small mammals and birds, but just as often eggs, insects and vegetables. Considering that of the 258,000 red foxes in the UK, 33,000 are urban, they’ve also adapted to human food. They’re often found tearing into bin liners, and an open wheelie bin is a veritable buffet. So be sure and deal with those food scraps, clean out containers and keep a lid on your bin. When it comes to hunting, they’ll employ an adorable high pounce to get the better of their prey. This is one 26 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Although the red fox is active all year round, it’s perhaps most often associated with autumn, no doubt down to its evocative orange fur which can range from auburn right through to burnt umber. We get to know the fox a little better. Lincolnshire wildlife of the first things that cubs are taught when they’re learning the basics of how to hunt. Because of the foxes’ resourcefulness and cunning, the animal can be found in folklore and stories the world over, particularly in European and East Asian folklore traditions. In Japan, for example, kitsune are fox-like spirits that boast magical abilities. Here in the UK, the fox can more often be found in children’s stories from scribes such as Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl and Brian Jacques. Although foxes have never once been classed as vermin by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, they are considered by many to be a nuisance. They have no qualms about helping themselves to chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs that aren’t properly secured and there have been cases of foxes sneaking into houses and savaging a baby. Fox hunting, however, was banned in 2004 despite efforts from a few Tories over the years to reverse the ruling. Sadly, the ban is still being ignored by some who persist on taking their dogs and horses out and engaging in this barbaric blood sport that has no place in modern Britain. The fox is protected under a series of wildlife laws and breaking them can come with a prison sentence and/or a steep fine. Thankfully, not everyone is so cold-hearted, callous and cruel. In fact, there’s plenty of videos of people feeding and even stroking urban foxes. In native American cultures, the fox is actually seen as the single best guru to guide one down a destined path. So if you ever dream about a fox, try and follow it. Your destiny might just be waiting. 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:07 Page 1© Shutterstock/ Ondrej Prosicky LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:07 Page 2layers 28 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION In love with It’s the time of year to wrap up warm with jackets, coats and layers, all of which offer ample excuses to experiment to find a super stylish look. 28-37.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:12 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 FASHION LauRie LauRie prove once more the elegance in simplicity with an outfit that’s chic in its own right, whilst also leaving plenty of room free for accessorising. 28-37.qxp_Layout 1 02/11/2020 14:12 Page 2Next >