Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas £2.95 DECEMBER 2020 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE 30+ years young 30+ years young WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk BLM GROUPGROUP BLM £2.95 DECEMBER 2020 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE That festive feeling That festive feeling Sparkling seasonal fashion Great gift ideas Mouth watering recipes Sparkling seasonal fashion Great gift ideas Mouth watering recipes 01.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:03 Page 1No Stamp Duty on properties sold (up to £500k) before 31 March 2021, list now to sell in time and save thousands! UPFRONT FEE £795 SPLIT FEE £395 upfront and £895 on completion NO SALE/ NO FEE 1% paid on completion 1 2 3 Sell your property from your sofa Our fees always include VAT easyProperty.com Say goodbye to traditional estate agent fees and hello to the easy fees. With easyProperty you get to choose how you would prefer to pay with our three fee options. To arrange a free Covid friendly property valuation visit easyProperty.com, search Facebook to obtain an instant online estimate or, to speak to your Local Property Expert directly call: Grantham: 01476 434082 Sleaford: 01529 914022 • Lincoln: 01522 904182 Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate www.qe.org | admissions@qe.org | 01423 333330 | York YO26 9SS We welcome day students from 3 months to 19 years and boarders from 6 years to 19 years. Academic, sport, music and drama scholarships available for students in Years 7 to 13 02.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:04 Page 1from the editor Whether you’re self-isolating, a frontline worker, or just observing social distancing rules, Christmas will be different for all of us this year. That doesn’t mean we have to give up on the festivities altogether, but it does mean making compromises. The government is allowing small groups from up to three households to meet for the five days over Christmas. With the best will in the world, this may well lead to another huge surge in infections, perhaps necessitating a third national lockdown in the New year. The moral of the story is not to shirk your responsibilities. Whatever happens, it’s a surety that we’ll be celebrating on a much smaller scale this year. That might at first seem a daunting prospect, but our editorial team has been hard at work writing features and advice pieces to help you have a great Christmas whilst staying safe and secure. Look no further than our socially-distanced celebrations feature, or our home trends pages. Our fabulous fashion pages, meanwhile, are showcase in seasonal outfits – because socially distancing shouldn’t mean not looking your best. We also explore how to improve your Christmas tree decorating game. Moreover, our gift guide will be a welcome relief for those who have yet to finish their present buying. With promising COVID vaccine candidates and an increasing number of clinical studies in humans, we look to the year ahead with hope and optimism. However you’re spending the festive period, stay safe and find joy and comfort in friends in family, together or apart. Good reading, as always… Michael Fisher Editor and the Lincolnshire Today team 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? FRONT COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK/MARILYN BARBONE LincolnshireToday @lincstoday lincolnshiretoday.net QUALITY BRITISH MEAT BOXES DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Christmas hampers available now with delivery slots available up to 23rd December. Order online using the code LITO10 for a 10% introductory discount. Free local delivery on all orders of £35 and over in Lincoln and surrounding villages. Contact-free ordering and delivery. BUTCHERANDBLOCK.CO.UK Group Editor: Steve Fisher Editor: Michael Fisher Assistant Editor: Dominic Cuthbert 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 © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. 03.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:17 Page 1Features 6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIRE What’s been going on in the county this month? 22 ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Nothing says Christmas quite like a real tree, beautifully arranged with decorations. 24 SOCIALLY DISTANCED CELEBRATIONS Christmas might be a smaller affair this year, with socially distancing severely limiting the numbers of family and friends allowed to gather under one roof, but thanks to social media and video messaging, apart doesn’t haven’t to mean isolated. 26 MAKING THE EFFORT It’s been proven that beautifying oneself comes with a boost to self esteem and body confidence and that’s something we could all be using more of. 32REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL After months of wearing nothing but slouchwear, it’s time to get dressed up to the nines. The only way to get the full effect is by accessorising. 34 BEST THREADS There’s no better excuse than Christmas to get dressed up in your very best, even if you can only show it off over Zoom. 36 BIG IMPACT, LITTLE EFFORT Whether it’s wrapping presents, cooking the turkey and trimmings, or hanging the decorations, there’s a raft of tips, tricks and short-cuts to getting things done quickly without comprising quality. At this time of year, your beauty regime should be no different. 38 HAVE A HOLLY, JOLLY, HEALTHY CHRISTMAS The Christmas period is a time of overindulgence, of obligatory over-eating and over-drinking. Here are a few tips that may help you have a slightly healthier holiday. 40 LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE Aside from the Christmas tree, there’s a trio of plants synonymous with this festive season. 42 GLORIOUS GIFTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Without being able to go out and browse the wonderful shops, artisans and boutiques our county is famed for – and with the Christmas markets sadly cancelled – shopping for presents has been trickier this year. Fortunately, many of our local sellers have online stores, or have made their wares recently available online, so you can still support Lincolnshire businesses. DECEMBER 26 26 IT’S BEEN PROVEN THAT BEAUTIFYING ONESELF COMES WITH A BOOST TO SELF ESTEEM AND BODY CONFIDENCE AND THAT’S SOMETHING WE COULD ALL BE USING MORE OF. contents 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:18 Page 122 22 NOTHING SAYS CHRISTMAS QUITE LIKE A REAL TREE, BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED WITH DECORATIONS. 48 WINTER RECIPES Tis the season to be busy with a million other things, but here are some quick, easy and healthy recipes to help keep the body ticking in the most hectic month of the year! 52 LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGE EXPLORED Lincolnshire’s curios churches - Part two, the south. 54 CELEBRATING SUCCESS In this year more than any other, local companies deserve to be celebrated and lauded for their tremendous efforts since the start of the pandemic. Many have demonstrated incredible savvy in adapting their services and operations, not only helping themselves to weather the crisis, but to help communities both locally and on the national scale. 58 CELEBRATING MEMORIES Christmas can heighten grief and loneliness, but there are some great ways to help ease the pain of loss whilst honouring the memory of loved ones. 60 COUNTY MOTORING Car makers are investing more in their electric car line ups as the petrol and diesel ban nears, and demand for greener options grows. Desirable homes 10DISCOVER ‘WONDERLAND’ Referred to by its owner as ‘Wonderland’, this month’s featured property is a magical home, full of character. 16PUT YOUR DÉCOR AT THE TOP OF THE GIFT LIST We’ve curated this selection of delightful décor choices, ranging from the elegant to the downright cheeky. 18WHAT A WHIMSICAL WORLD We take a closer look at the wonderful whimsical works of Michael Abrams. 20 THE GIFT OF GARDENING Your garden is one of the greatest gifts this year of all years, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:19 Page 2Ten COVID Wardens have been trained by West Lindsey District Council to help businesses become COVID-secure and to keep shoppers and staff safe. Like many authorities across Lincolnshire, West Lindsey District Council has been allocated funding from Central Government to support compliance and enforcement activity. The Council has been allocated £46,000, which is being used to support COVID wardens in their role to engage, encourage and explain the current guidance to businesses across the district; and promote best practise around COVID-secure guidance. The wardens are made up of existing staff as well as a number of agency staff and they will visit businesses to check that they are meeting the requirements, and to find out if they need any additional support in relation to them. Wardens will not have powers to take enforcement action and the Council would like to reassure businesses that they are there to provide support and to ensure they are operating safely. latest news COVID Wardens to help businesses across West Lindsey © Shuttertock/Just Life Funding boost for local arts & cultural organisations 18 arts and cultural organisations across Lincolnshire are set to benefit from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. The Lincolnshire recipients are those that applied for grants of under £1 million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund. The £2.8 million funding will help organisations create work and performances, and plan for reopening. Organisations that will be receiving funding in Lincolnshire include: * BMP The Sound Recording Company (£66,500) * Lost Village Festival (£250,000) * Magna Vitae (£249,500) * New Theatre Royal (£600,000) © Shutterstock/kamomeen Scunthorpe racing prodigy seeks support to race in Formula 4 Alicia Barrett, the teenage European karting champion from Scunthorpe, is aiming to move into British Formula 4 and needs backing from local businesses and investors. Alicia’s consistent performances in the UK’s major Junior X30 Karting Championships have made her the leading female driver against male-dominated full grids, and a stand-out candidate for the ground-breaking W Series for women. However, to be a contender for a future W Series, Alicia needs to make the transition from karts to single-seater cars. At a time when most other female sports are growing exponentially, there are few females in karting despite the sport’s perception as the steppingstone to the higher ranks of motorsport. In fact, fewer women race single-seater cars at top level now than 10 years ago, and it is over 40 years since a female driver started a Formula 1 race. However, despite the tiny proportion of females in the junior single-seater formulae, Alicia’s goal is to embark on a Formula 4 testing programme and race in the 2021 British Formula 4 Championship. “I am the first in my family to venture into the motor racing world and from my first time in a kart have been addicted,” said Alicia. “It’s about time we see more women competing at the top of the sport and my ambition is to be one of them.” For details of sponsorship opportunities for your business or brand, or if you are an individual who would like to support or invest in Alicia’s future activities, call 07929 453481 or email britishracingtalent@gmail.com. 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:20 Page 1Barclays is launching a new Eagle Lab Farm at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Agri-tech research campus. The Lab and the surrounding farm offers entrepreneurs and researchers access to Lincoln’s Agri- tech resources – to support farmers as they tackle ongoing challenges and help rural farming communities become leaders in applying technology to agriculture. Barclays’ partnership with the University of Lincoln will support the UK farming sector to innovate, grow and thrive and become the most digitally enabled farming industry in the world. It will be the 25th Lab in Barclays’ Eagle Lab network of co-working spaces for start-ups and scale-ups around the country, the largest network of its kind in the United Kingdom. The resources on offer at the Eagle Lab Farm include a dedicated robotics lab, a demonstration packhouse and a model refrigerated supermarket aisle available for the entrepreneurs and researchers. 300kg metal haddock installed in Cleethorpes to keep beach clean A 300kg metal haddock has arrived in Cleethorpes in a bid to encourage people to keep the beach tidy. The handmade stainless-steel fish sculpture is a giant recycling bin for plastic bottles and can be found on Central Promenade, near the lifeboat station. North East Lincolnshire Council teamed up with Grimsby-based Blackrow Engineering and several other sponsors to bring the steel haddock to the resort’s Central Promenade. More than 80 children entered a competition to name the new fish. The winner was 11-year-old Lilly-Mai Halligan, from Grimsby, with her suggestion of ‘Hammy the Haddock’. Lilly-Mai named the fish after her uncle, Bernard ‘Buster’ Hammond, who died in January. He was a well-known figure in the resort and part of the beach safety team for more than 30 years. Hammy the Haddock is made entirely from high grade stainless steel. The fish is 4m long, roughly 1.2m wide and 1.7m tall. Getting your property listed this festive period Following COVID guidance, easyProperty Estate Agents – a sister company to easyJet – can sell properties during lockdown and the pandemic meaning buyers and sellers can still take advantage of Zero Stamp Duty until 31st March 2021. Between Christmas and New Year is the busiest time for property searches online, according to Rightmove, so those wishing to sell their property must be listed before the Christmas period and ideally before the decorations go up. Property prices in Lincolnshire have risen between 3% to 5% in the last year so it’s never been a better time to sell your property. To obtain an estimated value for your property, check the instant valuation tool: easyProperty Instant Valuation or, for an in-person valuation with your local Grantham, Sleaford or Lincoln Agent, book an appointment at www.easyProperty.com. Fees to sell your property start from £795 Including VAT. Eagle Lab Farm launched in Lincoln to support future of UK agriculture © Shuttertock/Mr.Whiskey 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:21 Page 2North Lincolnshire Council has begun an ambitious project to make North Lincolnshire a cleaner greener place by planting more than 16,000 trees across 25 acres of new, urban woodland in Scunthorpe. Under the proposals, three new woods would be created. The first would see a new wood created across almost four acres of land along the length of Grange Lane North. More than 2,000 trees will be planted from the junction with Queensway. Hempdyke Woods will be almost doubled in size with 7,000 trees planted from Ferry Road south through to Doncaster Road. In addition, Hardy Road woods will be extended north to meet West Common Lane and south through to Manor Park – again with 7,000 trees planned. The scheme is part of the Government’s £500 million, 25-year Northern Forest project which will see 50 million trees planted across the north of England from Liverpool to the Humber. Planting trees for a cleaner, greener North Lincolnshire latest news © Shuttertock/G-Stock Studio Hospice launches #weneedyou Christmas Care Appeal A North Lincolnshire charity-run hospice is appealing to local people for support over the festive period after facing a difficult year raising funds during the coronavirus pandemic. After so many of its traditional Christmas events were cancelled, Lindsey Lodge has launched its #weneedyou Christmas Care Appeal to enable local people to provide much-needed support from the comfort and safety of their own homes. “Christmas is traditionally a time when we are able to provide fun activities to get people in the festive mood whilst also generating income for the hospice. However, this year due to COVID-19, nearly everything has had to be put on hold and we are facing a glaring gap in our proposed income,” said Lindsey Lodge Senior Manager for Income Generation Tom Moody. “Our Christmas Care appeal provides a number of ways for people to still get involved – whether it’s buying a real Christmas tree from Lindsey Lodge, playing our Superdraw or simply shopping at one of our stores. Every penny really does make a difference.” The 28-year-old Hospice has seen a 98% rise in the number of admissions to its vital Inpatient palliative care services in the last five years. Tom added: “As well as providing vital end of life care, we’re now delivering a variety of innovative services and interventions, which provide much-needed support to people living with life limiting conditions in the community. So it’s more important than ever that we continue to survive this difficult time. “We’re extremely overwhelmed and grateful for the support that we’ve received from the local community so far this year and really do hope that people will get behind our Christmas Care Appeal.” 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2020 12:21 Page 3Project3_Layout 1 11/12/2020 13:33 Page 1Next >