< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYou don’t have to make big changes to your garden,but those you do make need to be well thought outand executed. You want to make sure your outdoorspace compliments your house and provides you with thebest use of your space. A professionally created design is not necessarily needed,as it will depend on the scale of the project. It may be morecost effective in the long run to have a plan drawn up, butany reputable landscaper will be able to give you adviceregarding this.The next thing that I would suggest is that you have arealistic budget in mind. By doing some research you will getan idea of what it could cost you. One of the biggest initialhurdles I find with prospective clients is that they do notrealise what their garden could cost. Furthermore, treat yourgarden project like all other household projects you wouldcarry out. To explain this I would use the example of if youwere to have a new kitchen. Before you bought one youwould decide on the style, colour, layout and budget. Youwould not phone up a kitchen company and ask them to justdeliver one and hope for the best.Another tip would be to think about the planting last.While the planting is important this can be decided on at thevery end, especially as it may be worth waiting to a certaintime of year to plant certain species. The planting will finishthe look of a garden but it will only look good if the initialstructure is in place.Lastly, do not try to put in too much. While it will dependvery much on the size of your garden and budget, do not tryto cram in too many features. You can always add to agarden as an evolving project but this will be betterperceived once you start to use your garden. Sometimes lessThe New Year could be theimpetus for you to create anew garden as Ed Fullerfrom Fullers Forestry andLandscaping explains. New gardenNew yearY© Shutterstock / AlexGreenArt30-31_Layout 1 13/12/2017 12:56 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY31really is more.I have a fabulous team that will work come rain or shineand they are highly skilled landscapers who can createanything from low maintenance gardens with artificial grass toromantic cottage gardens and state-of-the-art ultra-contemporary gardens. Over the last seventeen years I havebuilt up a family-run business that prides itself on designingand creating gardens that suit each individual client’s budget,regardless of their garden’s size and shape. If you want tomake some changes no matter how big or small I wouldadvise you to consider doing them sooner rather than later asgood landscapers will already be booked well into spring.Specialised Servicesin Garden DesignLandscaping andTree MaintenanceBacked by a highly-skilledand experienced team,we’ve built our reputationon an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutionsFREE NO OBLIGATIONQUOTATIONSFULLERSForestry & LandscapingCall 01522 868717 or 07867 510544info@fullersforestry.co.uklwww.fullersforestry.co.ukwww.landscapinglincolnshire.comAround thegarden•Move patio pots to sheltered sites during cold periods•Improve the soil by spreading and forking in compost or manure over beds and around trees shrubs and roses •Move plants growing in the wrong place•If snow falls, knock it off the branches of evergreen shrubs and conifers to prevent branches breaking •Dig deeply in areas where you’ll be planting new roses,shrubs or perennials•Clean algae and moss from paths and steps•Plant new fruit bushes and trees•Sprinkle a top dressing of gritty compost over lawns•Dig over veg plots, mixing compost into the soil as you go•Cover rhubarb with forcing jars for an early harvest•Use cloches to warm the soil for early sowings•Dig up congested clumps of winter aconites and transplant to new sites•Buy shallots, onion sets and seed potatoes•Order bulbs, corms and tubers for summer flowers.30-31_Layout 1 13/12/2017 12:56 Page 2Lincolnshireheritageexplored“Lost” might give the wrong impression, sincewe know their locations. Perhaps the description“Forgotten Castles” would be more appropriate. Insome cases little is left for the visitor to see – butthere is invariably a fascinating history.Lincolnshire’s first fortifications date back toprehistory, examples being the Round Hills nearIngoldsby in South Kesteven and Honington Fortnear Grantham both dating from the Iron Agesometime after 800 BC. Then followed theRomans with their walled settlements such asHorncastle, Ancaster and Caistor. However it wasthe mediaeval period, especially after the NormanConquest, that was a time of prolific castlebuilding and most of our “lost” castles date fromthe late C11th to the end of the C12th.Amongst the earliest are earthworks around thechurchyard at Hough-on-the-Hill. These arepossibly Saxon, thus pre-dating the Conquest,but are difficult to interpret “on the ground”.Castle Carlton a few miles southeast of Louth is asimilar example. In the early C12th there was asmall market town there, and but for the publicfootpath that skirts the moat it’s easily missed,being much overgrown. Similarly, in Bourne, only grassy banks anddepressions remain of a castle near St Peter’s Poolin the town park. But an intriguing legend (andthat’s all it is) has it that Hereward the Wake, sonof Earl Leofric and his wife Lady Godiva, wasborn here. Again there may have beenfortifications here in Saxon times but the castle isdocumented as ruinous by the mid 1500’s.Ordnance Survey maps show a Wybert’sCastle just outside Boston but it may have beenmerely a manor house for Wybert a knight tothe Earl of Mercia. Nevertheless the earthworksenclose 10 acres and although on private landit’s easily seen from the nearby lane half a milebeyond St Leodegar’s church.Easier to visit and appreciate is Castle Hill atWelbourn. Here interpretation boards explainthe well-preserved earthworks and moat,LINCOLNSHIRE’S LOST CASTLESLincolnshire had more castles thanmany people realise. We look atthe history of some of them.32-33_Layout 1 13/12/2017 12:29 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY33clearly natural defensiveposition there was probably a Saxonwooden stockade here belonging toMorcar the last Saxon lord but a stonecastle was begun after the Conquestwhen William granted the site to the Earlof Albermarle. This castle was destroyedby Henry III following a siege and rebuiltonly to become ruinous by 1542. Thereare fish pond remains to the south.Sleaford castle however has somesurviving masonry to see, sited west ofthe town centre with public access andcolourful information boards. It was builtaround 1130 by Bishop Alexander ofLincoln but by the late 1500’s its stonewas “disappearing” into other Sleafordbuildings and it was in ruins by 1601.King John, already seriously ill, stayedthere in 1216 before struggling onwardsto Newark to die.Somerton Castle, below the Lincoln Cliffnear Boothby Graffoe was also builtaround 1130 by Anthony Bec, Bishop ofDurham. It had four substantial circulartowers of which only the southeast oneremains along with a section of curtainwall, both incorporated into an Elizabethanwhich still contains water, andthere is the advantage of apublic footpath across it. Againsome building may have pre-dated the Conquest but wasmostly C13th and C14th. We knowthere was once a stone tower andthat it was abandoned by 1574. Indeedmuch of it may still be nearby – recycledas St Chad’s church!Heading north we find more C11thearthworks at Tothill, near Alford, andsome really impressive ones at “TheCastles” north of Barrow-on-Humber.These exceed two metres, plus a moat thatwas probably watered by the tides ofBarrow Haven; the Humber being muchnearer closer then than now. They arevisible from road but on private land.About the same age are the remains ofKinnaird’s Castle, a motte and bailey, atOwston Ferry a site unique in Lincolnshirein having St Martin’s church built within it.An early castle was re-fortified by Roger deMowbray in the 1170’s but after backingthe wrong side in a rebellion against HenryII he had his castle destroyed. There ispublic access.Returning to South Kesteven the remainsof Folkingham castle have a publicfootpath past part of the earthworks andmoat. An pre-Conquest castle was rebuiltby the Beaumont family about 1300 butdescribed as ruinous by 1535 and in 1808was supplanted by the House ofCorrection – effectively a workhouse – thegatehouse of which still exists.Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire’s farsouthwest has perhaps the most imposing,well-preserved castle earthworks in thecounty. Although on private land and infull view from the village there is a publicfootpath crossing the field below. On thisfarmhouse about 1616. Its historical heydaycame in 1359 when King John of Francewas imprisoned there for ransom aftercapture by the Black Prince at the Battle ofPoitiers. The king suffered little hardshipthough, having with him a retinue of overforty, including a personal tailor andhairdresser. There is no public access.And so to Stamford! Visitors might easilypass Stamford’s castle remains withoutnoticing. It was built as a motte and baileyby the Conqueror in the late C11th butnow all that remains is a three-archedsection of the C13th hall overlooking TheMeadows. The rest was demolished for thetown bus station in 1933.And finally - when is a castle not a castle?At Torksey an Elizabethan mansion, built forSir Robert Jermyn was fancifully called acastle – and still is on OS maps! Famouslypainted by Lincoln artist Peter de Wintaround 1835 it was even then depicted asdilapidated. Nevertheless it still standsproud and gaunt overlooking the Trent.There’s sometimes more to our heritagethan meets the eye!by Hugh Marrows32-33_Layout 1 13/12/2017 12:29 Page 234 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONWintermust-havesWintermust-havesWe’re well and truly in the hinterlands of winter,with January’s long weeks settling in around us.The silver lining is that the season is jam-packedwith must-haves, with our favourite designersoutdoing themselves yet again. We know howhard it can be trying to pick out a fewfavourites from the crowd, so our style guru hasselected the outfits you should be wearing. 34-43_Layout 1 13/12/2017 13:14 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY35FASHIONSamoonRock those darker shadeswith this cool Samoon look.Pair with a knee-length coatfor a truly iconic look. 34-43_Layout 1 13/12/2017 13:14 Page 236 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONAbove left: MasaiDarker colours are definitely in this winter, with Masai combining navies, blacks and purples for anelegant and moody ensemble. Above middle: BaslerThis Basler outfit boasts some winter favourites – jumper, boots and jacket – but puts its own uniquespin on the style. Above right: Marc Cain Every year savvy designers prove why the puffer jacket is still a fashion staple, and this season is nodifferent. Here Marc Cain couples it with a stunning outfit and boots for your new winter favourite. Opposite: TaifunA snatch of colour this time of year can make a big statement, just look at this Taifun pairing to see theeffect in action. 34-43_Layout 1 13/12/2017 13:14 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY11FASHION34-43_Layout 1 13/12/2017 13:14 Page 438 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHION12334-43_Layout 1 13/12/2017 13:15 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY39FASHION451) LauRieFor LauRie, even simple clothes are to die for,as this get-up attests. See how it pops with thatscarf? 2) Numph On the lighter end of the winter spectrum is thestunning Numph number, with the silvercoloured pleated skirt and the shear long-sleeveover a camisole. Looking for a new party orclubbing number? Well this is it. 3) GantFollow Gant’s lead and take some inspirationfrom the winter colour palette, with chilly greys,whites and purples. 4) IchiIchi take classic style and give it a modern spin,resulting in this cute must-have. Photo courtesy of DK Company - ICHI5) Ted BakerWinter fashion is style at its most elegant andsophisticated, so take a page out of Ted Baker’sbook with this wonderful ensemble. 34-43_Layout 1 13/12/2017 13:15 Page 6Next >