< Previousappy New Year! I hope that you had have a lovely time with family and friends and are now looking forward to the spring. It will be here before we know it and you need to get your garden prepared. It is at this time of the year that plants are dormant and so January is a good month to prune. Chopping and pruning may be suitable for some plants but some, such as border perennials, will be affected by the hard frost. Therefore, if you do prune and then the weather turns very cold you can cover those shrubs with a horticultural fleece (or old blanket) to protect them. Now is the best time to prune Wisterias and Ornamental Vines. You need to start by removing dead, dying 30 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Everything is going at a much slower pace in your garden due to it being the dormant time, and so now is the best time to be out and getting on. It won’t be long until your garden is going at a much quicker pace and you may be struggling to keep up, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains. Getting out and getting on or damaged branches first. Newly planted or small trees can be trimmed to encourage a good shape. Apple and pear trees can be cut back to stimulate new growth, but no more than 20 per cent and keep it even. However, avoid pruning cherry and plum trees in winter because they are susceptible to disease. In respect to mature trees I would advise that you get a fully insured professional, and if in doubt ask your Local Authority who they recommend. You also need to contact the Local Authority if you are in a Conservation Area as you may need to get prior approval before carrying out the work. A professional, such as Fullers, should be able to assist with an application. You may find that your pond becomes 30-31.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:12 Page 1ice-bound and you need to break it up to enable the fish to breathe. However, you need to be careful how you do this. If you smash it this can kill the fish due to the shock waves it can produce. Instead pour hot water or stand a hot saucepan on the ice until it melts a hole/air gap. Most fish seem to survive by staying at the bottom of the pool but don’t feed them. Their metabolisms have slowed and you could do more harm than good. Another animal that still needs your help are the birds. They will be eating seeds and berries in your garden but by keeping their bird tables and nut feeders full you will be providing them with a variation in their diet LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 31 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 •Move patio pots to sheltered sites during cold periods •Improve the soil the soil by spreading compost or manure over beds and forking in •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 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 •Spread a mulch of compost over borders and around trees, shrubs and roses •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 © Shutterstock / Evoque Arte 30-31.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:12 Page 2T he elegant snow bunting is something of a rarity here in the UK. The birds typically breed in the arctic – from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland – and migrate south in winter. Though we welcome a few more of these birds to our shores this time of year, the UK is home to a few breeding pairs. Unsurprisingly, it’s winter where one stands the best chance of spotting one of these beautiful black and white specimens. Although the majority of the sixty or so breeding pairs Britain boasts are in Scotland, they are no strangers to the east coast as this month’s image can attest. It was snapped by long-time reader and photography enthusiast, Stephen Plant, on the Cleethorpes marshes. Given the bird’s striking black and white colouration, it’s little wonder that the snow bunting is often colloquially referred to as “snowflake”. Charming, certainly, though this moniker is perhaps misleading as on a warm day the bird’s colouration looks more like sleet than snowfall. The name also implies that the birds are white all over when, in fact, they have black eyes, bill, legs, feet, back and wings. The females have more grey-black on their upperparts, making them easy to identify from the males. This sparrow-sized bird will build its nests in rocky crevices on bare mountain slopes or rocky shores and lay between four and six eggs. The female incubates the eggs for between ten and fifteen days and is sometimes fed by the male so that she can remain on the eggs to warm them throughout the entire incubation process. Once hatched, the chicks are cared for by both parents who split the batch between them before the chicks leave the nest after a couple of weeks. The birds have a swift undulating flight on long black wings and have feathered feet to protect them in the harsh arctic environment. There are numerous collective nouns referring to snow buntings, including a ‘decoration’, though our favourite has to be a ‘sacrifice’. However they’re referred to, these hardy little birds are impressive to say the least, being one of only three birds to have been sighted at the North Pole. You won’t need to go to those lengths to spot one, though, just head down to Cleethorpes armed with a camera or binoculars. 32 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY This month, we take a closer look at the snow bunting, a rare but regular visitor to our shores. Lincolnshire wildlife 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:16 Page 1© Stephen Plant – www.snap-net.uk 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:16 Page 234 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Masai With every season, Masai prove again why they’re one of the most stylish and reliable brands out there. Here’s another example of a flattering fit and a trendy floral pattern. 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:21 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 35 FASHION The perfect excuse The Christmas season might be coming to an end, but there’s still plenty of parties ahead of us with all those New Year’s get-togethers. 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:21 Page 236 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION White Stuff Take your party dress in a different direction with this colourful patterned example from White Stuff. Masai Every woman’s wardrobe needs a little black dress and this one from Masai might just be one of our favourites. Ichi For a dress that’s sure to get you attention, there’s this statement piece from Ichi. With all that black lace, you’re bound to turn heads. Photo courtes credit: DK Company - ICHI 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:21 Page 3Vera Mont If you’re looking for extravagance for all those New Year’s parties and social gatherings, look no further than this showstopper from Vera Mont. 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:21 Page 438 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Hobbs Though this dress from Hobbs evokes cheetah print, it’s an entirely different animal. The white collar adds a contrasting colour and a stylish edge, while the belt cinches the loose-fitting dress to hug your figure and add some definition. Marc Cain From Marc Cain comes a party dress that’s undeniable sexy, but one which also has class and sophistication. It’s a plunging neckline, but not as we know it. Numph You can’t go wrong rocking the darker end of the colour spectrum as this simply stylish ensemble from Numph shows. Pair with heels to take it to the next level. 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:21 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 39 Ichi With its delightfully discordant pattern, this dress from Ichi will make sure you go noticed wherever you’re wearing it. Photo courtes credit: DK Company - ICHI Lipsy Figure hugging and skin baring, this dress from Lipsy will make you look and feel fantastic. Masai Here’s that simple elegance that Masai are famed for again. A loose flowing red top is contrasted with black trousers for a look that’s confident and graceful. With a few carefully chosen accessories and some heels, you’ll be the bell of the ball. Open from Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5pm 100 Burton Rd, Lincoln LN1 3LN. A short walk from Bailgate Tel: 01522 542085 Winter Blues 50% Off Sale 34-43.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:21 Page 6Next >