< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMES - HEATINGTouch wood, this winter hasn’t hit thetemperature lows we’ve experienced in recentyears, with the wind and, especially, the rainproving to be the biggest problems. But we’recertainly not out of the woods yet, at theunseasonal blast of arctic weather we endured lastspring illustrates.It’s certainly worth considering how you’reheating your house, however – not least thanks tothe continued debate over rising energy prices.Indeed those in our region who specialise in greenenergy are suggesting that more and more homesare looking at renewable energy thanks to theincrease in gas and electricity bills.The benefit from this doesn’t just come from themoney you save on the bill. Homeowners investingin renewable heating technologies such as heatpumps, solar thermal hot water and biomass areeligible for a grant towards the cost of installing thetechnology under the Renewable Heat PremiumPayment scheme. Meanwhile, the Renewable HeatIncentive, designed to encourage the uptake ofrenewable heat technologies among householders,is expected to be introduced in the spring.In addition, electricity-generating technologiessuch as solar PV and wind turbines are eligible forthe Feed In Tariff. This means thatwhile the initial capital cost is moreexpensive, renewable energy is aninvestment because you receive agenerous rebate – which shouldensure the investment will pay foritself well within its lifespan.Energy specialists are reportingmore interest in energy efficientheating systems such as air sourceheat pumps coupled with underfloor heating, as well as additionalenquiries about solar thermal andenergy efficient boilers. As well asthe incentive schemes that providegrants, air source heat pumps havea much longer life span than a gasboiler. It’s no wonder, therefore, thatmany are investing now to helpthem save in the future.In our part of the world, renewable energy isattracting plenty of attention with the Lincolnshirecoastline among the areas earmarked to play amajor part in the growth of the sector, withmultinational companies basing their operationshere – something which could prove to beparticularly lucrative. Indeed three of the world’slargest wind farms are on our region’s doorstop –relatively, not literally – and it’s certainly hoped thatthey can generate huge swathes of the energyrequired to power and heat our homes.Wind farms have always been controversial andrecent news from the government is that offshoredevelopment is now very much the order of theday, which is of some relief to those who dislikeextensive onshore developments. NeverthelessLincolnshire continues to play a major role, andadd to that the arrival of biomass plants and, morecontroversially, the discussions over shale gasextraction that have hit the headlines. It meansLincolnshire’s task in providing the UK’s energy overthe next few decades should be a pivotal one.That’s on the large scale, but on a domestic level,there are examples of innovation. The £1.2 millioneco-town scheme in Cross Street, Gainsborough,Settle back and relax in a cosy home – without worrying about energy billsThe contemporary Firebelly FB2 features a large glass window andsubtle design cues for a minimalist, pared down contemporary lookWarm as toast20-21:Layout 1 17/1/14 11:48 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21HOMES - HEATINGfor example, features triple-glazed eco clad doors and windows,more than fifty solar panels and rain water harvesting on thehomes, in a bid to significantly reduce tenants’ energy and waterbills.Those of us who don’t live in new-build homes can still benefitfrom more energy efficient heating options. The new breed ofstoves and fireplaces are fantastically energy efficient so they keepa home toasty and warm without using excessive power.Underfloor heating is also proving particularly popular. This mayseem to create extensive work but the latest systems are efficientand very flexible. They can often be used with Engineered WoodFlooring, which embraces the look and feel of a solid wood floorbut hold much lower moisture content and are up to 70% morestable than a solid board – so it looks good as well as saving cash.There’s nothing more romantic and attractive that settling backin a favourite armchair and enjoying the comforts of home in awarm and cosy atmosphere. Thanks to Lincolnshire’s heatingspecialists you can do that without worrying about your bankbalance.Ocean Turquoise Elite Wood Flooring from NakenInteriors can be used with underfloor heatingsystems, emphasising its value and flexibilityThe Firebelly FB Razen Cook stove,available from Ludlow Stores, is a sleekpiece of contemporary designInstallers of Renewable Energy Solutions for bothDomestic and Commercial marketsContact us for a free consultation:01636 642 790jlphillips.co.ukNewark, NG24 2TT20-21:Layout 1 17/1/14 11:48 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIREThe first thing that you notice aboutAlexis’ work is the incredible presence hisceramic sculptures have. ‘ChaosContained’ marries several large creationsalongside digital light projections andsmaller pieces as well as looped videofootage.A multi-sensory experience, you aredrawn in by the painstakingly-craftedceramics, which often stretch your pre-conceived ideas of what can be donewith ceramics.You can see inspiration has been takenfrom the sea, science fiction, biology andarchitecture, but often the forms aresimply of themselves and are gravity-defying, uncanny wonders.Alexis says, “My working method hasdeveloped over many years. Fromstarting off as simple shapes, thecomplexity has increased and there isprogress from one piece to another.”We ask him how he approaches eachpiece. “I have some idea where it wantsto go, but I respond to how the piecesbehave in the context in which theyappear, they can adapt to environmentor form.”One piece which seems a strange fit,but makes sense in the overall oeuvre ofthe exhibition, is the video piece in onecorner of the room entitled ‘Ex Machina’.Alexis reveals his father was a composerand that he believes sculpture and soundhave always had a relationship, even if itis uneasy.“I’m sometimes predisposed to wonderand worship metaphors and the idea thatwe create things that are sacred. Thescenario of a bowl rocking in the videoreacting to the sound of a keyboard andthe chanting is meant to represent theidea of several musical voices makingsound in a sacred place. The chanting isnonsensical and incoherent, it’s trying tomake sense of something with nocontext.”The ceramics have proved popular,with over 600 visitors already havingpassed through on the opening nightand several gallery visitors pass throughas we speak with Alexis.Reactions to his work, particularly theceramics, are varied. “We’ve had a lot of different reactions,”he says, “It affects people in so manyways. People ask how I have made themand then others are concerned with thefragility of the medium, which creates asense of reverence.”Alexis also suggests that his pieces,which include broken and jaggedelements, explore the dialogue betweencreation and destruction, which you cancertainly appreciate. This also suggestsancient religious ideas, such as Shiva theDestroyer in Hinduism being reveredeven though they erase in order to letother deities create.The most impressive are the largerpieces and Alexis has combined theirabstract, alien shapes with top-downdigital projections. “The projections arecentral to how a viewer sees the piece.There are elements of landscape in there,which is implicit in what I do. It’ssometimes just interesting to see how thelight falls.”Alexis has since taken ChaosContained on tour and will revisitLincolnshire from May to July at Scunthorpe’s 20-21 Visual Arts Centrewww.alexisrago.comForm andcontentAlexis Rago is a Lincolnshire artist with a style that is strikingly hisown. We catch up with him at his latest exhibition ‘Chaos Contained’at the National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford.22-23:Layout 1 17/1/14 11:41 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY2322-23:Layout 1 17/1/14 11:41 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSHaving been at the castle for fortyyears, Eddie knows the estate inside outand there’s a lot to take in. Originallyaround four acres, the castle nowmanages around 25 acres or more ofspace, including six in the original walledgardens. Within the estate, there are vastwoodland sections, a walled garden, averdant and luxurious kitchen garden, arose garden and elaborate box hedging.The first thing you notice about theentire estate is how well it is maintained.With meticulous care, there’s nary a leafout of place and each walkway picks itsway carefully through flowers, vegetablepatches and under tall trees with a clean,manicured feel.Over time, the estate has beentransformed. The kitchen garden andvegetable garden were formerly an ashwood and the gardens have beenextended across former agricultural land.It takes a staff of five including Eddie anda trainee to look after everything, but it’sobviously something they take pride in.The current resident at Grimsthorpe isOur green andpleasant landGrimsthorpe Castle, a stone’s throw from Bourne, is a magnificentestate with not only oodles of history, but a fantastic and expansivecollection of gardens. We pay a visit and tour the wonders withhead gardener Eddie Peeling.24-27:Layout 1 17/1/14 12:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25GARDENSLady Willoughby, who has great pride in thegardens and has taken down fences to makethe walk around the estate that more openand inviting.Charting the sheer amount of plants andflowers is mind-boggling. Suffice to saythere are some rare examples that are heldup as reasons to visit. For example, afantastic and roaming Magnolia grandifloracreeps up the side of the Elizabethan side ofthe castle.The woodland section leads away fromthe castle itself and contains a fantastic arrayof horticultural delights. As well as tulips,aconites, snowdrops, bluebells and orchids,there are countless examples of mature trees26 The current resident atGrimsthorpe is LadyWilloughby, who has greatpride in the gardens and hastaken down fences to make thewalk around the estate thatmore open and inviting24-27:Layout 1 17/1/14 12:18 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYwhich will give any fan of rare examplesa treat on a walk round.Eddie lives on site in a cottage withinthe woodland section and close by arebean trees, cedars, ash trees and even aJudas tree. There’s also a fascinatingJapanese Royal Cedar which Eddiedescribes as ‘layering itself’ in leaves.Close by again is a cut-leaf walnut tree,which garners many comments fromvisitors. That’s not to mention theprehistoric Gingko tree.Reaching a far side of the woodlandarea, we are taken into the old Victorianwalled garden which is to become asculpture garden due to open soon. It’s asloping and beautifully-rendered spaceand future visitors will no doubt delightin its charm as well as the sculpturalwonders set to take up residence there.24-27:Layout 1 17/1/14 12:18 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY27GARDENSThe rose garden here is delightful too.In close stance to the house, it tookaround fifteen years to establish and nowhas ornate boxing trimmed to neat andtidy lines and several rose varieties withinthat make it an ideal place to sit andwhile away an afternoon. Statues line thewalkways and it certainly makes for acaptivating spectacle.Within the kitchen garden there arelines and lines of over twenty lettucevarieties, apple trees, sweet peas and awhole bounty of other fruit andvegetables.Eddie also proudly points out a quincetree that he trims in a way that fascinatedHis Royal Highness Prince Charles on arecent visit, stopping him in his tracksand commenting that he’d never seen aquince trimmed before.Talking of trimming, the famous boxhedges you get the feeling are Eddie’spride and joy. We visited as was istrimming them, but the matching birdsgive a regal and sophisticated feel to thesmall ponds gently splashing withdiminutive fountains in a peaceful,separate garden near to the woods. Simple words cannot do Grimsthorpejustice. When the estate opens once againon Thursday 3rd April, we urge you togive it a visit. You won’t be disappointed.Simple words cannot do Grimsthorpe justice. When the estate opensonce again on Thursday 3rd April, we urge you to give it a visitGrimsthorpe Castle is near Bourne,PE10 0LY. To find out more or toarrange a group visit, call Ray Biggson 01778 591205 or visitwww.grimsthorpe.co.uk24-27:Layout 1 17/1/14 12:18 Page 428 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDEN ADVICEAs this is my first appearance in LincolnshireToday I should introduce myself with a briefoutline of my background. Over 25 years ago, I started working for asmall business planting hedgerows and carryingout tree maintenance. After six months Idecided that working outdoors was for me, andso I applied to Sparsholt College, Hampshireand was accepted on their woodlandmanagement course. I studied all areas of tree husbandry over thecourse of three years, which lead me to work asa woodsman on a country estate. After movingup north, I branched out (pun intended) intohorticulture and worked as a nurseryman,growing all types of bare root and containerisedplants, anything from tree ferns to tulips!Around sixteen years ago, I set up my owncompany, Fullers Forestry and Landscaping, andmaintained both domestic gardens andcommercial green spaces. This has grown to anaward-winning garden design and constructionbusiness. Over the years I have gained a widerange of knowledge and a huge passion for thegreat outdoors. Whether you have a small frontgarden or a large expense of countryside Istrongly believe that with a bit of imaginationyou can transform these areas into somethingthat can give you great pleasure.We have recently had a month of stormsbattering the county, which has left many of uswith damaged fencing and worrying about thehealth of our trees. This is a great time to getthese things sorted for a number of reasons. The perennials have died back and mostplants are dormant so therefore trampling allover the flower beds to erect a new fence willbe less disruptive than say if it was done in thesummer. The same can be said for the tree andhedge works. Carrying out work at this time ofyear is not only better for the health of the trees,but it is illegal to carry out any work that coulddisturb nesting birds as stated in the Wildlife andCountryside Act 1981.So if it’s the right time to carry out these jobs,who is going to do them? Well, if you are ablebodied and have the relevant skills then a smallamount of fencing is a DIY project. However,bear in mind that professionals will be able tosupply their materials considerably cheaper, andalways use the correct equipment for the job andmake sure that is in perfect working order.Apart from the minor tree and hedgemaintenance jobs I would always recommendthat the work is carried out by a professional as itcan be dangerous and very expensive if it goeswrong! If you are going to call a professionalmake sure that they are a professional. Unfortunately there are a lot of people whobecause they have a van, think they areprofessional, sadly most are not. I recommendyou ask for proof of public liability insurances andthat they have a valid environment agency wastetransfer license. If they cannot provide one orthe other it should send alarm bells ringing andlastly if you are unsure ask for references.That’s all from me this month. Let’s hope thatnext time I write we have started to see the firstof the colourful bulbs emerging from the wintergloom.When thewind blowsIntroducing Ed Fuller, a forestry and landscaping specialist fromWitham St Hughs, our new gardening expert.28-29:Layout 1 17/1/14 11:49 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY29GARDEN ADVICESpecialised services in Landscaping,Forestry and Garden 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 OBLIGATION QUOTATIONSCall 01522 868717 or 07867 510544info@fullerforestry.co.uklwww.fullerforestry.co.ukwww.landscapinglincolnshire.comFULLERSForestry & LandscapingPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ELENA ELISSEEVA28-29:Layout 1 17/1/14 11:49 Page 2Next >