LoveLincolnshireValentinesinspirationBeautiful homesand gardensFashion you’lllove Romanticwalks ValentinesinspirationBeautiful homesand gardensFashion you’lllove Romanticwalks LoveLincolnshire£2.95 FEBRUARY 2017£2.95 FEBRUARY 2017THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINETHE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukBLMGROUPGROUPBLMWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NETWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET30 years young30 years young01_Layout 1 27/01/2017 09:37 Page 1The Grove Care Home is nestled in the leafy village of Waltham, deep in rural Lincolnshire. Our residents enjoy spacious rooms, a newly refurbished lounge and woodland garden. With lots of opportunities to participate in a lively schedule of events and activities, residents continue to enjoy their hobbies and interests. Supported by dedicated volunteers from the village of Waltham, residents are able to keep in touch with friends and local interests.Our philosophy at The Grove is simple; our residents are at the heart of everything we do.... Come and see us, we’d love to show you our home!The Grove Care Home, Ings Lane, Waltham, Grimsby DN37 0HB01472 821 127 | info@countrycourtcare.com | www.countrycourtcare.comCONTINUE TO DRIVESURRENDER MY LICENCEMileage For Life Join us in a friendly and relaxed environmentDo you want help to keep your licence for longer?Do you want to enjoy your driving again?Are you over 60 years of age?Add mileage to your lifeNo testing,no examination,just sound advice, for FREETo book call 01522 805800or e-mailwww.roadlincs.combs_lrsp_lincoln@lincolnshire.gov.uk 02_Layout 1 26/01/2017 13:07 Page 1February is the month of love, with Valentine’s Day around thecorner and many couples both young and old gearing up tocelebrate what brought them together. In Lincolnshire we’re quitelucky to have a county that can at times be quite romantic. We haverolling hillsides, great stretches of forest and meadow – and idyllicvillages dotted about the countryside. What’s more, our foodyheritage makes choosing where to take a loved one challenging onlybecause of how many varied options there are!Of course, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, we do have some suggestions and tipsfor what to buy your loved ones, as well as some romantic recipes for those whowant to do something special. Why stop there, however, as there’s more thanone meal in a day and plenty of fabulous venues and restaurants to eat at. Forthose going a little further and tying the knot, first of all congratulations, butsecondly, you might be interested to read our annual Wedding Guide, whichhas been included for free with this issue. It’s filled with advice, inspiration andideas, so if you know anyone who is making the big step, then make sure theyget a copy!There’s more to February than just romance, however, and it’s worthkeeping the other twenty-seven days in mind. Luckily, our February issueshould help in that regard, as we look at what’s great across Lincolnshire andwhat there is to do. Our what’s on pages are packed full of upcoming eventsfrom the north to the south, and there’s bound to be something for everyone.As for the rest of our issue, we’ve a wide range of articles across Lincolnshirethis month. We look at the history behind the man from Lincolnshire whofought against the Normans, known across the country as the ‘GreatestEnglishman’. A little closer to today, we visit Caistor and see what this town inthe North of Lincolnshire has to offer, and why its community spirit is wellknown wide and far.Along with the latest fashions, news and upcoming events, this issue is sure toimpress.Good reading, as alwaysMichael Fisherand the Lincolnshire Today teamLincolnshireToday@lincstodaylincolnshiretoday.netGroup Editor:Steve FisherEditor:Michael Fisher, Journalists:Dominic Cuthbert,Stuart PearceySales Director: Angela CooperSales: Kerry Randerson Accounts & Circulations: Angela Sharman, John Downes(01472) 310301Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen,Mark CassonAdvertising: Tel: (01472) 310302, Fax: (01472) 310312 Editorial: Tel: (01472) 310305, Fax: (01472) 310317Part Of The Business Link MagazineGroup: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street,Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QEEmail: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk Website: www.lincolnshiretoday.net ISSN No: 1366-1299© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded orotherwise without express permission of the copyright holder,for which application should be addressed first to thepublisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither thepublisher nor its participating agents accept liability for lossor damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives orother material of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in this publication are notnecessarily the views of those held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. Byrecycling magazines, you can help reducewaste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes ofpaper already recycled by the UK paperindustry each year. Before you recycle yourmagazine, please ensure you remove allplastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. Ifyou are unable to participate in a recyclingscheme, then why not pass your magazineonto a local hospital or charity?welcomeFRONT COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/JANET QUANTRILLMORE WAYS TO READLINCOLNSHIRE TODAYLog onto www.lincolnshiretoday.net03_Layout 1 27/01/2017 09:27 Page 1Features6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIREWhat’s been going on in the county this month?28 EXPLORING LINCOLNSHIRE ON FOOTIt never ceases to amaze, how many hidden gems we driveby each day, without spotting them over the years30JEWEL IN THE CROWNWith its community spirit, impressive views and independentretails, Caistor truly is one of the jewels in the county crown34LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFEAs common a sight in garden ponds as waterways, thekingfisher is one of Britain’s best loved and most beautifulbirds36BE MY VALENTINE’SIt may only be a single day in the calendar, but Valentine’sDay is the perfect excuse to get dressed up to the nines andfeel fabulous44THE GIFT OF LOVEValentine’s Day brings with it the assumption of gift givingand it’s a great time of year to just spoil your better halfrotten, and it’s hard to go wrong with accessories46MAKING A STATEMENTIt’s hard to imagine a time when waist coats and ties werecommonplace in the workplace, but the beauty of smartcasual means that when you do break out the suit, adding atie or waist coat is suddenly a fashion statement48THE MALE BEAUTY REVOLUTIONWith men finally realising the benefit of some salon TLC, thedemand for male beauty treatments is booming. GillianJackson, Beauty Therapy Lecturer and owner of SkinCouture Beauty Salon shows men have just as much to gainfrom beauty treatments50BODY AND SOULContrary to popular belief, February is the best time of yearto get serious about health and fitness 52MADE WITH LOVEFor Valentines it may be all too easy to eschew cooking infavour of visiting one of the fabulous restaurants inLincolnshire, and why not? But for those determined to puttheir culinary skills to the test, or just people looking forsomething to cook in the twenty-seven other days ofFebruary, we’ve prepared some favourites57BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation’s heartcharity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascularresearchFEBRUARY3636IT MAY ONLY BE A SINGLE DAY IN THECALENDAR, BUT VALENTINE’S DAY IS THEPERFECT EXCUSE TO GET DRESSED UP TOTHE NINES AND FEEL FABULOUScontents04-05_Layout 1 26/01/2017 12:43 Page 15050CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, FEBRUARYIS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GET SERIOUSABOUT HEALTH AND FITNESS60ALL IN THE HEARTThe old saying is that we should grow old gracefully, yet thisis a problem often exacerbated by the health concerns thatplague old age64SUPPLY AND DEMANDThe world is changing, and what our children might grow upto do is changing as well. Old thinking needs to be changed,especially when it comes to what we should be teaching ourchildren66LINCOLNSHIRE’S HERITAGE EXPLOREDLincolnshire isn’t short of a few folk heroes, but Herewardthe Wake might just steal the top spot68MAN’S BEST FRIENDWe often say that we do everything for our pets, but sciencehas shown that they do much for us as well – particularly ourmental health70COUNTY MOTORINGThe UK new car market is off to a flying start in 2017 afteranother record year for sales under its belt• Audi R8 V10 Plus Couple74WHAT’S ONThere’s always something going on in LincolnshireDesirable homes12A TRANQUIL RETREATThis month’s featured home is a unique property in adelightful position, adjacent to Lincoln Golf Course andscores top marks for home automation and energyefficiency16A PERSONAL TOUCHThe bedroom so often becomes a stale space fit only forsleeping and getting dressed. So why not make it acornucopia of your favourite things?20WARM AND WHIMSYDale Bowen has carved out a reputation as a potter andpainter at the top of his game, and now his intricate andwhimsical pieces go on display in Lincolnshire22A GARDEN FOR SOCIALISINGGiven the recent spell of frost and news that an arctic frontis moving our way, most green fingered readers will havehung up their gardening tools, and be consoling themselvesby thumbing through bulb and seed catalogues26PLOT AND PLANTEd Fuller for Fullers Forestry and Landscaping shows howplanning ahead will leave your garden looking glorious comethe summer04-05_Layout 1 26/01/2017 12:43 Page 2The iconic Flying Scotsman will again be touring thecountry this summer where it will make a stop off inLincoln. Enthusiasts can board The Scarborough Flyer whichwill be hauled by the famous steam locomotive astravels from Scarborough through York and then Doncaster before passing through Lincoln and finishing at London’s King’s Cross. For others, just catching a glimpse of the train in action is enough to rouse excitement. It was supposed to stop off in Granthamlast year though engine failure left many disappointed. This summer will give everyone an opportunity to witness the train firsthand, as long as people remember not to trespass on the tracks. In a scramble to get snaps of the train, people ventured out ontothe tracks last year. FlyingScotsmancoming toLincoln insummerLATEST NEWSSo many of our favourite winter treats focus on chocolate, beit a comforting mug of hot chocolate or an indulgent wedge ofcake. A new group will see locals pool their mutual love of allthings cocoa. Chocolatier Lindsay Gardner and cocoa aficionado KathrynLaverack have together organised The Louth Chocolate Tasters,a new club aimed at … well, you can guess the rest. Tastingevenings will take place once a month, with the inaugural eventtaking place at the end of January. “Through Louth Chocolate Tasters we aim to give people anopportunity to learn how to identify and enjoy the differentstyles and flavours by tasting chocolate from some of the bestgrowers, makers and chocolatiers from around the world,”Lindsay said. As well as offering attendees plenty to get their teeth stuckinto, there’ll also be educational sessions on how to tastechocolate and the subtleties between different varieties andregions. Farmer confidenceon the upFarmer confidence in the dairy and livestock sectors has risenover the last year, with overall farmer confidence rising by 12points, according to a survey by the NFU.Dairy and livestock farmers have seen their confidence rise by28 and 15 points respectively. The falling pound, increasedcommodity prices and export levels have created a morefavourable environment for these sectors.However, confidence has fallen in the horticulture and poultrysectors. There are serious concerns for both of these sectors withthe prospect of labour shortages in the future and increase of theNational Living Wage.Despite improving in the short-term, arable farmers’ confidenceis still negative (-2 points) demonstrating that the majority ofarable respondents have a negative outlook for the year ahead.Farmers’ confidence for the next three years has taken a knockwith a 6 point drop. The Brexit vote has left farmers uncertainhow agricultural policy and future trade arrangements with theEU and third countries will look moving forward.Louth ChocolateTasters gives localssomething sweet 06-07_Layout 1 26/01/2017 12:53 Page 1County music charity replacesoutgoing chair with retirednaval captainsoundLINCS, the not-for-profit community musicorganisation, hasappointed Glenn Tinsleyas the new Chair of itsBoard of Trustees,replacing RobWilliams, who hasstepped downafter five years.A retired Naval Captain, Glenn (pictured right) hasover 30 years of military experience and a real passionfor music, owning and running his own recordingstudio for the past 10 years and playing a number ofinstruments. He said: “It’s quite evident from my conversationswith Rob and the team both how much Robappreciates and loves soundLINCS and their work, andalso how grateful they are for the time he has dedicatedand the development he has overseen. “So much has been achieved in Rob’s five years with theCompany and he leaves behind big boots to fill. I havesome great ideas and ambitions for the Company thoughand look forward to working on growing them over thecoming months and years.”Rob (seen left) will advise on digital developments andinnovations in the role of Technical Consultant. LincolnAle Trailuncovers city’s mixof bars and innsLincoln BIG has unveiled the Lincoln Ale Trail to encourage people toexplore the city’s assortment of watering holes, where they can raise a glasswith friends whilst enjoying live music, quiz nights and delicious food. The guide, devised in partnership with Visit Lincoln, features 30 differentvenues ranging from historic inns to contemporary bars in an area stretchingfrom Bailgate to the lower High Street. All businesses included serve real ales or craft beers, are open from 2pm andare members of Lincoln BIG or the Visit Lincoln Partnership. Most also belongto the Lincoln Pubwatch Scheme – co-ordinated by Lincoln BIG. “Lincoln has a diverse range of pubs, each with its own identity and uniqueambience. Together they form an important part of the local economy, but noteveryone realises just how much they offer by way of special brews, food andentertainment, from live music to pub quizzes,” said Matt Corrigan, Lincoln BIGChief Executive. Lincoln’s growing touristeconomy gains Arts CouncilinjectionArts Council Englandis investing £150,000 toboost Lincoln’s growingtourist economy. The investment, fromthe Arts Council’sCultural Destinationsprogramme, providesarts and culturalorganisations theresources needed toincrease their reach andimpact by working with the tourism sector. The funding will put arts and culture at the heart of plans to celebratetwo nationally significant moments in Lincolnshire’s rich history: The 800thanniversary of the Charter of the Forest, and the Royal Air Force Centenary. These celebrations will offer unique opportunities to attract new visitorsthrough a programme of new artists and cultural events. Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director, Arts Council England said: “Lincoln isa city steeped in history and this investment presents a really excitingopportunity to make arts and culture central to the celebration of two majoranniversaries, both of which have local and national significance. We hopeto see this investment helping to fuel future growth in the local visitoreconomy, attracting tourists from across England and beyond.”Death Caféreturns to LincolnFor many of us, discussing death is still taboo, but thereare those who need to talk about the topic with others. Butthere’s a dearth of spaces available where talking aboutdeath is okay. A ‘Death Café’ seeks to provide just that. The general thinking around this movement is that bycoming to terms with our own mortality we are more likelyto live life to the fullest. Far from the doom and gloom onemight expect, Death Cafés can provide catharsis, as well ascakes and refreshments. The concept isn’t new, and has gone global in recentyears. The café takes the form of a group directeddiscussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themesas opposed to grief support or counselling. St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be hosting fourDeath Cafés at The Angel Coffee House on Free SchoolLane, with the first of the four events being held on Sunday,February 5.PHOTO: STEVEN HADDOCK PHOTOGRAPHY 06-07_Layout 1 26/01/2017 12:53 Page 2READERS’lettersWe’d love to hear from you. If you have any news, views orissues you would like us to cover, do get in touch.PICK OF THE MONTHWe’d love to hear from you: Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House, Armstrong St., Grimsby, N. E. Lincs DN31 2QE.Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk. We reserve the right to edit published letters.Trying a little too hardDear Lincolnshire Today,Last month I had the unusual honour of being invited by my elderly fatherto a game of walking football. It’s a great way for the older community to get out,meet new people and get some exercise without winding themselves. I was invitedalong on the basis that my father didn’t feel confident going alone and having noone to talk to. As someone who enjoys football, I had no problem with this. It wasagainst quite a few older gentlemen, so I didn’t see the harm.Apparently, the harm is that I’m overly competitive. The rules are simple; it’sfootball, but you can only walk and cannot jog, run or sprint. Being quite thecompetitive fellow, I couldn’t believe how hard it was to force myself to move slower,especially when the ball is right there and being dribbled into position to score.Still, my father seemed to have fun seeing me get told off by the referee (who wasfifteen years younger than me) and sent off for five minutes to cool down. I’m alsosure the older ladies watching their husbands were very amused to see them get thebest of a whippersnapper like myself too. How embarrassing! J GoodwinNewarkThe winner of ourletter of the monthwins a case of wineCrazy weatherDear Lincolnshire Today,What is going on with the weather in the county? Last monthwe had the onset of the dramatically named Thundersnow, whichturned out to be a bit of a wet noodle in my area, and only gave alight dusting of frost, yet later in the month – when it wassupposed to be fairly sunny – there was an onset of fog so thick itleft the roads blanketed in grey.The sudden weather changes aside, I also have to wonder if thisis a sign of something changing, as the weather stations seemunusually bad at predicting it nowadays. Assuming they’re not justall idiots, one has to wonder if a fundamental law of how weatherworks has changed, or if something else has taken place.R SmithGainsboroughNext Year’s ResolutionDear Lincolnshire Today,I was very impressed by your article on how tobetter keep a New Year’s Resolution, and decided toput some of the points in there in practice myself.While many were well thought out and successful, Ithink you missed out the point about keeping familyaway with a ten metre pole.My attempts to lose weight were going great untilmy wife decided she wanted a great, big Sundaydinner with red wine, and that if she was going tosin, then I was going to sin too! Resolution broken,weight gained, and my wife somehow blaming mefor it all.Maybe next year you can include an addendum onhow to feel better after you break it. Mike BLincolnPICKOF THEMONTH08_Layout 1 26/01/2017 12:44 Page 11stissues only £1Great reasonsto subscribe...Each issue is brimming with a diverse topic range...• Heritage • Fashion • Hair & Beauty • Leisure • Homes & Gardens • County Motoring • Dining Out • What’s On • Free Reader Giveaways and much much more…First 3 issues only £1!FREE delivery to your doorReceive your copy before it hits the shopsORDER FORMYes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazinefor the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1.Personal Details:First name:Last Name:Address:Town:County: Post Code:Tel: Mobile:Email:Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT cardName as it appears on card:Type of card: Mastercard / Visa / Visa Debit / OtherCard Number:Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip):Expiry Date:Amount Authorised:Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions,Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. N.E. Lincolnshire DN31 2QEMake cheque payable to Business Link Magazine Group&Call now to subscribe on01472 310301 8or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341orScan QR Code3333Looking for a great gift idea?A gift Subscriptionis the perfect present that lasts all year round!Total Price: £27.553£1409_Layout 1 26/01/2017 12:45 Page 1Next >