< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING A tough year for the automotive industry Car sales crashed in 2020 as COVID-19 shut showrooms and Brexit nervousness grew. 2020 represented the toughest year for car sales since 1992, new figures show. It also saw the biggest year-on-year decline in sales since 1943, when industry was focused on supporting World War II. Last year, annual new car registrations dropped 29.4% to 1.63 million as demand reduced and showrooms were forced to close as a result of the pandemic, while Brexit concerns heightened, seeing a 680,076-unit decline equivalent to £20.4bn in lost turnover, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The first lockdown was the primary cause of the slump, with March being a critical month when sales are boosted by a change in number plates. Working from home has also been highlighted for its impact on car sales, killing the commute and, subsequently, motoring needs. The year also saw 31.1% fewer vehicles joining large company car fleets. For electric cars, conversely, 2020 was a boon, with the best ever year for battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Together, battery and plug-in hybrid electric cars accounted for more than one in ten registrations – up from around one in 30 in 2019. Demand for battery electric vehicles 52 Á 50-53.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 11:44 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 COUNTY MOTORING © Shutterstock /Harbucks 50-53.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 11:46 Page 252 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING grew by 185.9% to 108,205 units, while registrations of plug-in hybrids rose 91.2% to 66,877. The SMMT note that, encouragingly, there is room for further growth as most of these registrations (68%) were for company cars, indicating that private buyers need stronger incentives to make the switch, as well as more investment in charging infrastructure, especially public on-street charging. This will be particularly important as the automotive industry and public react to the Government’s ban of the sale of new petrol and diesel models by 2030. Figures from DriveElectric predict at least 200,000 new battery electric vehicles will be registered in the UK in 2021, pushed by the aforementioned ban, financial incentives such as a rate of just 1% Benefit in Kind company car tax from April 2021 for a period of 12 months, the influx of new EVs entering the market in 2021, environmental awareness focusing on not only climate change but local air quality, and increasing numbers of initiatives like Clean Air Zones. However, price remains a key hurdle for mass adoption of EVs, costing more than their petrol and diesel counterparts, as data highlighted by RAC illustrates. Looking at the year’s best sellers, the top ten was made up of the Ford Fiesta (in first place with 49,174 registered), Vauxhall Corsa (46,439 registered), Volkswagen Golf (43,109 registered), Ford Focus (39,372 registered), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (37,608 registered), Nissan Qashqai (33,972 registered), MINI (31,233 registered), Volkswagen Polo (26,965 registered), Ford Puma (26,294 registered), and Volvo The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling new car of 2020 50-53.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 11:46 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 COUNTY MOTORING XC40 (25,023 registered). With the third lockdown across England the industry is expected to be further impacted. Though click and collect is providing a lifeline, it can’t offset the effect of showroom closures. However with the vaccine programme underway, there is still potential for some recovery in 2021. The deal made with the EU - the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement - will also benefit the industry, which has as a result avoided a disastrous no deal scenario, bringing more certainty for trading conditions, which is vital as seven in ten new cars registered in the UK were imported from Europe in 2020. The continuation of tariff- and quota-free trade will be critical to a strong new car market, but with new border checks and paperwork, disruption is expected in the industry. Considering exports, the trade deal will require greater focus on battery production within the UK if our industry is to be maintained while petrol and diesel engines are phased out, as rules on batteries indicate that electric batteries must be sourced locally or from the EU to avoid tariffs on exports following the Brexit free trade deal - cars and parts continue to avoid tariffs so long as they contain enough content from factories in the UK or EU. From 2024 batteries will only be allowed to contain up to 50% of material from non-EU/UK countries. A local battery supply chain will be essential, whereas currently most batteries used are sourced from companies in east Asia. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said it was imperative that the UK secures investment in battery gigafactories and electrified supply chains to create the world-leading battery production infrastructure that will maintain the nation’s international competitiveness. Reflecting on 2020, Hawes said: “2020 will be seen as a ‘lost year’ for Automotive, with the sector under pandemic-enforced shutdown for much of the year and uncertainty over future trading conditions taking their toll. However, with the rollout of vaccines and clarity over our new relationship with the EU, we must make 2021 a year of recovery. With manufacturers bringing record numbers of electrified vehicles to market over the coming months, we will work with government to encourage drivers to make the switch, while promoting investment in our globally- renowned manufacturing base – recharging the market, industry and economy.” © Shutterstock /vectorfusionart 50-53.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 11:47 Page 4Murmurations typically take place in the winter, when the UK’s 800,000 domestic pairs of starlings are joined by millions of migrants from the continent. Together they form massive flocks wheeling in the sky before they go to roost. The term is thought to have been coined in 1470 by English monk and poet John Lydgate because of the murmuring noise the birds make as they pass overhead. However they are described, they are a most impressive sight, regularly containing over 100,000 birds, though flocks of over a million have been recorded. How all those starlings stay coordinated has long fascinated scientists and bird fanciers. Some studies have found that this behaviour is primarily an anti-predator mechanism with the birds descending en-masse if a bird of prey is present – such as a peregrine falcon, one of its most formidable predators. But temperature is thought to play some role, as you’re more likely to see a murmuration when its colder. On the other hand, bird watchers have long maintained that these massive flocks see starlings trading information about where best to go foraging the following day. Whatever the case, it’s truly a magnificent display, a sky dance that has long captivated onlookers and December is the perfect time of year to catch these murmurations yourself. 54 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY One of the most awe-inspiring natural sights of winter is vast murmurations of starlings forming the most incredible shapes across moody dusk skies. Lincolnshire wildlife The best time to try and see one is just before dusk. A ramble with your family bubble is the perfect way to help your Christmas lunch go down to make room for more. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to see a murmuration, the starling is a regular visitor to gardens across the country. They’re easy to spot thanks to their oily black feathers which sheen purple and green in the light. But the bird is bemoaned by gardeners and even by bird watchers because of its greedy nature. If you have feeders out, you’ll probably already know what we mean. But the poor bird can’t fight its own nature, having evolved to feed quickly in flocks rather than because they’re greedy. What you might not know about starlings, however, is that they’re rather adept singers, the male sings much of the year, pausing only a few weeks during the post breeding season moult. They’re also very good at mimicking other birds and even mechanical sounds. Despite the bird’s obvious abundance, the population has declined and now it’s red- listed as a bird of conservation concern in the UK. You can help by putting out feeders and keeping bird tables well stocked, but also by putting up a nest box. These can be brought but, if you’re so inclined, they’re easy enough to make with an online guide. 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 11:54 Page 1© Shutterstock/ Albert Beukhof LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 55 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 11:55 Page 256 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LIVING IN THE WOLDS The pandemic has led to a spike in the number of people looking to move to stunning rural areas. With the Lincolnshire Wolds right on our doorstep, we can’t think of anywhere better. Despite the rapid encroach of towns and cities into surrounding areas, and the ever-growing need for affordable housing, there remains a yearning inside the human soul for natural beauty. In the wake of the pandemic, people have been forced inside their homes and, in many cases, inside their heads. It has been a period of forced self-reflection as people understand and appreciate the things that are important to them and what they truly need to be happy, be at peace, and be fulfilled. For many, that will be bucolic views, the sound of birdsong rather than traffic, and the sweet clean air that only the countryside can offer. Little wonder that estate agents have been inundated with interest in Living in the wonderful Wolds 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 12:02 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 LIVING IN THE WOLDS properties in the Cotswolds since the beginning of the pandemic. According to Jonathan Bramwell, head of the country team at The Buying Solution, prices in the most exclusive villages near Daylesford Organic and Soho Farmhouse have risen by 20-30% since the first national lockdown. That’s meant that the minimum price for a quality four-bedroom house in the area is now £1 million. For a similar property in the Lincolnshire Wolds, the price is half that. We might be biased here at Lincolnshire Today, but it’s our opinion that you get a lot more for your money in this county than anything Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire can offer. To say that the Wolds are a range of low hills is like the saying the sky is blue. Sure, both statements are correct, but neither capture their nuance of beauty. Although the Wolds have captivated the hearts and minds of many writers over the centuries – including Lincolnshire’s own Alfred Lord Tennyson – in many ways, words cannot capture it. Fortunately, our feature has the benefit of including pictures and, given the area can © Shutterstock /Gill Kennett 58 Á 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 12:04 Page 258 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LIVING IN THE WOLDS be easily visited under social distancing laws, you can soon be experiencing its beauty first-hand (if you haven’t already). Covering a 220 square mile area, the Wolds offers a truly breath-taking variety of biodiversity from chalk streams to woodland and meadows, not to mention the agriculture which is the backbone of the area’s economy. With views like these, an abundance of walks available, and the escape from the humdrum of cities and motorways, the Wolds are a welcome escape. It’s easy to see why so many people love to call this place home and why so many more families, individuals and professionals are moving into the area. Indeed, many of the best loved, most iconic and most visited towns and villages in the county all lie in or on the fringes of the Wolds – Louth, Alford, Horncastle, Spilsby, Woodhall Spa, Market Rasen, Tattershall, Coningsby, and Caistor, among many others. As well as the location, all of these towns and villages are united by their community spirit, their ability to welcome in major chain shops and big names whilst also fiercely maintaining their independence. They’re also all unique with their own identity, amenities and history with many made up of Georgian and Victorian architecture and, in many cases, much older. Many of the villages are Medieval in origin, yet more dating back to the time of the Vikings. As with any location, there’s pros and cons. Yet in the case of the Wolds, many of the so-called cons are often assumptions rather than reality. Take, for example, the internet. Given the Wolds is wide stretch of outstanding natural beauty, many would assume that mobile and broadband connections would be weak right across. Although there is, obviously, areas where connectivity dips, the towns and villages themselves aren’t dead spots as many would have you 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 12:04 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 LIVING IN THE WOLDS believe. And with Government efforts to get rural areas connected, it’s getting better all the time. So, if the only thing preventing you from moving into the Wolds is a fear that you won’t be able to stream Netflix, then it’s time to think again. Another supposed con that we’ve seen people espouse time and again when it comes to rural life in general is that there’s nothing to do. This simply isn’t true. Many of the most popular and beloved landmarks and tourist attractions all fall within the boundaries of the Wolds. Moreover, many of the county’s very best restaurants can be found here. Attractions include the stunning St James’ Church in Louth, which has the tallest medieval parish spike in the country; the remains of the old Roman Wall in Horncastle; Alford Manor House and the town’s Five Sailed Windmill; Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum; the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre in Coningsby; Market Rasen Racecourse; the Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre. Not to mention myriad antiques shops, cheese shops, butchers, bakeries, boutiques, artisans, and, of course, markets. As well as the wonderful walks and historical sites, there’s more than you can ever possibly fit into one time. But it’s well worth trying to see it all. You won’t regret it – we promise. © Shutterstock /Gill Kennett © Shutterstock /travellight Quickfire facts • The area is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • Wolds Top is the highest point in the whole of Lincolnshire • There are 14 Sites of Special Scientific Interest • The area is a haven for cycling, walking, hiking and horse riding • Many rare species of animals can be seen in the Wolds, including the Red Kite • The Wolds are formed largely from a series of pure marine limestones formed during the Cretaceous period – known collectively as the Chalk Group • Many of the place-names in the Wolds indicate a strong Viking influence in the area’s history 56-59.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2021 12:04 Page 4Next >