< Previous10 STEPS TO A NATURAL LIFESimplifyYOUR LIFEThis month we show readers howto balance their hectic, plugged-inlife through a more naturalapproach.We’ve often wondered why in thisworld of modern convenience, lifeseems more hectic than ever.Wherever you look people aredarting frantically, fiddling aroundwith their smart phones trying tokeep up with life rather thantaking control. So, what steps can we take toembrace a more natural lifestyle, inthis manic plugged in world, andhow can we slow down to enjoy thepace of simpler days?Here’s ten ideas ideas to get youstarted.1Eat real food - we’ve all returned homefrom a busy day and ‘nuked’ some highlyprocessed frozen offering in themicrowave to save time – but how farfrom nature can you possibly get? Shopat your local farm shop where most of theitems are natural and fresh and your taste-buds will thank you too!Before heading off to work, pack some healthy anddelicious on-the-go items that way you’ll avoid thedrive through at McDonald’s that leaves you hungryhalf an hour later and it’ll save you a small fortune!Have a few apple slices, carrots or celery as a mid-morning or afternoon snack too so you’re not ravenouswhen you get home.3At the start of each week takea leaf out of Nigellas bookand pre-prepare your produceso it’ll be ready to go at amoment’s notice. Just becauseyou’re eating more naturallydon’t think you have to giveup all the nice stuff – havesome fun in the kitchen andsee what you can come upwith that’s sweet and healthy.Chocolate on strawberries is our tip!!2Make room in yourgarden to grow someof your own food -that way you canguarantee organicproduce and you’llbe amazed at howdifferent it tastes.Plus you’ll savemoney on fuel.4030-031:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:00 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY31Switch off the television andcomputer games and get out more –go for walks, bike rides, run or swima bit. We weren’t designed to live ascaged animals. 6Some utility companies have conservation programmes,rebates, or incentives. There are also greener providersyou can use – better still, why not look into generatingsome of your own power with solar panels.57Use environmentallyfriendly chemical cleansersand laundry detergents.Biodegradable equivalentsmean less harm to ourplanet and they the jobjust great.8If you’re undertaking home improvements, look forenvironmentally friendly alternatives to paint - sheep’s woolfor instance, instead of fiberglass for insulation is just one ofmany products availableLeave the car at home –especially if you live near towork! But for those whodon’t, just try to avoid usingit once or twice a week -you’ll be surprised how littleyou miss it.910Waste less – you’ll find that using local producewill mean less packaging to throw away andwithout those supermarket offers and ‘bogofs’you’ll be throwing away less food too. Let yourkids draw on used paper, and only readnewspapers and magazines that are made fromrecycled paper or paper that comes from aresponsible source - like Lincolnshire Today. Thatway you’ll help save our rain forests too. As you can see, none of the above are difficult.You just have to be a bit more intentional.As you can see, none of the above are difficult.You just have to be a bit more intentional.030-031:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:00 Page 2BELCHFORDhese two linked walks around the Hoe Hill/Fulletby area offer dramatic Wolds’sscenery. Some new permissive footpaths are used and DEFRA maps are displayed ataccess points for these as they do not appear on OS maps. Route 1 mainly consists ofgrass paths whilst Route 2 uses the Viking Way; both cross rough ground in places! Do themseparately or link both for a longer outing; the latter option should fortuitously see you inBelchford around lunchtime! Fulletby is situated on the 135-metre contour line and is consequently one of Lincolnshire’shighest villages. Its Old Danish “by” suffix indicates settlement here from the mid C9th. Butpeople lived here long before that for on Nab Hill (by Gorse Farm where Walk 1 ends andWalk 2 begins) prehistoric archaeological finds indicate occupation back to the Early Neolithicage.Hoe Hill’s level top, rather misleadingly resembles a prehistoric hill fort. However its shapeis explained by the local geology, as the summit is erosion resistant limestone known ascarstone that protects the softer strata beneath. There is no archaeological evidence that itwas inhabited in prehistoric times.Fulletby itself is noted for its appearance in the Guinness Book of Records. The storybegins in January 1816 when Henry Winn was born there; a remarkable child whoremained in the village throughout his 98 years! His father died when he was ten andalthough left school to support his mother and younger family members he nonethelesscontinued to educate himself at home. After getting married he opened a general storeand earned extra money as a decorator, auctioneers clerk, and later on as the villageconstable, Sunday school teacher, and local tax collector. He started a village sick club tooand by 1850 had founded Fulletby’s first school and free library stocked with his ownbooks.It was in 1830 however, at age fourteen, that he became assistant parish clerk, sincethe elected clerk could neither read nor write. Henry eventually held the post (fulltimefrom 1845) continuously until 1910, a total of 80 years, thus making him England’slongest acting public servant. Hence his entry in the Guinness Book of Records.Fulletby’s present church, St. Andrews, dates from 1705 being much restored in32 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNSHIRE WALKSEXPLORINGON FOOTA FULLETBY FIGURE OF EIGHTAs Spring arrives we sample some unexpected views fromaccess paths in hitherto inaccessible countryside nearFulletby before heading to Belchford.THE VIKING WAY NEAR FULLETBYAPPROACHING HOE HILLLincolnshireT032-033:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:02 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY33LINCOLNSHIRE WALKSDAM LANE BELCHFORDSt ANDREW'S FULLETBYFROM SCHOOL LANERIVER WARING BELCHFORDBELCHFORD1857. Henry’s grave can be seen in the churchyard directly opposite hisformer shop, now a private home but still retaining its old shop window.Belchford’s history seems to have been largely uneventful, the mostmemorable episode being during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of theMonasteries in 1536. In October the parson Nicholas Leach joined theLincolnshire Rising, which had begun in Louth. Once the rebellion had beenput down the ringleaders, including Leach, were hung, drawn andquartered at Tyburn.NOTES.Plentiful verge parking is available at the start - at the “T”junction (Grid reference 302734) just east of Fulletby.THE ROUTES. WALK 1.Begin by taking the Greetham road. Ignore thefirst signed footpath on the left but continue for another 400 hundred yardsto the next track – again on the left. Look for the DEFRA access map! Followthis to a ruined barn then take the fenced path to the right before headingleftwards downhill to a footbridge.Cross this and veer right, but not over a second footbridge. The path nowclimbs the shoulder of Hoe Hill (there’s an access gate for the summit itself)before descending the far side. Cross a track and continue downhill almost asfar as a line of electricity poles and then turn left. Keeping left of a group oftrees drop down to a footbridge, cross another rise to a second bridge. Abovethat in the hedge on the right you will find a stile.Climb over and keep by the right-hand hedge to another stile at the cornerof some woods. Turn sharp left and walk up three meadows with stilesbetween them, to a final stile by a farm track and water tower at the roadwhere you began.WALK 2.Set off along the Belchford road and just beyond the water towerturn left through a hedge gap. Again look for the access map! Keep to theleft-hand edge of the field and at the bottom a short path and grass trackleads to a road.Now bear right down School Lane to a kissing gate on the right. Walkdown the middle of a large meadow heading for a stile by a gate thencontinue downhill to another kissing gate and footbridge over a stream.Climb steeply up the far side beside a hedge to a fingerpost at the top. Notethe view to Lincoln cathedral! Bear right to a second fingerpost and therebear right again alongside the right-hand hedge as you descend a well-marked route down to the River Waring. Beyond that it’s uphill again tomeet Dams Lane and bearing right into Belchford.In the village centre keep left past the Blue Bell Inn and follow the roaduphill for just over half a mile to a footpath sign on the left. Go through themetal hand gate from where a wide path heads downhill to re-cross theRiver Waring.Climb the hill beyond to a handgate and then walk on by a hedge to joina farm track. Follow this to the road and turn left into and through Fulletbyback to the start. Detour left down Winn Lane to visit the church.by Hugh MarrowsFACTFILESTART: FulletbyMAPS: OS Landranger 122 (Skegness)• Explorer 273DISTANCE: Walk 1 - 2¾ miles • 4.5 kilometresWalk 2 - 5¼ miles • 8.5 kilometresREFRESHMENTS: Blue Bell Inn, Belchford.032-033:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:02 Page 234 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONSpringhas sprungA fewblizzards weren’tgoing to get in theway of us attending thelatest catwalk shows to getthe low down on this yearsSpring collections. Just feastyour eyes over the next fewpages, and you’ll see that whileshapes are going to remainsimple this spring, fabrics andprints are going to be bold.Florals are very much ontrend pieces too -especially young andsimple flowershapes.Springhas sprung034-043:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:06 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY35FASHIONPHOTO: DAMSEL034-043:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:06 Page 2&Sugar Spice UKBRIDAL & SPECIAL OCCASION WEAR368 High Street, Lincoln01522 533466www.sugarandspiceuk.co.uk36 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLeft: BaslerQuality fabrics and textures from Basler favour femininity Above: BaslerPastels bring a prim and preppy air and Basler shows how Opposite: OlsenWe adore this casual outfit from Olsen with its pastel shades andoversize floral print034-043:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:06 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY37FASHION034-043:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:06 Page 438 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFar left: Noa NoaThis floaty number from Noa,Noa reflects the springsunlight perfectlyLeft: Frank WalderFeel good colours from FrankWalder radiate positiveenergyBelow: Damsel In A DressIf chequered clothing isn’tyour thing then you’ll lovethis pretty print from DamselIn A Dress.034-043:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:06 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY39FASHIONAbove: Noa NoaNo wardrobe iscomplete without thoselight hearted andcarefree outfits,exemplified here by NoaNoa Left: BaslerSpring ’13 is also aboutfabrics and textures -and this outfit from Baslershows how its doneSpring/Summer collections now in storeNow featuring Noa Noa ‘mini range’88c The Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AR01522 787709noanoalincoln.co.ukat Eve & Ranshaw, 1 Market Place,Louth. Tel: 01507 601200Gabor, Caprice &many more Spring/Summer Collections now instoreHotterVan Dal Caprice Gabor Marco Tozzi HB Zodiaco034-043:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:06 Page 6Next >