< PreviousThe combination of glorious sunshine and freezingtemperatures has created some breathtaking scenesof late. Those readers who were able to brave theicy conditions have certainly been able to shootsome sensational images, as you can see onthese pages.This is the time of the year when Lincolnshirewakes up so we’re expecting a splash of colour todominate the county over the next few weeks. Thewide open spaces that are quintessentially Lincolnshireare the perfect canvas for delightful flora and fauna. Andas we reflect throughout this issue, the natural approach isoften what sets the county apart and certainly a growing numberof visitors are impressed with what it has to offer. If you’re full ofthe joys of spring, make sure you take a camera with you!60 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWe welcome your wonderful photographs of all the sights of the county.Have you snapped a scene you want to show off inthese pages?Send a hi-res jpeg to lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk,telling us where you took it, and you could win a blow up canvass print courtesy of Compley’s Cameras, CleethorpesLincolnshireLincolnshirePHOTO: JAMES BARCLAY, GLENTHAMA dramatic scene as the sunsets over GlenthamThe cold weather ensuresLincolnshire’s trees createfascinating natural sculptures060-061:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:17 Page 1PHOTO: NIKKI CODD, BLYTONPHOTO: JOANNA HESELWOOD, GAUTBYFishing ponds, part of Gautby Hall,Vyner ResidencePHOTO: DAVID DALESA rather frostyBoston Stump060-061:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:17 Page 262 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYTRAVELWhen you venture outside ofLincolnshire, you often expect to findsomething completely different. Ourcounty is one that is both rolling in thenorth and a flat and forever-stretchinglandscape in the south, very unique andfull of charm. So imagine our surprisewhen our trip to Cheshire provided uswith almost a mirror image.Combermere Abbey lays to the southwest of the county, on the border withShropshire and North Wales. Surroundedby farmland and endless fields itconjured up the same majesty thatLincolnshire does, with huge skies and asense of the wild always close by. Closeto the towns of Whitchurch, MarketDrayton and Nantwich, as well as thecity of Chester, it offers country livingwithin easy reach of some of Cheshire’smost captivating features.Set within acres and acres of space,the Abbey itself was built in 1133 andserves as a charming wedding venue.Standing proud at the end of a gateddriveway, it reminded us of BeltonHouse near Grantham or perhapsStoke Rochford Hall near Stamfordin both stature and setting.Originally the site of a CistercianMonastery, it has been a residential hometo several families and remains a privatehome now. It welcomes visitors in groupsor on specific days by appointment. Theestate has a working organic farm too,but the cottages are really the star here.Self-catering need not be a back tobasics experience and the award-winningaccommodation at Combermere is anexample of why. Greeted with a hamperfull of farm produce, wine and essentials,we could not really believe our eyes. Staying in a group of four at theCallander cottage, which is one of tenavailable, we had a spacious lounge, afantastic kitchen with everything neededto whip up a delicious meal and twosizeable bedrooms befitting a five starhotel. The bathroom was of a palatialsize, with a large bath for a soak after along walk or a powerful and bracingshower if you needed to get ready in ahurry. As the cottages are that little bit too farfor convenience from the local shops, theAbbey provides an honesty shop, stockedwith wine, local ales and ciders as well asa range of delicious food. What reallyimpressed us was the frozen locally-madeready meals available for a small pricealongside delicious ice cream fromnearby dairies. You simply took what youneeded and wrote it down, settling thebill at the end of your stay. It’s the littletouches that make Combermere adelight, as well as its beautifulsurroundings. Heading to the surrounding areas, weA homefromhomeWe recently stayed at the beautifulCombermere Abbey in Cheshire, whichoffers a range of luxurious holiday cottagesin the heart of familiar countryside.It’s the littletouches that makeCombermere a delight, aswell as its beautifulsurroundings.062-063:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:19 Page 1TRAVELtook in the market town charm ofNantwich, full of independent shopsselling books, unique fashions and localproduce. We also spent a day in Chester,a city that resembles a more sprawlingold Lincoln. The famous walls resembleLincoln’s castle walls but in brick and theRows filled with all manner of shops arelike a winding extension of our very ownSteep Hill without the gradient. Findingall manner of hidden treasures we feltwe had only covered a small portion ofwhat was on offer in the city andelsewhere, so a return visit is firmly onthe cards. Combermere Abbey is like a homefrom home and we can’t wait to makethe trip again.To find out more aboutCombermere Abbey both as awedding venue and a place tostay, log on towww.combermereabbey.co.ukor call 01948 662876.062-063:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:19 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYACTIVE LINCSMartin Thomas of Mandarin Leisureruns classes regularly, both in Lincoln andat the nature park and his enthusiasm forthe pursuit is plain to see. “It’s such agreat workout for those who ramble andare fast walkers. They are getting a goodworkout, but with the addition of poles itincreases the amount of oxygen you takein. This makes it great training not onlyfor those who want to get fit, but also forathletes too.”Not simply walking with poles, then,Nordic walking is a fine-tuned andtweaked method that works your core aswell as your arms and legs. You don’tsimply swing your arms, rather bringthem back to give a real boost to yourwalking speed, bringing shoulder bladesin and bothering muscles you might nothave disturbed in a while, if ever! Withcurved handles on the poles, they have arounded rubber end for use on concreteand small metal spikes for use on grass,mud and more rural surfaces. Using thesepoles has been proven to improve notonly oxygen intake, but research hasshown a 20-25% increase in aerobicfitness over a sustained amount of time.The group we followed round rangedin age, with more mature walkers movingat their own pace and others raring to goand speeding off ahead. To make surenobody is left behind, the whole groupmoves at the pace of the slowestmember, doubling up routes to make surethe walkers stay together.Taking in the fresh air and beautifulsurroundings at the nature park, thePolesAPARTNordic walking is not a new phenomenon, originating fromFinand when cross-country skiers needed to do some intensiveoff-season training it’s not just for beginners either. We met witha group of fearless Nordic walkers at Whisby Nature Park to findout what it could do for us.064-065:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:20 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY65ACTIVE LINCSwalkers walk as fast as they can in bursts,with strategic stops to rethink a route orto specify a method of walking. At onepoint, the walkers ‘double-pole’,pressing both sticks behind them at thesame time to walk faster and later pairsform ‘trains’ where the walkers bothhold onto the poles, becomingconnected with one walker poweringthe arm action.One walker has only attended foraround six weeks but has already startedto show signs of improvement in theiroverall health and wellbeing, surprisingeven Martin himself by finishing theirallotted route in a far quicker time thanin previous weeks.In all, the route lasts around an hourand a half, meaning a very intensetraining routine.“A lot of people find that they keep itup to socialise, we get large groupsdown and they are often still around agood hour after the walk has finished,chatting and maybe having a coffee in anearby café.”Martin’s classes are taking the nextstep and are set to enter the Lincoln 10kas Nordic walkers, setting off just afterthe runners, they are training with everyclass they attend. Martin runs classes at Whisby NaturePark every Saturday at 10.30am atBishop Grosseteste University campus inLincoln at 6.30pm on Wednesdays. Toenquire about Nordic walking or any ofMartin’s other classes, log on towww.mandarinleisure.com.This makes it great training not onlyfor those who want to get fit, but alsofor athletes too.aerobic workout for all and it ends witha good stretch, meaning walkers arewound down before heading home.We asked Martin what the generalbenefits are to Nordic walking and hesaid: “It’s very suitable for the young,but tends to be taken up by the overfifties. It’s lower impact than jogging orrunning but it can still offer greatbenefits. I’d love to get a football teamor some athletes down to have a go as itcan really be a beneficial part of your064-065:Layout 1 15/2/13 11:20 Page 2MAKE USYOUR FIRSTCHOICEAPPLY NOWFOR SEPT 2013Courses available in:Book onto one of our monthly Open Days.Please check our website for a list of dates.or visit www.bishopburton.ac.uk/riseholmecollegeCall 01522 895359Secure your place todayRISEHOLMECollegea part of Bishop Burton CollegeAgricultureAnimal ManagementArboricultureCountryside ManagementEquineHorticultureLand-Based Engineering*******VISIT OUR OPEN DAYSSIX months into a new era, staff at Riseholme College are looking forward to welcoming visitors to a number of open days.Vice principal Bill Meredith promises people will “notice a difference” since further education at the specialist land-based college near Lincoln was taken over by highly-regarded Bishop Burton College.“Riseholme has a much-loved place in the hearts of many local people and we’re looking forward to opening the gates and showing what we’ve achieved in the relatively short space of time since the takeover on August 1st,” says Mr Meredith.“Simple things such as clearer signage and a more welcoming reception area, through to improvements in facilities for students - especially residential and social - show the very positive direction in which we are moving.“Students are also benefiting from new opportunities for progression onto higher courses at Bishop Burton, including a wide range of Degree programmes.”Mr Meredith added that he is especially pleased with the new relationships that have been forged with local businesses and employers to give students more hands-on practical experience.“Links have been developed with local arable farms, a large intensive pig unit, equestrian enterprises, sheep and cattle farms as well as improving our arboriculture contacts.“We are only one of a handful of colleges in the region where people can train to become tree surgeons,” added Mr Meredith.Riseholme’s next available open days are:Saturday 13th AprilWednesday1st MaySaturday 18th MaySaturday 15th JuneWednesday 3rd JulySaturday 7th SeptemberTo book please call 01522 895359 or visit www.bishopburton.ac.uk for further information.A NEW ERA AT RISEHOLMEStudent at Riseholme enjoying his practical session in Arboriculture.Project2:Layout 1 18/2/13 14:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67EDUCATIONToday’s kids are certainly more in tunewith nature and the environment thanany previous generation. They don’tneed to be taught about the principles ofrecycling and sustainability as this hasbeen a part of their life since they wereborn – and this knowledge of theenvironment means they’re eager to getinvolved in numerous ethical andenvironmental schemes. That’s especiallythe case throughout Lincolnshire.Many of our local schools will betaking part in Fairtrade Fortnight whichbegins just as this issue arrives in theshops. Running from 25th February to10th March, dozens of schools across thecounty and across the UK will be takingpart in activities to illustrate theimportance of a fair deal for all –discussing the lives of people in othernations, ensuring their parents only buyfairtrade products and generally raisingawareness of the cause.Education plays a major role inFairtrade Fortnight each year, and in ourcounty, areas such as Louth, WoodhallSpa and Stamford are classed as Fairtradetowns and the groups in these areaswork closely with the community tospread the word. There’s bound to besomething going on.Among the events in our part of theworld during the Fortnight are aFairtrade Breakfast at St Columbia’sChurch on Saturday 9th March, whichwill illustrate the huge quantity – andquality – of Fairtrade and local producethat is now available. Just after theFortnight, too, on Friday 15th March,Lincoln’s Priory Academy will host theirannual Citizenship Day, in whichFairtrade plays a major role. The childreninvolved learn more about the conceptsand values involved and taste somesample. Many of the pupils leave thesessions enthused, with a view of goingabove and beyond the call of duty.The energy and enthusiasm ofLincolnshire’s kids is also illustrated bythe number of environmental events thattake place. In North East Lincolnshire, anarmy of school kids are playing a majorrole in helping to plant some 20,000trees at sites in Grimsby, Cleethorpes andImmingham which are beingtransformed into woodlands as part ofthe Woodland Trust’s nationwide JubileeWoods project.Immingham’s new woodland in SpringStreet is starting to flower thanks toplanting events in a number of the area’sschools, and kids – and their parents –have been invited to a number of eventsthat took place in Westward Ho,Immingham and Cleethorpes recently.The green GENERATIONWe see how Lincolnshire's schools spread the ethical message... and meet theheads of some of the county's leading establishments69 Schemes such as the National Citizen Scheme arehelping Lincolnshire’s kids get closer to nature066-069:Layout 1 15/2/13 12:33 Page 2The Vale Academy066-069:Layout 1 15/2/13 12:33 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69EDUCATIONMeanwhile on Valentine’sDay, pupils from the RichmondPrimary School in Skegnessplayed a major role in helpingthe town’s Tower Gardensbecome a nicer place to visitwhen they assisted in theplanting of ten new trees. EastLindsey District Councilinvited local residents to picktheir favourite type of tree,and the English Oak was thetop choice, receiving arounda quarter of all votes. The iconic English tree,known as “The King of the Forest” is believed to support morewildlife than any other English tree so the five that are beingplanted in the Tower Gardens should help it become a real havenfor various creatures.Second and third in the poll were, respectively, the Holm Oak –a large evergreen tree well suited to coastal sites – and the Tuliptree, a stunning deciduous tree that produces large tulip-shapedflowers in summer, so the kids will also help plant some of theseas well. As well as a much more attractive area in years to come,the event will also allow Skegness’ schools kids to get ever closerto nature.Older children can also benefit from initiatives that emphasisethe wonders of the environment. Those kids involved in theNational Citizens Service in Lincolnshire, for example, played amajor role in creating a more pleasant environment as part of thevoluntary work segment of the programme. Lincolnshire was oneof the first areas to run the scheme and, over the past two years,the work the participants did to brighten up community centresand skate parks, clear pathways and pick-up rubbish fromparkland not only injected fresh pride into many parts of thecounty but are still having an impact several months later.Lincolnshire’s schools are helping the county’s kids becomemore involved with nature and that’s bound to reap huge benefitsin the years to come.Gail YoungThe Vale Academy, BriggHow long have you been a headteacher?I started at The Vale Academy, which was then The Vale ofAncholme Technology & Music College, in September 2007.What are the most important things about your academy?The most important thing is that students achieve. Therefore,education and success are the first principles of ‘The Vale Way’. Our exam results atGCSE and A level were excellent in 2012 – 70% of students achieved 5 A*-C, 25%achieved 5 A*/A and 100% of students passed their A level examinations with allapplications to university being successful.The second principle of ‘The Vale Way’ is ‘join in, join in’ and extra-curricularactivities, trips and visits are a huge feature. Our third principle focuses on communityspirit. We expect students to show care, loyalty and support for each other, and hopethat, by trying to ensure all members of the community promote ‘The Vale Way’, ouracademy will be happy and strong.How can we find out more?Our website, www.valeacademy.org.uk, gives detailed information about every aspect ofour academy. Prospective parents are most welcome to visit the academy by appointment.Nigel HornerDeputy Head of School of Health and Social Care,University of LincolnWhat would you say are the most important thingsabout your school? The core mission of the school is to deliver a portfolio ofprofessional and vocationally related programmes, whichcurrently include qualifying degrees in Adult and MentalHealth Nursing, a degree in Health and Social Care,qualifying degrees in Social Work, and a range of post qualifying/post registrationcourses for health professionals. Our programmes are delivered in partnership with local health and social careproviders and a range of voluntary sector organisations. Our activities are madepossible by a dedicated team, many of whom maintain links with services and practiceand who engage in practice related research. How can we find out more?The admissions tutor for Nursing is Maria Joyce, who can be contacted atmjoyce@lincoln.ac.uk. For Social Work, contact Helen Davies at hdavies@lincoln.ac.uk,and for Health and Social Care, contact Julie Burton at jburton@lincoln.ac.uk.Professor Duncan FrenchHead of Lincoln Law School and Professor ofInternational Law, University of LincolnWhat would you say are the most important thingsabout your school? Our degrees are challenging and give a good grounding inall the areas you need for a qualifying law degree, as wellproviding postgraduate education in International Law,International Business and the Graduate Diploma in Law. Wehave excellent links with the local profession, and give students the opportunities tobe involved in real cases through our pro bono Law Clinic. There are alsoopportunities to meet and learn from judges and other practitioners, both throughtalks and visits, as well as through our employer mentoring scheme.Our greatest strength is that we are not a large law school, ensuring there is timeavailable for students to receive the individual attention they need so each student isable to maximise his or her potential. We foster an informal learning environmentwhich builds confidence in a friendly atmosphereHow can we find out more?Contact our Admissions Tutor Simon McCaffrey at smccaffrey@lincoln.ac.uk.Rob BoothroydHeadteacher, Lincoln Castle AcademyHow long have you been a Headteacher?I've been a Headteacher for fifteen years in total,nine years of that at Lincoln Castle Academy.What are the most important things aboutyour academy?The most important thing is without doubt thedrive and achievement levels of the students at LCA.It's important to ensure students fulfil and exceedtheir potential within a caring, supportiveenvironment. This is made possible by maximisingthe skills of our very talented staff who stretch and challenge students every day.How can we find out more?If you want to find out more, you can visit our website atwww.lincolncastleacademy.co.uk or call us on 01522 529203 and we will happilymake arrangements for you to come in and see us.066-069:Layout 1 15/2/13 12:33 Page 4Next >