£2.95 MARCH 2015£2.95 MARCH 2015THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINETHE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukBLMGROUPGROUPBLMWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NETWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET25+ years young25+ years youngNew seasonfashionMagnificentmotorsFarm & CountryLinkThe best ofLincolnshireNew seasonfashionMagnificentmotorsFarm & CountryLinkThe best ofLincolnshireThejoys ofSpringThejoys ofSpring01_Layout 1 23/02/2015 14:02 Page 1Find out more at your local meetingand conditions apply. See website for details. Excludes Northern Ireland.WITH A PLAN TO SUIT YOUWe’re HERE TO HELPWe’re here to help with a range of options to suit you.However you choose to eat, vegetarian, gluten-free, lower carb - it doesn’t matter. The Weight Watchers approach offers you different ways to eat, enjoy the food you love and achieve a healthy weight loss.*St Denys Church RoomMarket Place, Sleaford NG34 7SHTuesday 10:00amCarre’s Grammar SchoolNorthgate, Sleaford NG34 7DDTuesday 6:15pmQuarrington Parish Church HallGrantham Road, Sleaford NG34 7NBThursday 6:30pmWinchelsea Primary SchoolSleaford Road, Ruskington NG34 9BYMonday 6:00pmNavenby Methodist Church HallHigh Street, Navenby, Lincoln LN5 0ENMonday 6:00pmCommunity CentreCaroline Road, Metheringham,Lincoln LN4 3HFWednesday 6:30pmThe Ruby Hunt CentreChurch Street, Donington PE11 4UAWednesday 6:30pmConingsby Community HallSilver Street, Coningsby LN4 4SGMonday 6:30pmThursday 10:00amWaddington Village HallMere Road, Waddington LN5 9NXSaturday 10:00amGolf HotelThe Broadway, Woodhall Spa LN10 6SGTuesday 6:30pmSt. John’s Primary SchoolGrantham Road, Bracebridge Heath,Lincoln LN4 2LDMonday 5:30pmSt Columbia’s ChurchBrant Road, Brant Road, Lincoln LN5 8RXTuesday 6:00pmThe Memorial Hall317 Newark Road, North Hykeham,Lincoln LN6 9RYWednesday 9:00am 10:00am, 6:00pmRuston Sports & Social ClubNewark Road, Lincoln LN6 8RTTuesday 6:00pmWashingborough Community CentreFen Road, Washingborough,Lincoln LN4 1ABTuesday 6:30pmWyberton Sports and Social ClubThe Playing Field, Causeway, Wyberton PE21 7BSMonday 6:30pmMoorland Park Methodist Church HallSkellingthorpe Road, Lincoln LN6 7RBThursday 6:00pmThe Swan HolmeDoddington Road, Lincoln LN6 3RXFriday 9:30amVillage HallFerry Road, Fiskerton LN3 4HWSaturday 10:00amThe Nosey Parker1 Crusader Road, Lincoln LN6 7ASSaturday 9:30amBirchwood Methodist ChurchBirchwood Avenue, Lincoln LN6 0JEThursday 6:00pmBest Western - Admiral Rodney HotelNorth Street, Horncastle LN9 5DXSaturday 9:30amHorncastle County Primary SchoolBowl Alley Lane, Horncastle LN9 5EHThursday 6:30pmMethodist ChurchAlbert Street, Holbeach PE12 7DRTuesday 10:30amWednesday 10:30amThursday 6:30pm*Purchase Monthly Pass in your first Weight Watchers meeting and pay £10 for the first month upon presentation of this coupon. Non coupon fee currently £16.95. Subsequent months fee (currently £21.45) will be payable until you cancel. Fees subject to change. Available in England, Scotland or Wales. Coupon cannot be transferred, combined with other offers, exchanged for cash or used with At Work. Completion of activation required via our website. Available to individuals aged 18 years or older.For more local meetings visit844£10passmonthlyFirst monthC90011927** Standard network charges apply.HAND THIS VOUCHER IN AT YOUR MEETINGMEETINGSONLINEMOBILE++weightwatcherslocal.co.uk0345 677 7788text LOCAL + postcode to 62223**Meetings | Online | Mobile02_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:31 Page 1It’s certainly heartening to see a little colour around the countyagain after what seems to have been a long and rather drab winter.Daffodils are already providing a much needed splash after cuttingthrough the snow and frost over the last few weeks. This doesbring flashbacks for me, however – as sadly I was forced to play adaffodil in a Sunday School play in my formative years and livedwith the psychological scars ever since. I’m pleased to say I’malmost over the worst of it some forty years on, but it still sendsshudders down my spine whenever we’re out walking the dogs this time of year.Moving swiftly on, they say March is a season for rebirth and renewal, so whatbetter choice of front cover than this month spectacular shot of two fox cubsplaying? It’s a sign of things to come if you keep your eyes peeled, while you’reout and about this month, and we’ve got some great Lincolnshire walks to helpyou do just that, as well as more great shots of local wildlife at its best.This month’s issue also includes loads more inspiration for how to spend thewarmer months, although it’s not quite time yet to throw the doors open andlight up the barbecue! We’ve got plenty of new season fashion though and, asMarch also sees the introduction of the new registration plates, we take a timelylook at some of the latest vehicles to hit the showrooms. Add to that morespectacular homes and gardens and I think we’ve got most people’s passionscovered in these pages!Fortunately, while winter may have been a little drab, it hasn’t been especiallyharsh and that’s excellent news for our farming community as they play such animportant role in the county’s prosperity. This month we feature our regular Farm& Country Link supplement with all the latest news from the industry. It’s a sectorthat’s undergoing a great deal of change with a new plan in place to ensure itcontinues to grow until the end of the decade. We can’t imagine Lincolnshirewithout its fabulous food and glorious open spaces and we urge readers to supportthe industry by buying local, wherever possible. Dive in and enjoy this month’s issue – and, as you all know by now, LincolnshireToday is one of the few county magazines that updates its website daily to bring youthe very latest news! You don’t have to wait a whole month for your next fix – just visitus online at www.lincolnshiretoday.net.Good reading, as alwaysSteve FisherEditorLincolnshireToday@lincstodaylincolnshiretoday.netEditor:Steve FisherJournalists:Steve Williams, Michael Fisher, Stuart PearceySales Director: Teri CooperSales Manager: Angela CooperAccounts: Angela Sharman,John DownesCirculations: Dawn CookDesign & Production: Gary Jorgensen,Mark Casson, Rachel GreenAdvertising: 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 WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/MENNO SCHAEFER03_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:32 Page 1Farm & CountryLinkOur special section focuses on Lincolnshire’simportant agricultural sector58 Farming NewsWhat issues are affecting the county’sproducers and growers?60 Elves and safetyOur equine expert takes a look at anotherburning issue62 Farm powerThe agricultural industry continues toovercome a host of problems to thrive65 Get the show on the roadIt’s time to put this summer’s county shows inyour diary!Features6 This month in LincolnshireWhat’s been going on in the county?24 Perennially surprisingThere’s far more to Scunthorpe than may firstmeet the eye29 Love your mumMother’s Day ideas kick off our fantasticdining pages34 Let there be lightColour your world with the very latest springfashion46 Let loose!Add light and bounce to your hair andmake-up as we banish the gloomMARCH 2015Contents62347404-05_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:50 Page 148 Love getting fitMore news on the best way to get activeacross the county50 Exploring Lincolnshire on footBrinkhill, Calceby and Driby54 Tales from the riverbankOur wildlife expert takes a look at some ofour river-dwelling pals68 Hit the roadThe new registration plates arrive thismonth – attached to some fantastic cars74 What’s On in LincolnshireThe top shows and events in the countyover the next few weeksDesirable homes12 A new lease of lifeA spectacular development in Lincoln iscoaxing a landmark back into life16 Timeless trendsClassic meets contemporary in the latestbathroom trends18 A super NovaA garden in Woodhall Spa that offersspace to reflect22 Spring into action!Our garden expert takes advantage ofthe longer days to pass on their adviceSocial scenes10 Cancer Fighters Ball27 Headway Ball73 Duckworth Land Rover Launch68122804-05_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:50 Page 2BBC1’s ever popular Antiques Roadshow will start filming for its 38th series in the grounds of RAF Coningsby on Thursday 28th May. Theshow will take place among the hangars of Coningsby and hopes to capture the atmosphere of a typical working day at the home of theTyphoon, guardian of the skies.Presenter Fiona Bruce says, “This will be my eighth year on the Antiques Roadshow and I still feel so lucky to be presenting the programme.Every week is different, a new location and thousands of new visitors. The only constant is the pleasure of the unexpected – we never knowwhat will turn up, from the most fabulous Faberge to the most humble object with a riveting story.”During the last series the Roadshow unearthed some amazing finds – a portrait by a renowned artist painted on a pillowcase in a POWcamp, Star Wars memorabilia valued at £40,000 and a Chinese enamel box bought for 20p and worth over £10,000.More information can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow.LATEST NEWSsoundLINCS are puttingthe focus on folkA newmappingresource fromsoundLINCSaims to helpyoung peoplefind folkgroups andopportunitiesacross the EastMidlands andput the focuson folk.With almost a hundred entries and growing all the time, ifyou’ve ever wanted to play, learn about or even just listen tofolk music, Focus on Folk can help you find what opportunitiesare available in your area.The map grew out of soundLINCS’ East Midlands Talent andPotential programme exploring progression routes available foryoung people. It also built on the recent outburst of severalfolk projects including soundLINCS’ own event B15 which sawover three hundred people perform a new composition basedon the traditional Lincolnshire folk tune ‘Lost Lady Found’.This map is now available at www.soundlincs.org andhighlights folk singarounds, ceilidhs, clubs, concerts, festivals,organisations and collaboratives providing folk activities,workshops, courses and events for young people across theregion.Be the difference...foster for keeps!Lincolnshire currently has a shortfall in the number of Permanent FosterCarers needed to care for some of the county’s most vulnerable children.That’s why Lincolnshire Fostering Service is working in partnership withBransby Horse Rescue Centre, one of the UK’s largest equine welfarecharities.The centre is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating horses, ponies,donkeys and mules that are in need of a therapeutic and caring home,and so has parallel values and aspirations to Lincolnshire FosteringService. The service will be planting trees at Bransby Horse Rescue Centreas a symbolic act of children being able to put down roots, grow andflourish when in a loving and stable family home.The service hopes that this project will highlight the important workwhich foster carers undertake by providing loving homes for some ofLincolnshire’s most vulnerable children.For more information about fostering, call 0800 093 3099 or visitwww.lincolnshire.gov.uk/adoptionandfostering.AntiquesRoadshowvisits RAFConingsby06-07_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:52 Page 1Looking forward to the pastUnprecedented numbers of buyers attendedthe first auction of the New Year at GoldingYoung & Mawer in Lincoln.The January sale at The LincolnAuction Rooms was dominated by theclearance of Clarks Butchers ofNewport, Lincoln. The dust coveredcollection ranged from scales,butchers’ blocks, advertisingrelated items and the inevitabledelivery bike. A bracket clock byRoskell, pictured, started thesale, selling at £1400, and twoitems of ceramics by HannahBarlow sold for £320 and £400after a great deal ofcompetition.The resurgence of thepopularity of furniture was underlined when a 17th Century oakcoffin stool went under the hammer. Although the piece wasflawed, commission bids ranged from between £300 and £400and it was eventually sold in the room at £1400 after fiercecompetition between bidders on the internet and over thetelephone. LATEST NEWSEverythingcomes in threesLocal climbers ofthe Ascent at NorthKesteven Centre inNorth Hykeham haveseized all three top spots inthe regional first round ofthe British MountaineeringCouncil Youth ClimbingSeries.The British MountaineeringCouncil Youth ClimbingSeries offers fun climbingcompetitions for youngpeople. The series is extremely popular and attracts hundreds of entrants acrossthe country. In the first regional round, Lian Somers, aged thirteen, came firstfollowed by Jodie Halsall, aged fifteen, and Jack McDermott, aged twelve, inthird. Lian and Jodie are pictured with The Ascent’s head climbing instructorGary Copeland.Victoria Chapman, Youth Outreach Development Manager whomanages the Ascent, says, “We are thrilled that we have takenfirst, second and third! Lian, Jodie and Jack should be proudof their achievement just as much as we are. Welook forward to them climbing again inthe second round.”Get snapping forphotographic competitionWhether you’renew to photographyor not, illustrate whatyou love about NorthKesteven bycapturing yourfavourite places tovisit and be in with achance to spend halfa day with aprofessionalphotographer.Take inspirationfrom CogglesfordWatermill, or maybe the stunning architecture of grade II listed building,Navigation House - the aim is to capture the distinctive character of NorthKesteven from its heritage and history to its diverse landscapes andcommunities.You can enter by calling 01529 308207 or emailing discovernk@n-kesteven.gov.uk. You can also download an application fromwww.heartoflincs.com. This is a free competition and is open to all amateurphotographers of all ages.Closing date for all entries is Friday 3rd July. Winning entries will befeatured in the North Kesteven 2016 calendar. First prize will also include anopportunity to spend half a day with a professional photographer.Home is where thevote is!Encouraging more people to turn out at election time isalways a challenge – but for East Ferry residents voting hasbeen made easier than ever now villager Andrea Pettit hasvolunteered for her conservatory to be used as a pollingstation.Andrea says, “We’ve opened up our conservatory forabout five years, since the local pub closed. We haven’t got avillage hall in East Ferry so when the chance came up to hosta polling station we took it on. I am chair of the parishcouncil and my husband Mark is the clerk so it seemednatural to help out.”Although voting is a serious matter, it is also a chance tocatch up with villagers. Andrea says, “We usually have agood chinwag over a cup of tea. It’s a great opportunity forthe community to get together with more than fifty peoplecasting their votes here at the last general election.”06-07_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:52 Page 2Unsung heroesDear LincolnshireToday,It was inspiring toread about the localpeople who weregiven awards in theNew Year’s Honourslist. Too often wehear aboutcelebrities beinggiven gongs forkicking balls aroundor taking part insome unintelligibleplays. It’s great that someone like Sue Kirk can behonoured for making a real difference to the lives of people in thecounty undergoing treatment for cancer. As a Bostonian myself I’veseen some of the work Sue has done on both a local and nationallevel – so well done Sue! The honour is richly deserved.J RobertsBostonReaders’lettersWe’d love to hear from you. If you have any news, views or issuesyou would like us to cover, do get in touch.A moment to thinkDear Lincolnshire Today,May I commend Stella Jackson for the work she is doingto maintain Lincolnshire’s churches, as reported in yourpages. Whether you’re religious or not, our county’schurches are fantastic examples of architecture and we’d bea poorer place without these landmarks. As a Christian I doregularly attend a local church which holds a wonderfulservice, but sometimes I take great comfort from just visitingto take a moment to think. It’s great to know other peopleare concerned about their welfare and hopefully they willcontinue to inspire for years to come.S StuartCleethorpesPICK OF THE MONTHThe winner of our letter of the month wins a case of wine.We’d love to hear from you: Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE. Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk We reserve the right to edit published lettersYoung at heartDear Lincolnshire Today,Well done for pointing out in your pagesthat “older people” aren’t all the same. I’min my seventies yet many of my family say Ihave more energy and enthusiasm for lifethan those half my age! It’s good to knowthat people who need help and assistancecan receive it but it’s about time thateveryone over the age of 65 stopped beingtarred with the same brush. There are moreand more of us every year!M DaviesStamfordPICKOF THEMONTHBusiness mattersDear Lincolnshire Today,I was intrigued to read your article about how changes in the law will affectLincolnshire employers. It’s certainly true to say that there is too much red tape thatcan take up time and expense that could be put to better use, but if the result is aworkforce that is happier, safer and more motivated, you can’t argue otherwise. Theintroduction of the new paternity leave regulations may initially leave employers shortbut if the other option is staff leaving, I’m all for it.T SmithLincolnPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/LISA S.08_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:38 Page 109_Layout 1 23/02/2015 11:40 Page 1Next >