< PreviousAdd some elegance to your décor this spring. Be it an armchair, vase or showerhead, there’s sophistication to be found in the simplest things. Combined, they can truly have a transformative effect. While we can’t make sense of the world outside, at least we can control our interior design. In times like these, that can be truly powerfully indeed. HOME TRENDS Elegant interiors 20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 1 2 3 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:39 Page 11) The Beautiful Velvet Armchair from Rockett St George will introduce effortless style into any corner of your home, a wonderful statement piece to treasure within your scheme. 2) Ella James’ new Egg chair cover chair is made from a weatherproof, water repellent synthetic fabric with a 3D flower design. Ideal inside or out. 3) Enrich your home with the beautiful Matta Wall Decoration from Sweetpea & Willow. This artisanal abaca and iron piece boasts a wonderfully elaborate, woven design that will add an organic sense of timeless bohemian chic into any living space. 4) The retro style Bousta Pendant Light from Nicholas Engert Interiors is a holophane lampshade supplied with electrical fittings in antique brass with twisted braided flex. It is also an attractive option for use over breakfast bars or kitchen island units. 5) Like frozen water drops on a tree branch, this Willow Pendant light from Laura Ashely looks organic and elegant in one. It’ champagne finish and crystal will fill any interior with luxurious light and style. 6) Made with antique silver, this sophisticated soap dispenser from Cox & Cox will provide that finishing touch to your bathroom décor. 7) This beautiful ceramic vase from Gisela Graham London is the every definition of elegance and will add a je ne sais quoi to any room its placed in. 8) For an eye-catching geometric statement piece of furniture in the living room or an open- plan scheme, the distinctive Solitaire Coffee Table from Atkin and Thyme combines an intricate antique brass plated iron frame with a toughened glass top. 9) The Assi White and Grey Gloss Sideboard beautifully combines a crisp white gloss finish with a warmer grey gloss front, creating a sideboard that just oozes designer looks and quality. Available from Danetti. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 5 8 9 6 4 7 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:39 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ALLERTON BRADLEY Q&A Can you provide a brief overview of how septic tank regulations have changed and why? In 2020, the Environment Agency introduced a new set of regulations by which all people, residential or commercial, must adhere too when they have off mains drainage. These General Binding Rules are legislation to ensure that waste is disposed of in the correct way and safely without causing pollution into the environment. They cover the discharge from small septic tanks linked to outhouses all the way up to large scale sewage treatment for commercial businesses. They cover the discharge into both watercourses and into ground via soakaways, drainage fields, wells and boreholes, each different scenario with its own set of rules. The basics are that sewage from a property can no longer discharge into watercourses without either passing through a packaged sewage treatment plant or a septic tank with secondary treatment, and newly constructed underground drainage must be a drainage field conforming to the most recent British Standards; BS6297 : 2008. If these rules are not met then Environmental Permits are required, which we can happily help with in the office. Readers might not be aware that, if they have a septic tank, they are legally unable to sell their property without updating their septic tanks. How can sellers keep on the right side of the regulations? We are seeing more and more customers come to us with queries on whether their property meets the regulations or asking for quotations on how to bring their sewage treatment systems up to scratch in order to sell their houses. We have 3 main solutions to solve these. Firstly, we would recommend having a reputable company come and carry out an inspection or survey of the system you currently have. We offer this service and can provide a report to you for your solicitors and buyers which will outline if your system meets the regulations. If, for whatever reason, the system was not suitable, we would be able to provide a quotation to upgrade the system to meet the General Binding Rules. We would explore the possibility of installing an Allerton ConSept, a new packaged sewage treatment plant or a new drainage field. The most suitable option can vary depending greatly on the situation on site. What are the benefits and advantages of septic tanks? Septic tanks have some advantages when a property has off mains drainage. They are silent, can be hidden well in a Q&A Allerton Bradley Ltd We spoke to sewage treatment and septic tank specialists, Allerton Bradley, about the changes to septic tank regulations and why it’s worth considering making the switch yourself. © Shutterstock /sonsart 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:40 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 ALLERTON BRADLEY Q&A garden, have no power requirement and do not need servicing. While this sounds great and can tick many boxes for new buyers, the disadvantages outweigh these positive points. Septic tanks, as mentioned before, cannot discharge to a watercourse any longer without secondary treatment. This means a soakaway or drainage field must be utilised which, if newly installed, can cause quite an upheaval in the garden. If existing, then the soakaway has a limited lifespan based on the saturation of the ground. With the wet weather we have recently had we are often receiving calls regarding failed drainage fields due to high water tables and already sodden soils. Septic tanks can also smell from both the tank itself and wherever it outfalls; the effluent coming from these units is usually around 200ppm of suspended solids which is very polluting. These issues can be solved with an Allerton ConSept or a new treatment plant such as the WPL Diamond Range, both of which treat the sewage to 20ppm; a suitable quality to discharge to watercourses and extend the life of failing drainage fields. For environmentally conscious homeowners, how can septic tanks provide a greener, more eco- friendly alternative to traditional sewage systems? Sewage treatment plants provide a cleaner alternative to the old septic tanks. They allow for a much cleaner quality of water which does not pollute the ground or the watercourses. They also do not need emptying as frequently which means less visits by heavy diesel tanker trucks. With the drainage fields lasting longer also it allows for areas of garden or land to go undisturbed and no need for heavy machinery to relay new drainage fields. While there is a cost for electricity this is minimal in the systems we offer. If you are interested in discussing the pros and cons of sewage treatment systems please contact us, we will be happy to help and to provide a free quotation. To find out more, visit www.allertonuk.com, call 0800 328 5492, or @allertonbradleyltd on Facebook. © Shutterstock /dcwcreations 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:40 Page 2computer games company as an animator and games designer, where he began sculpting reference figures for 3D animation. In 2007, he entered a contest held by Washington Green and finished in the last three. Working on a wide portfolio of the day’s most known computer games including Zorro, The Hulk and The Hurricanes allowed Craig the platform to sculpt everyday as his sculpting reference figures for 3D animation developed him artistically enough to become a freelance sculptor working alongside international brands including Harry Potter and Doctor Who. 24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Craig Davison has enjoyed drawing for as long as he can remember, with art being his favourite subject at school and, as he says, a great way to pass a lazy weekend. A successful role as a cartoonist in the late eighties began the journey with drawing the likes of The Shoe People and The Wombles before moving into animation and games design with a major British company. Craig says that the style of these cartoons has helped inspire his instantly recognisable art style. He continued his artistic career at a DREAMS This month, we shine a light of Craig Davison, one of the UK’s bestselling fine artist whose work perfectly capture the sense of childhood’s endless summer. Endless childhood Turning from clay to brush, Craig Davison began seriously painting as recently as 2007. Within a year he was finally a full-time painter, working out of his studio in Worcestershire where he still finds time to sculpt, a much-loved addition to his portfolio of works. He signed with Wishbone Publishing in 2018. Inspired by the comic book artistry of Mike Mignola, the simplistic still characters of Yoshitomo Nara, the energy of Goya and the superb illustrations of N.C Wyeth. Craig also cites his childhood as the biggest source of inspiration for 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:41 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE his work. He tries to capture the endless summer holidays spent out on his bike with friends, rescuing Mexican villages from bandits. Craig is immensely proud to be able to present nostalgia in painted form to collectors all over Europe and the World. “My head is always filled with new ideas all scrambling to get onto canvas first,” he said. “Once they’re there I like my paintings to have a slightly naïve, grubby look with lots of energy – which, when I think about it, sums up my childhood.” Several of Craig’s works are available to purchase via Lincoln’s Little Red Gallery. THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk To see more of Craig’s work, visit wwwcraigdavisonart .co.uk, search ‘Craig Davison Art Official’ on Facebook, and follow @CraigDavison10 on Twitter. 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:41 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Although we have had some cold weather, including some snow, the days are now getting longer, and spring is just around the corner. Last spring and summer we spent lots of time in our gardens as we stayed home. While I hope that this year we will not be as restricted in our movements, our gardens will be just as important to us, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explores. If, this year, you are wanting to completely re-design your garden then there are some important things to consider first. The most important one is to plan it. This is both in design where you decide on the location of the various elements and also to plan what work will take place when. For example, you may want a decking area with lighting in one area and a water feature in another. This may require the electrical fittings doing at the same time even if you are not plumbing in the water feature until a later date. There are many independent stages throughout the construction process of a garden, but they also need to be considered cooperatively. I have been called out numerous times to rescue a garden makeover where they have tried to design and build a garden in a single weekend. Every hour spent designing a garden will save days of back- breaking work. Also, a well-designed garden should look like you have spent more than you have! If you are not wanting to completed redesign your garden at the moment but want to give it a bit of a lift, then there are some simple things you can do to make an impact. Giving your outdoor table and chairs a lick of paint can not only give them a lease of life but also add colour to your garden. The latest trend is having bold colours in your garden and if you do not have green fingers you can do this using your furniture rather than plants. Adding colourful and patterned cushions can also provide this. Painting your fencing or adding pots can also be a good way to add colour. Growing something along your fence can add depth, while plants in pot can also help to add structure and height to your garden. Tall colourful plants, such as Agapanthus, will help with this. Pots can also be used as dividers to create sections of your garden. You can then move them if you find you use your garden differently or need to change it depending on who is in your garden and when. Pots can also allow you to add colour and plants to your garden without having to dig it up and create beds. A water feature can add calm and tranquillity to your garden. You can buy a huge variety of water features now that are TLC Garden GARDEN ADVICE © Shutterstock / 1000 W or ds 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:43 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 Specialised Services in Garden Design Landscaping and Tree Maintenance Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutions FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden • Protect new spring shoot from slugs. • Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes. • Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as Allium, Frecsia, Begonia, Crocosmia and Bearded Iris. • Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) and buddleias. • Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain and remove pond heaters. • Open the greenhouse or conservatory doors and vents on warm days. • Get rid of slimy patches on the patio but using a scrubbing broom and cleaning fluid or a pressure washer. • Sow sweet peas. • Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent the plants becoming leggy. • Keep feeding the birds. GARDEN ADVICE © Shutterstock / martinho Smart © Shutterstock / korkai self-contained and do not require earthworks in your garden to install them. Surround it with some cleverly positions pots with plants which have a variety of colour, and height and you have a fantastic feature. Water features are also known for their ability to increase air quality and humidity and decrease noise pollution by drowning out noise with the sound of running water. However, you need to make sure that you like the sound the water feature makes, as if you do not like the sound it makes then it will become annoying very quickly. For example, a heavy sound like a bath filling up will not be relaxing and a small trickle could be irritating. Get the flow and therefore sound of water that is right for you. Your garden can be given a new lease of life with just a few changes and make it a great place to be relax in over the summer months. No matter what the size of your plot or your budget you can have the perfect outdoor space. 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:43 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION A glimpse of spring There are so many reasons to be excited for spring, not least of all fashion. It’s one of our favourite times of year, when designers clear the winterwear off their rails and bring out their spring and summer lines. You can expect to see plenty of floral patterns and shirt- style dresses and much, much more. 28-37.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:45 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 FASHION Masai We just can’t get enough of shirt style dresses, so we’re delighted they’ll continue to be a major trend this spring season. For one of the best we’ve seen, look no further than Masai. 28-37.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:45 Page 2Next >