£2.95 APRIL 2022 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk BLM GROUP GROUP BLM £2.95 APRIL 2022THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance County motoring Artistic Lincolnshire Boston Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance County motoring Artistic Lincolnshire Boston 01.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:55 Page 1Visit Boston www.VisitBostonUK.com Retail | Markets | Attractions | Leisure | Dining | Experiences | Trails | Heritage | Accommodation 02.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:55 Page 1It seems only weeks ago we were complaining about weather and lockdown, and now the world’s attention is on Ukraine and the bravery of its citizens as they hold back a hostile invasion by Russian forces. While this may seem distant, there are still residents of Lincolnshire who may well remember World War II and the impact our county had on the conflict. Thankfully, world leaders seem keen (at least in the western world) to avoid that kind of escalation, but the impact of the conflict is still being felt here as fuel prices, including diesel and petrol, rocket ever close to £2 per litre. This has created chaos in the short-term among motorists and with living costs and is set to cause more upset further down the line as the cost of living rises. That is why we, as a community and for own sakes, are being asked to reduce out dependence on Russian oil. There are many ways to do this, from reducing the thermostat a degree or two, or by investing in home insulation or alternative methods of energy to reduce the load. It has long been the hope of environmentalist groups and the Government that homeowners would do this anyway, but the rising costs may provide more of a financial incentive than anything offered previously. That’s not to say this issue is all about rising costs and the difficulty of living, however. Quite the opposite. We’ll be doing our best to highlight some of the fun and fantastic things there are to do in Lincolnshire, because after all the negative news online and in the newspapers, we genuinely believe people need a little brightness in their lives. Whether it’s decorating your home, spending time in the garden or getting out across Lincolnshire to experience some events and shows, we have your back. Good reading, and make sure to have fun! Michael Fisher Editor and the Lincolnshire Today team from the editor The magazine that cares WE CARE because we want to leave our world a better place than we found it Lincolnshire Today believes that being socially and environmentally responsible is the key to maintaining a flourishing business that our customers will be pleased to use and our staff will be proud to be part of. Community - From a very local point of view, we strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. We also extend that into the much broader local community, through financial support of local causes and charities. Environment - Our actions extend to: conservation of energy and natural resources, minimisation of waste and ensuring our trading partners do likewise. Group Editor: Steve Fisher Editor: Michael Fisher Journalist: Tess Egginton Sales Director: Angela Cooper Sales: Kerry Randerson Accounts & Circulations: Angela Sharman, John Downes (01472) 310301 Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson Advertising: Tel: (01472) 310302 Editorial: Tel: (01472) 310305 Part Of The Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk Website: www.lincolnshiretoday.net ISSN No: 1366-1299 © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. FRONT COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF STOCK.ADOBE.COM/REDDRAGONFLY LincolnshireToday @lincstoday lincolnshiretoday.net This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. If you are unable to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a local hospital or charity? 03.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:57 Page 1Features 6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIRE What’s been going on in the county this month? 20ALL ABOUT BOSTON Boston is a meeting point of ideas, attractions and markets, and there is no shortage of reasons to visit. 26LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGE EXPLORED This month we look at the life of Alfred Lord Tennyson. 28BRING NEW LIFE TO YOUR STYLE As we welcome a season celebrating new life, refresh your closet with some new clothes. 34ADD TO YOUR SENSE OF STYLE A couple of accessories can push your look to a new level. 36SUITING UP FOR SPRING Spring has sprung and that means it’s time to try a new outfit for the season. 38SWEET SPRING STYLE Despite the propensity of daffodils that have sprung up across the county over the last few months, spring is finally here in earnest – and that means it’s time to get stuck into one of the most important seasons in the beauty calendar. 40GETTING OUT AND ABOUT With the worst of the winter weather well and truly behind us, it’s time to get active outside. From walking and running to cycling, it’s a great way to keep fit and to take in all the sights Lincolnshire has to offer. 42APRIL FANCY Warmer days mean more chances to get outside, and while it’s too early to call for barbecues just yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t get a little more exciting with our meals. APRIL AS WE WELCOME A SEASON CELEBRATING NEW LIFE, REFRESH YOUR CLOSET WITH SOME NEW CLOTHES. contents 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:57 Page 1BOSTON IS A MEETING POINT OF IDEAS, ATTRACTIONS AND MARKETS, AND THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF REASONS TO VISIT. 46FLYING HIGH The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance is a critical part of emergency medical and accident care and response across our region. But how did it get started? Lincolnshire Today explores. 52SOARING PRICES As an impact of the war in Ukraine, oil and energy prices are soaring – and combined with the colder weather we’ve been experiencing of late, this may well prove difficult for the older generation to handle. 56COUNTY MOTORING This month we take a look at some of the newest cars set to release – with a little for everyone along the way. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, it’s hard to imagine looking unfashionable in one of these. 60WHAT’S ON There’s always something going on in Lincolnshire. 66PETS CORNER What happens when you recall your dog? Do they always return? As a trainer when I ask this question, I get ‘My dog’s recall is brilliant, if there aren’t any distractions!’ However, the problem with this statement is that there are always distractions… That could be a smell, another dog, person or even a leaf!! Desirable homes 10CONTEMPORARY COUNTRYSIDE LIVING Recently built, this month’s featured property has everything you could desire in a modern rural home. 16CITY SKYLINES Neil Dawson’s cityscapes take inspiration from everyday images of faraway cities seen in newspapers, on TV and in news stories. 18SPRING CLEANING YOUR GARDEN As Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping illustrates, spring cleaning is not just for the house. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:57 Page 2Bright future for Boston’s past as green light given for multi-million-pound scheme latest news £280k awarded to repair heritage features at former Lincoln hotel City of Lincoln Council, in partnership with Historic England, has awarded £280,000 to the Lincolnshire Co-operative as part of £770,000 works to repair and reinstate heritage features at The Barbican. The funding forms part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ). Situated at 11 St Mary’s Street, The Barbican Hotel was grade II listed in July 2021 and is a mid- 19th century building originally constructed as a Gentleman’s Club and repurposed as the Albion Hotel in 1876. The £280,000 from the HSHAZ will enable roof repairs, repairs to timber windows, cast iron RWG, stonework repairs, brickwork repairs and repointing, prior to works to transform the building into a creative hub for the city – a project ran by the University of Lincoln in partnership with Lincolnshire Co-op. This will be match-funded by the Lincoln Towns Fund, which has seen £19m awarded to Lincoln to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. Heritage Lincolnshire, the charity dedicated to conserving Lincolnshire’s heritage from the Humber to the Wash, is celebrating securing approval for a £3.9m funding boost for Boston’s town centre, courtesy of the Boston Town Deal Board and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The project, ‘Healing the High Street: Boston’, will build on Heritage Lincolnshire’s successful existing Townscape Heritage grant scheme (funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund) and will result in a substantial pot of grant funding being made available to local businesses and property owners in Boston Town Centre, including the Market Place, Strait Bargate and Wide Bargate. This will focus on transforming town centre properties through grants to repair and revitalise historic buildings and shopfronts. The project will focus on Boston’s diverse and valuable historic environment, as well as newer and prominent buildings in the town centre. It is also expected that this funding will be used to leverage wider investment into the town of Boston, with the aim of substantially improving the living, working and shopping environment for residents, visitors and businesses alike. Council buys Grimsby site to lead regeneration of town centre area A total of 1.6-acres of Grimsby town centre development land is being bought by North East Lincolnshire Council as it looks at the future regeneration and reinvention of the high street area. Contracts have now been exchanged on the area, which comprises of 3-15 Osborne Street and the land behind those buildings on Garden Street, which is currently used as a car park. Supporting the purchase, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Philip Jackson, was clear of intentions to look at the wider plans for the whole of the town centre. In doing so, he added, the council was determined to grasp hold of opportunities and lead change with central Grimsby a priority. The buildings, he added, had been redundant for some considerable time. Over the last five years, the reshaping of the town centre has been led by the local authority. Along with partners and stakeholders including the Greater Grimsby Town Board, it has won multi-million-pound funding bids from Central Government. © stock.adobe.com/Artur Bogacki 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:58 Page 1Lincolnshire coffee roaster provides boost for cyclists Stokes Tea & Coffee has announced the launch of its ‘Rapha Lincoln GP – Blend 66’ coffee for cycling fans. The new blend has been specially created to celebrate the Rapha Lincoln GP and will help raise money for this year’s 66th race. £2 from each pack will go to this last monument of British Cycling. Dating back to 1956 the Lincoln Grand Prix is the only race in the UK to run continuously (apart from 2020 due to Covid) since, making it ‘the race to win’ for all UK professionals. Previous winners include Olympians, world champions and Tour De France stars. Nick Peel is the fourth generation in the Stokes family to run the company. He said: “We’re really proud to support cycling fans. The Rapha Lincoln GP is a fantastic event and helps inspire people to not only visit our beautiful city, but to get on their bikes and explore the area too.” Luminations, a major new permanent public artwork by Esther Rolinson, has been unveiled. The 500-metre animated light installation sweeps along the North Promenade in Cleethorpes, softly rolling with bursts of exhilarating light. It has been constructed in collaboration with architectural lighting specialists The Lightlab. Created as a site-specific installation, visitors will be able to experience this lightwork as they walk by the sea or sit looking out over the expansive bay leading out onto the Humber estuary and the North Sea. The artwork is the final piece of public art for the North Prom, paid for through the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF). “Luminations is about that instant when you are on the big dipper and gravity loses its grip on you, when for a moment you are released from your cares. It is a celebration of those ecstatic feelings of freedom that dwell somewhere inside all of us,” said Esther Rolinson. Luminations unveiled in Cleethorpes The Sandringham Food, Craft & Wood Fair to take place April 30th – May 2nd If there can ever be any pluses with Covid then combining the Sandringham Food Festival with the Craft & Wood Fair to provide one bumper event is it. The two events have been blended seamlessly into a superb event that they’ve decided to run it again this year. In the Food Festival they will be welcoming back favourite chefs Levi Roots and Phil Vickery to the Chefs Stage. They will be supported by several other chefs over the weekend demonstrating a wide range of culinary delights. Into the Food Halls and guests will find a large array of food and drink for their appreciation, from both local and regional and national producers. Scattered around them are lots of rural skills and demonstrations, coppice crafts, corn dollies, besom brooms and vintage wood working machinery including steam rack saw planking demonstrations. The show again has The Sandringham Cup, a large Chainsaw Competition with some of the UKs top carvers competing. 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:58 Page 2Grantham announced as Lincolnshire’s bid to host Great British Railways HQ Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council will be putting a joint expression of interest to the Government to host the Great British Railways headquarters in Grantham. The Government has launched a competition for areas to put themselves forward to host the HQ outside of London, with a preference for locations with strong historical links to the railway. The HQ will bring a number of high-skilled jobs to the winning location. Cllr Kelham Cooke, Leader of South Kesteven District Council, said: “Grantham is at an exciting crossroads with significant investment opportunities and extensive plans for the future, supported by Central Government funding. Grantham not only has a proud railway heritage but is also a key strategic location for rail commuters and travellers, being only just over an hour from London – connecting north and south, as well as east and west. I hope that residents and businesses will back our joint bid and support us to bring this exciting proposal to life.” The best applications will be shortlisted in May, after which a public vote will help determine the winning location. latest news Boston Borough Council approves plans to transform Pilgrim Hospital’s emergency department Planning permission to demolish buildings next to the existing emergency department at Pilgrim Hospital so that it can be extended as part of a £37.9m transformation has been approved by Boston Borough Council. Back in August 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where he met staff and announced funding of £21.3m for the transformation of the emergency department. Since then, a lot of work has been taking place behind the scenes to finalise the £37.9m design that will not only meet the needs of patients and staff now, but in the future. The plans will see the demolition of the existing H-block building and the erection of a two-storey extension with a full refurbishment. It will more than double in size and include state of the art innovations and infection prevention control measures, have more cubicles to treat patients and a bigger resuscitation zone for the sickest patients. It will also include a separate area dedicated to providing emergency care for the hospital’s youngest patients and their families and have more training rooms for staff. Green light for new business park in Lincolnshire Around 50 new jobs are one step closer as the green light is given for a brand-new business park in Lincolnshire. Located on the outskirts of Gainsborough, the new business park named Wharton Place will be developed by local commercial and residential property developer, Stirlin. Stirlin have received planning approval from West Lindsey District Council for three phases of Wharton Place. The site is located on Foxby Lane and will provide over 18,500 sq ft of new employment space across 1.3 acres, with a mix of light industrial units in sizes ranging from 1,270 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft. Tony Lawton, Managing Director of Stirlin, says: “We are delighted to receive approval for Wharton Place. This is the third plot of land in Gainsborough that we have purchased from Lincolnshire County Council, following the success of our two other developments in the area: Stirlin Place and Willoughton Place.” © stock.adobe.com/alexanderuhrin 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:58 Page 3We want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support & trust in us over the years & for being an invaluable part of our journey. As a family-run business, we are always adapting and changing to meet the needs VMV\Y]HS\LKJ\Z[VTLYZ [OLPUK\Z[Y`5V^^P[OZLJVUKNLULYH[PVUHZZPZ[HUJL we are looking to the future. Here’s to 40 years and counting… If you would like to request a FREE catalogue or read more in detail about our 40 Year Story , please visit our website. www.rimmerbros.com Thank You 09.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2022 13:59 Page 1Next >