< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMES AND GARDENSarchitects were very particular over thedesign of this as it was absolutelyessential that the structure would standthe test of time and last as long as a‘traditional’ build. In fact it’s so deep andsolid it’d probably withstand anearthquake and the house is now a goodtwo feet above the highest level, thewater could possibly reach.” Jackie adds: “It’s a natural, spring fed,lake which we initially commented onhow it’d be nice to be higher, but it hasgreat drainage points and dips with thecontour of the land at the far end, awayfrom the house, into the neighbouringpastureland. So, there’s never any chanceof it overfilling; unless the whole of Louthfills first.” “Once the base was down, the shellwent up pretty quickly,” says Peter. “Itcompletely overshadowed the bungalow,which became very dark to live in but weall felt that was a small sacrifice to maketo achieve what we wanted.”The shell was up by 2008 and Peter,who admits to being rather fastidiousover detail, still has flashbacks over theirlife in the bungalow where, showers orheating would stop working just whenyou needed them most. The temptation to hurry their newproject must have been immense but,having decided from the very start thatthey would spare no expense on theirdream home and use only the bestmaterials available, they avoided theobvious temptation to compromise,simply to finish it sooner. Clearly that policy paid off handsomely,as this large family home, finished to thevery highest specification, is a true dreamhome, with views that you’d find almostimpossible to replicate elsewhere. Oozing refinement, and surrounded byopen countryside, with nothing to spoilthe superb panoramic vistas beyond, thisproperty allows the family to sit on theirvery own balcony, enjoying the privatelake and the wildlife that inevitably visitsand watching the sun rise or set overLouth’s very own St James Spire. In Feng Shui terms, this ‘borrowedscenery’ of the area beyond the gardenmakes the surrounding features appear aspart of the garden itself. It’s an art formthat experts have used for centuries in thecomposition of grand gardens. InKeddington, Peter and Jackie admit itoccurs naturally, by accident almost. It’s far more than an aestheticallypleasing property too, it’s a very spacious,future-proofed home designed to meetand exceed the demands of the moderndigital world. Peter’s experience andinterest in electronics is perhaps thedriving force here, but as he explains “Ican’t take full credit as we also had areally good architect and builder whoboth seemed to understand exactly whatJackie and I were trying to accomplish.”He adds “It was amusing to see thecontractor’s faces though, when they saw18-23_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:09 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21HOMESall the wiring that was needed. As wellas cat 6 cabling throughout, theymust’ve thought we were mad whenwe fitted a DMX lighting controller, tobe able to control the main featurelighting. Then, when they saw I’dcoded and labelled every cable in thehouse; they must have thought meseriously ‘OCD’. Actually, thinkingabout it, I probably am,” he quips.Clearly then, it’s been a labour oflove and that’s easy to see as you enterthe property, which has a strict ‘shoesoff’ policy, but who can blame themwhen you see the pristine interior. Fromits beautiful 18mm solid oak flooringthrough to the ceramic effect flooringin the kitchen, this really is a one of akind house. Through the hall, to thekitchen/breakfast area, each roommakes its own statement; here a wholewall opens onto the patio via a seriesof bi-fold double glazed doors, givingthe room a real wow factor, open orclosed. The kitchen is very much bespoke,with all the trappings of modern lifediscreetly fitted, and complemented bydesigner-style chrome radiators, parttiled walls, recessed lighting and ifever we needed confirmation of Peter’s‘tech savvy’ ways, there’s a securitytouch pad and, for added measure, anaerial point for a TV/cctv.As you further explore the groundfloor, there’s a utility room, lounge,games room - with another set of bifold doors allowing the outside in andvice versa – plus, a ground floorThe first task was layinga substantial ‘raft’ over theedge of the lake, to give thehouse the appearance thatit is actually floating onthe water.““22 Á18-23_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:09 Page 422 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMES AND GARDENSbedroom and shower room; all perfectlyfinished off.Upstairs, a large open plan landing leadsto a sitting room which again takes fulladvantage of the views over the reargarden and French double glazed dooropening onto a balcony are anotherunique touch.In the master bedroom, dual aspectdouble glazed sash windows, facing thefront and side, afford open views fromeach but the ‘piece de resistance’ has to bethe double glazed doors opening onto itsown open-plan balcony, with glasssurround panelling.Exploring further, there are: two furtherbedrooms - fitted out to equally highspecification, a dressing room, as well as anoffice and, my personal favourite - a18-23_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:09 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY23cinema room. Tearing ourselves away, we explore theoutside which has an array of maturetrees and shrubs and block pavingsurrounding the entire property. The reargarden is extensive, and the lake with itsmature water plants and marginal also hasa large variety of carp including Koi. A water harvester takes the rain waterfrom the house and filters/repurposes it –another example of the future-proofingthat the couple refer to. I couldn’t help notice an outbuildingthat resembles a stable block and Petertells me, “The old bungalow used tobelong to a lady who kept horses andwe’ve kept the old stable block as its beenhandy as a store/games room. But, we’vebeen given the green light by planners toextend this and pan-tile the roof recently,so that’s made us wonder whether weought to put that to better use byconverting it into a separate dwelling. It’dbe ideal as a holiday let I guess althoughwe’d have to talk to the council beforedeciding,” then he continues, “Though,to be honest - the one thing we didn’tfactor in to our dream home was, that inthe time it’s taken to reach completion,our family would be grown up andmoving out to start a life of their own.Jackie and I have therefore got to come toterms with the fact that we now need todownsize. It’s been a great journey,though and perhaps it’s best if we let thenext owners decide what they’d like to dowith the old stable block - it could beconverted to a granny annexe or even alarge workshop, but everyone has theirown ideas of course.”It seems sad, that by the time we canafford to undertake such projects ourfamilies are often grown up or preparingto fly the coop but, with such amazingfeatures and views, we’re sure thisproperty won’t take long to sell and Jackieand Peter seem to be the types who willrelish the next move and treat it as a newadventure (although we hope it doesn’ttake them 20 years). Readers however will be delighted tolearn that this one off, dream home, isnow going on the market with BairstowEves of Louth, for a mere £795,000. Bewarned however, that such a distinctiveproperty is unlikely to be on the books forvery long. The one thing wedidn’t factor in to ourdream home was, that inthe time it’s taken toreach completion.““18-23_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:09 Page 624 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYow is the time to be vigilant as pests such asviburnum beetle and lily beetle will beincreasing as the weather gets warmer.Chemical control may be needed, but I wouldsuggest you only use chemicals for severe instances ofdisease and pests. This is because you will not only kill offthe pests but also insects that are beneficial to plants. Ifyou do use a chemical spray, make sure it is on a still day.The best time is late evening when there are fewerbeneficial insects around. Prevention is better than cure, soto reduce the risk of pests and disease, make sure you keepyour plants healthy by using mulch to retain moisture.Also, when you introduce new plants knock them out oftheir containers and look for small white grubs. They couldbe vine weevil and they will eat the roots. Removing weeds when possible will also help as theywill act as hosts for pests and diseases. However, someweeds may be beneficial if you want to encourage morewildlife to you garden. For example, nettles will assist withbutterflies as these are eaten by caterpillars. We can also eatsome weeds, such as chickweed. If you want to try a newfood, or provide for the wildlife, I would suggest that youcreate a specific area, such as at the end of a boarder or astandalone plot. This way you can manage it and ensure theweeds don’t encroach onto other areas of your garden. Weeds are also good indictors as to the condition of yoursoil. For example, if your soil is acidic, you will have lots ofsorrel and plantain, however poppy and charlock will preferlime. Nettles and chickweed thrive in soil high in nitrogen,whereas silverweed and greater plantain will grow oncompacted soil. Soil with poor drainage will encouragecreeping buttercup, horsetail and silverweed. So before youstart energetically removing your weeds, take a look at whichones they are so you can judge the health of your soil. If you have a pond, then don’t forget the pond weeds.These need to be removed regularly. Duckweed is a floatingBank HolidayheavenWith the May bank holidays thismonth, Ed Fuller from Forestryand Landscaping shows you howto make the most of the extradays to get your garden in shape. Bank Holidayheaven© Shutterstock / ChrislofotosN24-25_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:04 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25GARDENSSpecialised Servicesin Garden DesignLandscaping andTree MaintenanceBacked by a highly-skilledand experienced team,we’ve built our reputationon an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutionsFREE NO OBLIGATIONQUOTATIONSFULLERSForestry & LandscapingCall 01522 868717 or 07867 510544info@fullersforestry.co.uklwww.fullersforestry.co.ukwww.landscapinglincolnshire.comweed which is almost impossible to get rid of it once it getsestablished. Blanket weed is a bright green algae; onceremoved, leave it on the side of the pond for at least a dayso that aquatic creatures can escape back to the water. With the weeding done, you can turn to other tasks suchas mowing. You should be mowing your lawn once a weeknow and lowering the mower blades slightly each time youmow. If you lower them too much too quickly the grass willturn yellow and cause bald patches to develop. You can alsofeed your lawn now, and just make sure you read theinstructions carefully. If you have moss patches, these willlikely be due to poor drainage or shade from trees andshrubs. There is a variety of things you can apply, and againread the instructions. However, in some instance moss canlook in keeping and so you may only want to tackle some ofthe lawn, such as those areas that are more out in the open.If you want to add some colour to your garden then nowis a good time to sow seeds of hardy annuals. These are easyplants to grow as they don’t require any special treatment;they just prefer full sun and so avoid shady spots. Hardyannuals come in different sizes and colours and so you canuse them to structure a flowerbed. For example, have tallerones at the back such as Scabious, Marigolds, Larkspur andLupins. Then low growing ones nearer the front such asEschscholzia Califonica (commonly known as CaliforniaPoppy) or Limnanthes Douglasii (commonly known asMeadow Foam or Poached Egg Flower).So now the weeding, mowing and sowing are done we justneed to wait a few more weeks for summer to finally arrive. Around thegarden• Watch out for last frosts and protect tender plants• Collect rainwater • Earth up potatoes, and plant any still remaining• Plant out summer bedding at the end of themonth (unless it is still cold)• Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days• Feed pond fish regularly• Clip hedges but check for nesting birds first.• Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodilsand other spring-flowering bulbs• Start planting vegetables for a harvest this yearsuch as asparagus, rhubarb, carrots, cauliflowers,artichokes, brassicas and courgettes. • Continue to apply and refresh mulches todiscourage weeds and conserve moisture.© Shutterstock / 1000 Words24-25_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:04 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGood weather alone doesn’t make foralfresco living, which owes as much tothe garden setting. Already, outdoorenthusiasts will have seen their hard workpay off as their borders bloom into a riotof scents and colours. This begs the question as to whetheryour garden needs a little TLC on thehard landscaping front – indeed for someit might be the perfect time to undertakethat major renovation you’ve beenpromising yourself – for others it could bejust a slight redesign here and there. It seems every year the garden centresand DIY stores do their utmost to seduceus into investing in new furniture orfeatures, and you can be sure there’ll beplenty of additional pieces this yearwhich will add interest or a new focalpoint to your garden. So, why fight it? To fully enjoy a relaxing drink on awarm day or even an alfresco meal on agorgeous spring evening, elegantgarden furniture ensures you can do soin style. It’s essential to do yourhomework before purchasing gardenfurniture though as you will want it tolast. Buy the first table and chair set yousee and you could end up making a verycostly mistake.Quality of workmanship and durabilityare of course the first consideration butaren’t the only thing to think about. Theposition you will place it and frequencywith which you use it should be adeciding factor too. After all there’snothing worse than placing light furnitureby a pond, only to find a sudden turn ofweather has blown it all into the water,horrifying the Koi carp and saturating thecushions with dirty water. Likewise if you live in an area that’sGardengetawayAs April showers give way to the promiseand long lazy heat of summer, doubtlessmore of us will be spending our afternoonsand evenings outside. 26-29_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:05 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY27GARDENSopen to the elements, or are overlookedby neighbours, you might want to investin a summer house or even aconservatory, which nowadays can befitted with bi-fold doors to open up anentire face of the conservatory so youdon’t feel like you’re sat in looking out,so to speak.The style of any new garden featurewill also depend on how you see yourgarden in relation to the rest of thehouse. If your garden is a continuation ofyour home, you can choose to carry thistheme through in the furniture and/or,the choice of materials in flooring.© Garden Trading / Black By Design Ltd© Garden Trading / Black By Design Ltd28 ÁNatural timber products andgarden inspiration now openSundaysEarnshaws Fencing Centreshave always been proud of theinnovative spirit that drove JobEarnshaw to start his sawmillingbusiness, over 150 years ago. Thecompany has been developingnew ideas ever since and thisseason their North LincolnshireCentre, in Brigg, will be open onSundays until the end of June. Offering an extensive range oftimber fencing, gates, decking, garden furniture, sheds, cabins and landscaping products,imaginatively laid out to capture the spirit of outdoor living, the Brigg branch is extremelyaccessible, with a large car park and display areas that showcase the best in natural timbergarden products.26-29_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:06 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY© Sophia JosephSome of the accessories you add toyour garden will be particularly useful asopposed to the ones purely for decorativepurposes. If you like to spend a lot of timeoutdoors, heating the seating area isessential and in addition to the normalpatio heaters there are plenty of otheroptions for when the nights feel a littletoo chilly to relax totally. Available optionsinclude overhead infrared heating that isevolving to become more energy efficientor there’s firepits which can be bothattractive and practical – in fact they canalso double as a grill for cooking with.Then there’s those wonderful waterfeatures – many of us already have pondsof some description, but adding somefinishing touches such lights to a waterfallor cascading fountain add real panachethat will radiate throughout the entiregarden and turn a nice daytime featureinto a mesmerising centrepiece by night. If your garden is more compact, don’tdespair, there are lots of water featureproducts you can include such as a raisedpond with waterfall, a millstone on theERNCONETSImport/Export of Fishing, Leisure & Industrial Netting, Twine & RopeRenco Nets Ltd, Unit 4A, Pelham Industrial Estate, Manby Road, Immingham, N.E. Lincolnshire, DN40 2SETel: 01469 575 804 Fax: 01469 573 886Email: netting@renco.co.uk www.renconets.comRenco Nets take playing very seriously!Gold MedalWinning Daffodilsand other bulbs from…www.bulbs.co.ukWalkers Bulbs, Washway House FarmWashway Road, HolbeachSpalding PE12 7PPTel: 01406 426216 Fax: 01406 421259 Email: walkers@taylors-bulbs.compatio which oozes water over ontocobbles, or even an old tub lined withButyl which allows water to cascade froman old fashioned water pump. If you have big plans for your gardenthis the year, now is the time to get stuckin or hire a reputable tradesman to createthat feature you always dreamed of – thatway by the time the summer monthscome you can be sat sipping pour G&Tin your favourite spot and an open spaceto relax in the heatwave that they’ll nodoubt promise us once again.26-29_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:06 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY29GARDENS© Farrow & Ball© Garden Trading© Garden Trading© Garden Trading26-29_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:06 Page 4Next >