< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE time before he enlisted in the Royal AirForce. He joined up in 1966 where heserved as Air Traffic Control.Although aviation was an interest rightthrough adolescence and into adulthood,to Eddie the art world was just anabstraction. It was pure happenstance thathe should find himself becoming an artist,but that’s exactly what happened. Thetouch paper was lit one Christmas after hiswife Shirley gifted him a small watercolourset to help relax after work. This month we lookat a Lincolnshire artistwhose lifelongfascination with flightled him into a careeras one of Britain’sforemost aviationpainters. Aviation has fascinated artist Edward‘Eddie’ Ash as long as he can remember.He still fondly recalls trips with his fatherto Saunders Roe on the Isle of White,where he’d watch in awe at the aircraftunder construction there. These early experiences forevercemented Eddie’s love of aviation, and atthirteen he joined the Air Training Corp.Here he went on to win the accolade of‘Cadet of the Year’. Clearly, he was arising star and it was only a matter ofaviationTheartist20-21.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:17 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21THE LITTLE REDGALLERYLove 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 3AE01522 5891348 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DPart@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.ukARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE At the time, Eddie wasn’t especiallystruck by the idea. He wouldn’t evenpaint window frames, never mind a stilllife. And yet, he persevered and foundhimself enthralled. It made sense that hewould combine his two great loves, andpaint pictures of aircrafts. After just four years, Eddie was paintingfor a living. The remarkable speed withwhich he cemented himself in the artworld is testament to his talents and hisclear natural ability. The art world wasStudio after an opportunity arose to rent asmall working windmill in ruralLincolnshire. Just two years later, afterhe’d gone full time, he relocated thestudio Steep Hill in Lincoln. For the lastfew years, though, a retired Eddie hasbeen living on the Isle of White. Fortunately, his works are currently ondisplay at The Little Red Gallery. Some ofthese pieces haven’t been on display foryears, so seeing them could well be aonce in a lifetime opportunity. paying attention too, after he had twopieces accepted by the American Societyof Aviation Artists. And the accolades just keep oncoming. Lincolnshire’s own Red Arrowsselected Eddie’s work to represent theirthirty-eight season, while the Fleet AirArm commissioned him to produce apainting commemorating the de-commissioning of their Sea HarriersSquadron. In 1996, Eddie set up the Aviation Art20-21.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:17 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSHiddenwonders22-25.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:45 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY23GARDENSAs soon as you open the small gate marked ‘Warning,free range kittens!’ you can tell that Ann and Bob’sgarden is going to have the personal touch. With bothwide open and more enclosed sections, the garden holdswonder after wonder as you walk around.As Bob is an artist, his own studio stands in a largeformer shed near the house, which also has a small,shaded seating area close by. From this you can take inthe lawned area and the pond as well as glimpses of thewalkways which lay in a more shaded area.Ann tells us she likes to plant in layers, and is notadverse to moving things if she thinks it needs it, as sheprefers a garden to be there all year round. As a result,the garden holds a fantastic variety of plants and flowersand seems to be a haven for butterflies, dragonflies andAnn and Bob Armstrong havecreated an incredible garden inFotherby near Louth24 Á22-25.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:45 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSall sorts of wildlife besides. Ann describes the garden as aninherited backdrop to the house,which they have converted to whatyou see today. With much of thegarden offering generous amounts ofshade thanks to a bank of maturetrees towards the back of thegarden, Ann and Bob have had toincorporate what Ann terms ‘shadygardening’ to the sections somewhatbereft of sunlight. This means aproliferation of plants and flowersthat love the shade and can benefitfrom the cool, darker conditions,plants like saxifrage hirsuta andwoodland poppies thrive in theshade and are here in abundance.22-25.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:45 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25A place to relax, work, or playWhether you’re looking for a place to relax, work, or play, premiumsheds and log cabins are a popular option. Earnshaws have developeda new collection to ensure they can create the perfect building for you.The Middleton is a traditional, ‘chalet style’ log cabin - versatileenough to use whether you intend to relax, work, study or play.The Arcadia is a stylish and contemporary cabin designed with anunobtrusive sloping roof and a fully-glazed front. It can be suppliedequipped for year-round enjoyment.The Highfield is a practical, versatile cabin designed for doers.Earnshaws like to think of the Highfield as the most robust, reliablegarden shed you will ever own. Earnshaws branches at Midgley, Wentworth and Brigg, have welltrained staff to advise you.For more information, visit www.jobearnshaw.co.uk.In the sunlight, by the pond, abeautiful set of harebells andcampions reside and in the spring,snowdrops and bluebells appear.Ann also runs her own nursery,selling plants she has propagatedfrom seed or the garden itself. It hasbeen awarded full status of theNational Collection of Codonopsisby Plant Heritage.Among the flowers the couplegrow are epimediums, varioussalvias and one that Ann highlightsin particular is the Codonopsis, aplant which resembles bells andcomes in a deep blue or white. Alsoon display are delphiniums, roses,including a charming ‘RamblingRector’ variety, orange lillies, andthe beautiful, white-floweredsaxifrage.22-25.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:45 Page 426 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWhen we are designing gardens we are finding that mostof our clients want a water feature. It may be a small rockfeature or a large rill, but either way water features are apopular addition to any garden.They provide a serene atmosphere due to the sound offlowing water. This gives a garden the feel of relaxation andwellbeing. Water features are also knows for their ability toincrease air quality and humidity and decrease noisepollution by drowning out noise with the sound of runningwater. However, you need to make sure that you like thesound the water feature makes, therefore make sure you goand listen to it before you buy. If you don’t like the sound itmakes then it will become annoying very quickly. Forexample, a heavy sound like a bath filling up won’t berelaxing and a small trickle could be irritating. Get the flowand therefore sound of water that is right for you. Depending on the size and type of garden there is a waterfeature for everyone. Sleek metal features are popular if youwant a statement piece and have a small space, where as apond with a water fall or fountain can be just as effective.There are some things that you may want to consider beforeyou install a water feature.One important consideration is its location. A statementpiece needs to be positioned so that the eye is drawn to itand, if possible, be seen from various parts of the garden.You may also want to avoid placing it under trees and bushesso that it doesn’t get clogged up with fallen leaves. We alsotry to design our garden so a statement piece is visible frominside too so you can enjoy it all year round. If you areconsidering a pond then the location is very important as youneed to have the correct balance of light and shade.Furthermore you need to ensure that you have the right sizeas it must be adequate for the type and number of fish youwant. There are somanybenefits toadding awaterfeature toyour garden,as Ed Fullerfrom FullersForestry and Landscapingexplains. Making astatement26-27.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:22 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY27Lighting is an addition that some people forget about, butwhich can bring a water feature into its own at night. Thecombination of moving water and lighting can be stunning,and ensure that the water feature continues to be a statementeven in the dark.You need to make sure that you can get electricity and awater supply or a sump at the location that you would like thewater feature. To provide a sump may require a significantamount of groundworks. So sometimes it is best to create awater feature as part of an overall garden project so thecorrect infrastructure can be provided. If you will be having children in your garden, then you mustmake sure that your water feature is for them. Finally, it is important to care for your water feature all yearround. As we experience freezing temperatures during wintermonths you can find that a water feature with a fountain maycrack due to water freezing inside it. Therefore, you may needto drain your fountain and switch off the water supply duringthe cold months. Water features are also going to needcleaning every now and them. Water will get slimy and smellso you should drain it, dismantle it and clean it and the pumpor fit a modern filtration system. If you are unsure, we carryout water feature maintenance. Different types of features will obviously suit certain types ofgardens better than others. The style and size is up to you butwhen you find the right one for your garden it will be a greataddition.Images show projects carried out by Fullers LandscapingSpecialised 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.comAround 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 the month (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 daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs•Start planting vegetables for a harvest this year such as asparagus, rhubarb, carrots, cauliflowers, artichokes, brassicas and courgettes•Continue to apply and refresh mulches to discourage weeds and conserve moistureGARDENS26-27.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:22 Page 2LincolnshireheritageexploredMore prosaically known as “AONB’s” they wereintroduced under the National Parks and Access tothe Countryside Act of 1949, the intention being togive local authorities the powers to controldetrimental development in our finest countryside.Our Lincolnshire Wolds were designated an AONBin 1973 and extend to some 216 square miles,stretching from near Caistor in the north to Spilsbyin the south where the hills drop dramatically tothe fens at West Keal.We are necessarily interpreting the word“heritage” here in a very broadly. Nothing definesan area’s visible heritage so much as its geologywhich produces distinctive geography andlandscapes. This in turn affects much of what wenow recognise as our county’s visual “heritage”including such things as settlement patterns,farming, architecture, communications and evendefence and we see visible evidence of this almostwherever we drive or walk within the Wolds AONB.Geologically (in very simple terms) the Woldsare comprised of underlying clay covered byJurassic era rocks going back to 200 million yearsold topped by Cretaceous rocks (over 135million years) all of which dip gently from west toeast. The rock types vary and include chalk, withsome strata stained “red” by iron content,ironstones, to the north around Nettleton andClaxby, and Spilsby sandstones, known as“Greenstone” further south. Much of the highWolds consists of an extensive plateau easilyappreciated along the High Street betweenCaistor and Horncastle. The “Red Chalk” canbe seen in the Nettleton valley but even betterat Red Hill near Goulceby. The easternmostedge once formed a coastline with significantchalk cliffs which can be visualised, with a littleimagination, from viewpoints such as FotherbyCommon or Rigsby above Alford. The whole has also experienced severalglaciations, most recently about 20,000 yearsago, putting chalky-clay deposits on the topsand leaving behind some significant erraticboulders. By the ford at Little Cawthorpe isWe stay outdoors again thismonth to “explore” the Wolds -Lincolnshire’s very own Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty.28-29.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:23 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY29one of Scottishgreywacke sandstoneand outside LouthMuseum is a volcanicboulder from Northumberlanddumped about 25,000 years ago.When glaciers retreated they createdseveral run-off valleys such as at Swabyand the classic example of Hubbard’s Hillsat Louth.All this produces characteristic localbuilding materials and architecture, mosteasily detected perhaps in Wolds churches.Compare for instance the ironstone towersof St John’s at Nettleton, or All saints atTealby, with typical “greenstone” churchesto the south such as Bag Enderby orSomersby. There are even chalk churchesat Haugh (St Leonard’s) or the ruins of StAndrew’s at Calceby.The Wolds have of course been settledsince prehistory something evidenced bynumerous burial mounds (barrows) such asthose at Bully Hills near Tathwell or theGiant’s Grave at Skendleby whilst Neolithicand Bronze Age archaeological finds havebeen widespread. The Romans left theirmark too with fortified camps at Horncastle(just outside the AONB) and Caistor andtheir High Street road linking the two. Bythe Middle Ages many parts of the Woldswere perhaps more densely populatedthan today. Within the Wolds AONB over70 deserted mediaeval villages (DMV’s)have been located with a significant clusteralong the eastern edge to the north ofLouth. The reasons for their disappearanceare complex, varying from place to place.Several can still be identified from well-defined earthworks, others by remoteisolated churches (e.g. Wyeham andBiscathorpe) or manor houses. Many thatappear on OS maps are accessible bypublic rights of way; good examples beingat North Elkington, East Wykeham, Orfordnear Binbrook or Brackenborough.Remains of our ancestors early farmingpractices can be seen in cultivationterraces - lynchets - near Scamblesby andat Kirmond-le-Mire. Also during theMiddle A ges the Wolds were prosperouswool country exporting through portssuch as Wainfleet and Boston.The Wolds have a broadly northwest tosoutheast alignment but even with theirmodest height – the highest point beingonly 551 feet (168 metres) near NettletonTop – they have formed a considerablecommunications barrier. Both prehistoricand Romans routes, the Bluestone Heathand High Street roads, ran north-southand only two railways penetrated theWolds; one via the relatively low-lyingBarnetby gap (north of the AONB) theother being the Louth to Wragby branchline with its tunnels. Nor has there been much industry overthe centuries to disturb the Wolds’speace, the exceptions being extensiveironstone mining at Claxby from 1868plus two mines at Nettleton workingbetween 1928 and 1968.The “high” Wolds plateau has howeverproved ideal for modern communications,evidenced by sites such as the CAA towerabove Claxby and the Belmont TV mast.This advantage was however foreseen bythe Air Ministry as early as 1938/39 withtheir “Experimental Station” – early radar– at Stenigot overlooking the east coastthen seen as a possible invasion route.Of course, the Wolds also played animportant “heritage” role in Lincolnshire’srecent history as the “Bomber County”during WWII and it was also in 1938/39that RAF airfields began to appear,Binbrook being pre-eminent, but therewere also at Kelstern and Ludford. AfterWWII, during the Cold War, Ludford hadan extended life as a Thor ICBM base.Local villages therefore such as Binbrookand Ludford (together with their churches)consequently have several RAF memorials.Cumulatively all these features haveproduced the Wolds we know – and love -today and also been important in thedevelopment of a C20th leisure andtourism industry with such assets as theViking Way.To learn more “The Lincolnshire Wolds”(edited by the late David Robinson) isrecommended; it contains illuminatingessays by many experts on all things“Wolds”. So, get out there and explore! by Hugh Marrows28-29.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:23 Page 2Next >