< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYGARDENSboiler had been professional removed, and a lot of the walls had been restored. The real test was still to come, with the Eltons deciding to host a village fete with the aim of raising precious funds for Baumber Church and Village hall. So how did it go, we hear you ask. We’ll let Sonia explain: “The garden was a blank canvas; no gardening had been done. Hundreds of people turned up to see inside the walls and over £4,000 was raised by the villagers. The Eltons were delighted, but most of all they were surprised by the amount of interest the garden has caused.” The work continued ever on and, in 2015, Sonia thought it was time to try her hand at gardening, having never done anything like this before. Two borders had been put in, then Sonia’s own cousin had set some plants. Sonia maintained these large borders but soon realised with little experience and such a vast area she needed some help. A friend of a friend came along, a self-taught gardener, Hilary. With Hilary’s knowledge and Sonia’s theatre design background a plan was formed. “When I started to put my ideas onto paper, I felt that there were enough beautifully restored walled gardens in the UK. We didn’t have the funds, skills or desire to return the garden to how it used to be,” Sonia explains. “With no intention of opening to the public, I started to plan the garden as our family space, I began to experiment with the landscaping and the planting. As a theatre designer I am used to working to a script, the garden had no script, my only restrictions were having a very limited 22 Á18-23.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 10:43 Page 3 hre yovLour omeh re yovLour egard aSale e htdss6ends aay eyovLourf mil eyovL elf e yovLour fHY.UPZLYV[: lmiJ:UV[ZV)THO[UH LWYVO[U\ e yovL elfsrou18-23.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 10:44 Page 4budget and limited knowledge of plants. “We have worked hard and been very resourceful to overcome the lack of budget, and my knowledge increases daily, I also feel that it is because of these limitations that the garden is turning out to be so original. When we had an open day and our visitors liked my ideas it motivated me to carry on, this was how the idea of opening the gardens on a regular basis started.” The next open day was held in 2016 which, Sonia says, “was a huge success”. This sparked an idea and the team forged plans to open on regular basis. The plan was for the garden to be opened every Friday afternoon until September. A sign would be placed on the A158 to advertise. Sonia and Hilary would have a little plants stall and carry on with their normal Friday afternoon gardening. David would do his photography work in the plotting shed and make tea and coffee if anyone came, while Sonia’s mum Pauline would bake a cake. If, in the event that no one turned up, the cake would instead be gobbled down by the workforce and family. There would be no charge to visit with any income from refreshments or plants would be reinvested into the garden. That was the plan, but how did it fare in reality? “The visitors came, the cake was eaten, and the plant stall sold out,” Sonia says. “Each week got busier and busier and with no entrance charge, people loved to return bringing others to show them the garden ‘they’ had discovered. The potting shed became a The Tearooms, offering a wide range of homemade cakes and light lunches, and then afternoon teas.” To date, the Elton’s have been open for three full seasons. To keep the garden looking its very best, it shuts over winter and early spring. There has been a great many changes since the garden first opened, with the original planting becoming more established and thousands more plants have been added. The plant stall has become a plant market, offering a wide range of plants many that are quite unusual. A small shop with tools and other garden related items opens in 2019. For any of our readers interested in visiting, the garden re-opens on Thursday May 2 every Thursday and Friday from 11am to 4pm. Admission is still free and dogs on leads are welcomed. For further information visit www.walledgardenbaumber.co.uk.22 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYGARDENSGreat garden ideas since 1920 Earnshaws’ North Lincolnshire Centre is located in the market town of Brigg, open 7 days a week in the summer months. Job Earnshaw and Bros have had a presence in the market town since the 1920s, moving to the current site in 1998. With plenty of free parking space, it’s a perfect place to visit and browse the displays of garden sheds, cabins, timber decking, fence panels and gates. The on-site shop stocks a unique range of products and is designed to ensure that customers can buy everything they need in one stop. A place to relax, work, or play Earnshaws have developed its new premium sheds and contemporary cabins collection to ensure it can create the perfect building for you. The Middleton is a traditional, ‘chalet style’ log cabin; the Arcadia is a stylish and contemporary lodge, and the Highfield is the most robust, reliable garden shed you will ever own. For more information, visit www.jobearnshaw.co.uk. 18-23.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 10:44 Page 5ORDER FORM Yes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazine for the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1. Personal Details:First name: Last Name: Address: Town: County: Post Code: Tel: Mobile: Email: Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT card Name as it appears on card: Type of card: Mastercard / Visa / Visa Debit / Other Card Number: Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip): Expiry Date: Amount Authorised: Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions, Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. N.E. 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A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round!18-23.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 10:44 Page 6One of those continual jobs at this time of year is weeding and making sure you keep on top of it all. As the soil is still moist at this time of year any seeds landing on your little bit of England will germinate and spread. However, there are many ways to cut down on the weeding. Here are my tips: 1. Wherever possible use weed control fabric and gravel. This is not always possible and may not be aesthetically in keeping with the rest of the property, and so you could use recycled composting mulch as an alternative. 2. Use bark mulch in areas to create a woodland feel. Make sure that the depth of the mulch when settled is 6”. Also be aware that the bark will shrink when it dries out. 3. Do not be tempted to use grass clippings as a mulch as it will poison your plants. 4. Hand weed in the spring. This is because using a hoe can enable the weeds to retake in the moist soil (hoes work better in the summer). 5. Careful application of herbicides can reduce weeding considerably. It is not only the beds that we battle to keep weed free. The lawn makes up a large percentage of the garden and a well-manicured lawn will set the tone for the rest of the garden. Keeping a lawn looking great takes a lot of time and the old adage “little and often” springs to mind. In late spring you will have slowly lowered the cutting deck on the mower and now finally you should be cutting at the summer height (this varies with grass type), and a weed and feed application with a moss killer is ideally suited at this time of year. Lawns require feeding, scarifying, edging and cutting weekly during the growing season. For some this is a lot of work, but luckily there is an alternative. Artificial grass has come on massively in the last 10 years in terms of realism and quality. In the last 5 years the prices have come down to sensible levels too. I come from a background of growing and nurturing Getting your garden ready 24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYSpring is drawing to an end and we have been lucky enough to enjoy some good weather for gardening. Many of you will have planned, or even started, projects of all shapes and sizes but unfortunately these can be held up due to the ongoing jobs that need doing in the garden, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Forestry and Landscaping explains. © Shutterstock /1000 Words24-25.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 10:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25plants so when a client first asked for artificial grass I was wary. Artificial grass is no longer the bright green abrasive stuff that took your knee caps off during hockey practice. The new mid-range grasses available are almost undistinguishable from the real thing. The buzz words in gardens for the last decade or so has been ‘low maintenance’ and fitting an artificial lawn is just that. As with anything you get what you pay for, there are cheap products out there with some being made from toxic products and so they will not last very long. However, if you buy a quality product and it is fitted correctly then you should have a virtually maintenance free lawn that looks great all year round. Just think of all the hours that you spend on your lawn each year. Installing an artificial lawn buys you all that time back again, and what could you do with all that new spare time? It is not everyone’s cup of tea but if you have a relatively small garden, dogs and children then I think it is definitely worth considering.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 FULLERS Forestry & LandscapingCall 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 info@fullersforestry.co.uk l www.fullersforestry.co.uk www.landscapinglincolnshire.comAround the garden•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 moisture © Shutterstock / SGM© Shutterstock / Shelli Jensen24-25.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 10:47 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYNEWARK© shutterstock/NahlikA town to remember Newark is a prime shopping and tourist destination nestled between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. We investigate what makes it so special. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 11:02 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27NEWARKA great family day out at the Nottinghamshire County Show Experience a great traditional family day out at Nottinghamshire County Show showcasing the best livestock alongside superb equine events, including first-class show jumping. The new dedicated Heavy Horse ‘Village’ is sure to be a big hit. In addition to the usual farmyard favourites, there will be gun dogs, giant tortoises and birds of prey. Visitors will enjoy the antics of the animals in the Countryside Area, particularly The Sheep Show. The Main Ring act is Dzhigitovka, an exciting Cossack trick-riding spectacular straight from Russia, with fabulously costumed riders and dare-devil horses, performing to crowd-pleasing music. As well as lots of interactive children’s activities, there will be farriery competitors to cheer on, the Food Experience Area to browse and local bands and choirs to listen to. With ample opportunity to shop for crafts, gifts and clothing, this is a day out not to be missed. See www.nottingamshirecountyshow.com for further details and membership information. Harking back from Roman times where it sat on an important trade route between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, Newark remains today a gateway between the two counties, and a place to see and experience much of what the regions have to offer. Whether it’s shopping, history or family fun, Newark has it all and remains one of the most bustling towns in the area. Historically, its most famous calling is that of its role in the English Civil War. Newark Castle remains a popular attraction in the area, and was a Royalist stronghold. Newark pays particular homage to this time, both with the National Civil War Centre, and the Nottinghamshire Civil War trail, both of which explore the story of a brutal conflict which often does not get as much attention dedicated to it as it ought to. There’s more than history to Newark, however. Nowadays, there are plenty of roads to and from the counties, but Newark remains a popular shopping and tourist destination, and has plenty to offer both to casual visitors, or those looking for something a little more special. Being a market town, there are plenty of markets held every week, providing a huge array of locally-sourced fresh produce, along with unique gifts and souvenirs. Newark also has its own livestock market, where farmers from far and wide come to purchase and sell livestock. It’s not all farming and agriculture however, as Newark boasts a strong shopping scene complimented by a host of stores along the high street. From fashion to furniture, there’s plenty on offer, and because of all the unique and independent stores, it’s not uncommon to see things rarely seen around the rest of the county, perfect as a gift for a friend or family. While shopping in Newark, it’s impossible to miss what has to be its largest landmark, the huge spire of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, which is a Grade I listed building with an octagonal spire that reaches 236 feet into the air, and towers over nearby buildings. Many of the streets in the main area of Newark lead towards it, drawing visitors towards the beautiful structure. Since it is a traditional market town, the Newark Town Hall stands behind the market place, and is also open as a museum and art gallery between Monday and Saturday. There is also the Buttermarket, which is an opportunity for indoor shopping of well-known high street brands, and it’s easy to see the 28 Á26-29.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 11:02 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYNEWARKFAMILYEXPERIENCEAGREATCounty Show 2019NottinghamshireSat 11 ~ Sun 12 Maylove the town has for antiques too, with several stores dotted around the streets. For people visiting Newark however, it is the attractions which bring them – even if they love to take advantage of the shopping as well. There are plenty of activities to entertain in the town, from the Newark Air Museum, to the Newark Town Hall Museum, or the Palace Theatre, where shows are regularly held. Whether it’s culture, history or hobby, there’s something for everyone in Newark, no matter how exotic their tastes. The town has its own host of annual events too, such as the Newark Festival, and also the Nottinghamshire County Show, taking place this month at the Newark Showground. Newark also plays host to the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair, which is world-renowned as a treasure hunter’s haven for antiques. It is so famous that it’s listed in the book, `1000 places to see before you die`. This event takes place every other month, again at the Newark Showground, and is a real attraction for thousands of people across the UK, and even from Europe. This month, it features on the 30th – 31st, and is certainly a sight to see in its entirety. A great chance to live out your dreams of starring in Bargain Hunt. With so much to do, it’s easy to see why Newark is a wonderful place to visit, but there really is too much to do in a single day. Many visitors come for entire weekends, or for longer trips, taking advantage of the multitude of high-quality hotels and accommodation facilities available. Newark’s position on several roads and railways makes it convenient for visiting Lincolnshire, Nottingham, or even places like Sherwood forest or the historic town of Southwell. Naturally, with a night’s rest comes breakfast, and lunch, and all the other meals of the day for the many hungry visitors. Newark doesn’t slack in this area either, and with local markets of fresh produce to supply them, there are numerous restaurants and cafes with © shutterstock/Alastair Wallace26-29.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 11:02 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29NEWARKKeeping businesson the up...We pride ourselves on providing a pro-active, friendly and accessible service.Experts in Accounts and Tax Returns Tax Planning and Book-Keeping Audits and Business AdviceWe’re here to get you in the right directionTo find out how get your business on the up visitwww.dextersharpe.co.ukOffices in Boston, Bourne, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth, Skegness & SpilsbyCHARTERED CERTIFIEDACCOUNTANTSPIKES AND PLUNDEROver 300 re-enactorsLive Musket FireMajor living history displayswww.nationalcivilwarcentre.comSun 5th & mon 6th mayEnjoy a 17th century experience across newarkCatering Essentials fromLet Chemex look after your Hygiene Control Program so you can concentrate on running your business Chemex (Lincoln & Boston), Unit 14, Jessop Close, Brunel Business Park, Newark NG24 2TT Tel: 01636 642740 Email peter.cussans@chemexuk.com www.chemexuk.com © shutterstock/Paul Broadbentgrand reputations in the town. Of all the things about Newark, it is this vast range of options that ensures its popularity and tourism, while its greatest issue is that there is often too much to do – which can leave those visiting for just a day boggled at the sheer amount of options. We would always suggest reading up ahead of time and making plans, or, if time allows, book to stay for a day or a long weekend, and enjoy everything Newark has to offer.© shutterstock/Ian Francis26-29.qxp_Layout 1 15/04/2019 11:02 Page 4Next >