< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Heather Howe grew up immersed in the natural beauty of the Lizard Peninsula near Cadgwith in Cornwall. Here she spent her formative years, nurturing a relationship with the natural world and the dramatic landscapes of England’s In love with landscapes This month we take a closer look at the works of Heather Howe, one of the most accomplished and highly sought-after landscape artists working in Britain today. southwest. It seemed fated that Heather would pursue a life in the arts, so having finished school she completed a Foundation year and earned a B.A in Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art and Exeter University respectively. After leaving art school, she worked as a practising artist in the South East honing her craft and earning admirers. At aged just twenty-two, she had one of her first solo shows at the Century Galleries in Henley-on-Thames. Although Heather undoubtedly has a signature style, her career is as rich and diverse as the landscapes she’s so adept in capturing. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:01 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE As well as fulfilling private commissions and exhibitions in the UK and overseas, she’s also dabbled in commercial design work during her impressive twenty-five- year career. Although Heather has successfully used watercolours, she has worked almost exclusively in oils for several years now, citing the “happy accidents” that occur with a palette knife as the colours blend and blur together. Her finesse with the knife makes for beautiful landscapes, usually incorporating a walk or path to entice the viewer into the scene. Therein lies her greatest joy, when a painting takes on a life all of its own. Heather says this element is essential to give each and every piece its own vibe and keep them fresh and individual. Since childhood, Heather has always maintained a strong emotional connection to landscape and changing weather. Though obviously we’re biased towards Lincolnshire, there’s no denying Cornwall’s impressive open vistas of endless ocean and open skies. It’s something that’s felt as much in the body 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 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk as seen through the eyes; physical as well as emotional. So for Heather, trying to capture and communicate this forms the central theme and thesis of her portfolio. Clearly she’s hit upon some fundamental human truth, sparking the need to interact with the natural world, given her work is highly sought after by collectors. Heather’s paintings each have their roots in the tempestuous beauty of England’s startling natural environment. Her starting point is less what she sees in front of her face, but more the emotions behind a scene and those it evokes. Think dappled sunlight, stormy skies or bright moonlight. These are the kinds of triggers which help Heather to instinctively settle on a view for her painting. Although she’s lived in many parts of the UK, Heather returned to her childhood home at the turn of the century where she can take in the natural beauty, live at her own pace and continue to produce highly sought-after landscape paintings. Perhaps Heather put it best on her Instagram account, where she wrote: “Painting is like breathing... I try and do it everyday!” If you’d like to see some of Heather’s paintings for yourself, head down to the Little Red Gallery in Lincoln. You can find more about the artist and her work on Facebook @heatherhoweart and on Instagram @hethhowe. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:01 Page 2GARDENS You can grow your own way Great for the mind and body, gardening is becoming ever more popular while we’re stuck at home, with vegetable patches proving particularly preferable. 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:05 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 © Shutterstock /Rawpixel.com A s lockdown binds us to our houses, it presents the perfect excuse to get hands on in the garden and test your green thumb. Gardening offers a sense of achievement - seeing your vegetables travel from garden to plate or flowers bloom is highly satisfying - and can keep children and adults alike amused. It also boosts wellbeing, with numerous studies finding extensive mental health benefits of the activity; gardening can reduce depression, anxiety, stress as well as improve fitness and self-esteem. While we try to visit the supermarket as little as possible to respect government advice, and are often presented with disappointing amounts of fresh goods when we do go, the ‘grow your own’ trend is booming. Stockists have witnessed a rush in vegetable seed, plant and gardening equipment sales, and the Royal Horticultural Society has reported a jump in visits to its webpages as the public seeks gardening guidance. Creating a vegetable garden is all the rage, providing cheap, healthy, fresh produce just a few steps from your home. Though garden centres are ‘non- essential’ businesses and thus shut in the lockdown, supermarkets remain open and suppliers in Lincolnshire and selling online, providing all the seeds, plants and gardening equipment you may require. Meanwhile your essentials can also be bought online from gardening specialists or other retailers. One really only needs a shovel, however a fork, rake, trowel, hoe, various pots, a watering can and trays to start the sowing process in are useful. Where to start In creating a vegetable garden, first one will need to decide where to plant your vegetables. In most cases they will need as much sunlight as possible, thus avoid © Shutterstock /lovelyday12 24 Á 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:05 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS shady areas. If, however, your garden is prone to shade, vegetables like lettuce, peas, chard, beetroot, spinach and runner beans will be able to handle it. Remove the grass from your chosen area and fork over the soil. Next you will need to ensure your soil will promote the growth of your produce and is clear of weeds and stones. Different gardens will hold different soil - heavy clay, sandy, acidic etc. - and though you cannot change this, you can improve soil with compost and fertiliser as required. If your garden hosts unideal soil, consider installing a raised bed, which are particularly good for small plots of vegetables and make for an attractive feature. Choose a light and airy open space and create a frame at least 30cm in height. There is a plethora of ready- made flatpack kits for raised beds that can be bought online to make this process easy. Alternatively construct a raised bed from timber, stone or brick. One can then customise soil to grow plants that wouldn’t ordinarily grow well in your garden. Root vegetables including beetroot, parsnips and carrots are ideal for raised beds, but since raised beds offer improved drainage in comparison to the ground, potatoes and leafy greens thrive too. They are also enjoyed by produce that desires well controlled soil, such as onions which like lots of organic matter. Containers filled with potting compost and growbags are other good alternatives where your soil is not an option, while Styrofoam boxes with drain holes can even be utilised alongside yoghurt pots, plastic fruit and veg and takeaway trays to replace small plant pots. Once soil has been warmed up by the sun, it’s time to sow. Sow seeds thinly into fertile damp soil or compost and place them in the brightest possible spot. Vegetables like carrots and parsnips can be sown outdoors in their final location, however others must be sown indoors or under cover. When starting with seeds one might instead begin with trays or pots of compost where seeds will germinate to be transplanted in the garden. A quick Google of your chosen vegetable will offer you a wealth of information on the conditions it requires and the best method for growth. Many are buying packets of seeds at present, but for those too busy to sow seeds why not consider purchasing plug plants to simplify gardening? Though it is worth bearing in mind, this will be pricier. After planting is complete, soil must be damp, yet not too wet. A quick finger wiggle under the surface can be used to test moisture levels. What to grow For first-timers fruit crops such as tomatoes and vegetative crops like lettuce are easy grows. Tomatoes can be grown in containers and need around six hours of sunlight daily along with plenty of water. The versatile plant can be grown on a windowsill, patio, or in a pot out in the garden. Merely select good quality potting soil. Lettuce meanwhile can easily be grown in containers. A deep pot is required along with good quality potting soil mixed with vermiculite. For quick growers consider onions, peas, beans, baby carrots, lettuce and radishes. As we grace the month of May, with temperatures rising, it is a prime time to sow cabbages, cauliflowers, French and runner beans, sprouts and broccoli inside or outside, while chillies, peppers, courgettes, pumpkins and cucumbers are better sown indoors and leaf vegetables, peas and root vegetables can now be sown outdoors. Vegetables ready to plant out in May include aubergines, peppers, leeks, chillies, pea seedlings, rhubarb, Brussel sprouts, celery, courgettes, tomatoes, squashes, red cabbages and cauliflowers. If you don’t have a garden or space for vegetables Of course, not everyone has a garden or the outdoor space to grow produce. Fortunately there are plenty of things to plant indoors - in some cases all you’ll need is a windowsill. Leafy greens grow particularly well indoors, just ensure to place them in pots with drainage holes and use a well-draining soil, while pea 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:05 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 shoots are prime for limited space and sunny windowsills. Sow into shallow trays of moist multipurpose compost and shoots will rise in days. Cherry tomatoes, chillies, spinach, radishes, garlic and microgreens also do well in sunny windows. Just pop your windowsill containers on a tray to stop leakage. Microgreens, like basil, kale and mint, are good indoor growers too, germinating quickly and easily. Simply line a shallow tray with wet kitchen roll, sprinkle seeds on top and don’t allow the kitchen roll to dry out. Herbs and spices also thrive indoors, with parsley, coriander and basil growable from the windowsill. Scatter seeds over a pot of compost and cover lightly with soil. There are numerous grow your own vegetable kits online for those without a garden, offering sets for everything from chillies to mushrooms, avocados and herbs. One can also make use of vegetable scraps. Keep the ends of your celery, lettuce and spring onions, put their stems in a shallow dish of water and they will regrow. For best results move produce into a soil filled pot. This also makes for a fun experiment for children. Though starting a vegetable garden can seem intimidating, once you have a prepared area, and have sown seeds, all that comes after is simple maintenance. The Diamond Sewage Treatment range is suitable for either individual homes or small population applications When Gravity Drainage is not possible choose Allerton Pumping Stations for Sewage or Dirty Water Servicing & Maintenance on a wide range of Sewage Treatment Plant and Pump Stations by BRITISH WATER ACCREDITED ENGINEERS. In rural areas without a mains drainage system, and where septic tanks will no longer reach environmental standards, Allerton can provide the ideal solution. Trading since 1974, Allerton are leading specialists in efficient treatment systems. They pride themselves on their individual, problem solving approach to dealing with alternative means of treating and disposing of raw sewage. Freephone: 0800 328 5492 Email: sales@allertonuk.com Website: www.allertonuk.com The Allerton ConSept converts your existing Septic Tank or Cesspit into a fully functioning Sewage Treatment Plant. The Dependable Choice in Drainage © Shutterstock /Sunny_Smile 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:05 Page 426 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY There’s plenty of jobs to keep on top of to get your garden ready for the summer, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains. have to hand weed, don’t use a hoe until the summer as the moisture in the soil in the spring will enable to weeds to retake. Also, a careful application of herbicides can reduce weeding considerably. If you are wanting to add some colour to your garden, then now is a good time to sow seeds of hardy annuals. These are easy plants to grow as they don’t require any special treatment, they just prefer full sun and so avoid shady spots. Hardy annuals come in different sizes and colours and so you can use them to structure a flowerbed. For example, have taller ones at the back such as Scabious, Marigolds, Larkspur and Lupins. Then low growing ones nearer the front such as Eschscholzia Califonica (commonly known as California Poppy) or Limnanthes Douglasii (commonly known as Meadow Foam or Poached Egg Flower). Lawns require feeding, scarifying, edging and cutting weekly during the Secrets of a summer garden W ith the bulbs fading and the boarders starting to grow and develop quickly we can safely say summer is on its way. I always enjoy this time of year in the garden as it is starting to come alive again, you can visualise the long summer evenings sitting and enjoying the colours, sounds and smells that a garden can offer. To make your garden the best for the summer there are a number of jobs that you need to be doing to keep on top of things. Weeding is one of them but there are many ways you can reduce the need to hand weed. Gravel or weed control fabric can assist but if it is not aesthetically in keeping with the rest of the property and garden then recycled composting mulch is an alternative. Bark mulch in areas to create a woodland feel can also help but make sure that the depth of the mulch when settled is 6”. Also be aware that the bark will shrink when it dries out. If you do Secrets of a summer garden 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:07 Page 1growing season. For some this is a lot of work, but luckily there is an alternative. Artificial grass has come on massively in the last ten years in terms of realism and quality. In the last five years the prices have come down to sensible levels too. I come from a background of growing and nurturing plants 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’s 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. So now the weeding, mowing and sowing are done we just need to wait a few more weeks for summer to finally arrive. LINCOLNSHIRE 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 professional, tailored gardening and forestry FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around 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 •Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs and use natural sprays to control them © Shutterstock / tomertu 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:08 Page 2Hedgehogs are one of the most commonly associated animals with British wildlife, but what might not be as well-known is just how surprising a creature it is. The hedgehog’s most unusual behaviour – which even science can’t explain – is known as anointing. This involves the hedgie frothing at the mouth whenever it comes into contact with a new scent, and then dousing its spines, of which it has around 5,000. It also has a natural immunity to a variety of plant and snake venoms, with some plucky hedgehogs braving adder bites for a meal. They make for surprisingly nimble swimmers and adept climbers. They’ve even been known to turn up in first storey rooms. Although the hedgehog is a likely sight across most of UK, and maintains an enduring fondness with gardeners, the spiny creature has a particular affinity with the people of Lincolnshire. Several years back, an Appleby couple added a hedgehog A&E wing to their animal rescue centre, along with its ‘hutch hotels’ to house hedgehogs which can’t be released back into the wild. And they’re far from the only ones. The Hedgehog Care centre in Louth has been looking after hedgies since 1980 and caters for anywhere between 50 and 200-plus hedgehogs at any one time. Although known collectively as an ‘array’, the hedgehog is typically a solitary creature and only ever buddies up to mate. The mother and father are unlikely to ever cross paths again, and from three months old, the hoglets are old enough to fend for themselves. Hedgehogs are now classified as a priority species in the UK biodiversity action plan and protected by law. As more developments pave over their habitats, gardens are becoming something of a safe haven. People are being encouraged to help where possible, either by cutting hedgie shaped holes in their fences or by putting out plates of cat food. The average garden is prime hedgehog country, with piles of logs and black bags a favourite. As they roll up into a ball when spooked, hedgehogs are in danger from cars, machinery and bonfires. When in doubt, have a good root around, it’s tough to tell where a hedgie might be hiding. Although all species of hedgehogs hibernate, it does depend on food source and temperature, but traditionally they will be active from April to around October and hibernate the rest of year. With social distancing measures still in place, use the excuse to make your garden more hedgehog friendly. 28 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY The county might be observing social distancing, but wildlife is positively flourishing as the lovely little hedgehog proves. Lincolnshire wildlife 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:09 Page 1© Shutterstock/Coatesy LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:09 Page 2Next >