< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES queen With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations beginning in June, and all things British set to be embraced, we look at some ways to mark the historic event with these thematic decorations to sprinkle around the house. A quirky addition to the home for those fully embracing the Queen’s celebrations this year, and for collectors of such items, this storage tin is perfect for hiding away all your little bits and bobs. Find the Emma Bridgewater Jubilee Bow Fronted Caddy via Daisy Park. © Daisy Park © Nessa Foye Designs There is perhaps no celebration more British than one with bunting. A charming edition, whether hung to the walls in your house, across rooms, or out in the garden, this patriotic Crown Jubilee Bunting from Nessa Foye Designs features crowns, Union Jacks, red and white polka dots, and blue gingham. The Queen’s swans are iconic, so why not bring them into the home in the form of these adorable ceramic salt and pepper shakers from Mint & May? Stood in the centre of your table, metallic gold beaks and feathers shimmer in the light, creating a real sense of luxury. © Mint & May Fit for a The Union Jack has long been a stylish design choice for furniture and accessories, making this classic flag rug a welcome addition to any home, whether celebrating the Queen’s 70-year reign or not. This sturdy, hand woven rug from Homescapes Online has a 100% cotton base, is suitable for all types of rooms, and being light weight can be easily carried out into the garden. © Homescapes Online 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:01 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 HOMES Horncastle Cake Art & Hobby House Everything for the Crafter Cake Decorations, Knitting, Crochet, Felt, Ribbons & more www.horncastlecakeart.co.uk 25 North Street, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 5DX Tel: 01507 525926/522659 T MARC£2.95 CH2022 LilLincolns Discove hihi i Garde Homes& Country Farm& s & Lik Spa Woodha G ll WWWLINCWWW.LINC COLNSHIRETOCOLNSHIRETO BLM 1st 3 issues only £1 Looking for a great gift idea? Lincolnshire Today’s gift subscription for only £27.55 with free delivery Call 01472 310301 or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341 H Fabric and essentials to make face masks H Clothing Alterations & Repairs H Fitting Room & Express Service H Fabrics, Haberdashery, Patterns H Crafts Fabrics & Fat Quarters H Soft Furnishing Service Tel: 01652 650047 | Email: info@jaylaurs.co.uk 54 Wrawby Street, Brigg DN20 8JE 38 years in business For all your Jubilee crafting needs As celebrations get underway, Brits across the country will be enjoying a national favourite – gin. Create more fun in your house by getting the tools to make your own. The Botanical Gin Kit from Craft A Brew features everything you need to handcraft your own small batch gin in two days. The kit includes two glass bottles with wood corked top, a straining funnel & filter, botanical blend, and detailed instructions. Find it via Yellow Octopus. © Yellow Octopus Sure to make whoever sees it smile, could there be a cuter way to honour Her Majesty than this Queen’s Jubilee Corgi Tea Towel from M&CO.? We think not. © M&Co. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:01 Page 2ORDER 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. Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Make cheque payable to Business Link Magazine Group & Call now to subscribe on 01472 310301 8 or order online www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341 Total Price: £27.55 Subscribe today 4 great reasons to subscribe... 3 Each issue is brimming with a diverse topic range... • Heritage • Fashion • Hair & Beauty • Leisure • Homes & Gardens • County Motoring • Dining Out • What’s On • Free Reader Giveaways and much much more… 3 First 3 issues only £1! 3 FREE delivery to your door 3 Receive your copy before it hits the shops or Scan QR Code ARY2022 T FEBRUA £2.95 hthearts Healing inspiratio Valentin you’ll lo Fashion on ’ workout Winter i t WWW.LINCWWW.LINC COLNSHIRETOCOLNSHIRETO ODAY.NETODAY.NET BLM G T s Spa WWWLINCWWW.LINC COLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO ODA RIL2022 T APR £2.95 AirAmb Lincs&N bulan Nott Lincol Artistic motimotoring County shi Boston L COLNSHIR ETODA Y .N ET COLNSHIR ETODA Y .N ET WWW.LINCWWW.LINC BLM www.blmgroup.co.uk First 3 issues for £1 Looking for a great gift idea? A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round! 22.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:02 Page 1CLEETHORPES Humberston Road, Cleethorpes, N E Lincs DN36 4RW Tel: 01472 313600 Making your ideas grow LINCOLN Newark Road, South Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 9NT Tel: 01522 880033 SLEAFORD London Road, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford NG34 8NY Tel: 01529 304970 EXCELLENT PLANT SELECTION WITH 5-YEAR HARDY PLANT GUARANTEE •RESTAURANTS WITH A LARGE SELECTION OF HOME-COOKED MEALS •A WIDE RANGE OF GIFTS•FREE PARKING•GARDENING EXPERTS SINCE 1780 23.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:03 Page 124 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY W ith the bank holidays this month you have two extra days to get out and enjoy your garden, as there is plenty to be done! Now is the time to be vigilant as pests such as viburnum beetle and lily beetle will be increasing as the weather gets warmer. Chemical control may be needed but I would suggest you only use chemicals for severe instances of disease and pests. This is because you will not only kill off the pests but also insects that are beneficial to plants. Prevention is better than cure and to reduce the risk of pests and disease keep plants healthy by using mulch to retain moisture. Also, when you introduce new plants knock them out of their containers and look for small white grubs. They could be Vine Weevil and they will eat the roots. Removing weeds, when possible, will also help as they will act as hosts for pests and diseases. However, some weeds may be beneficial if you are wanting to encourage more wildlife to you garden. For example, nettles will assist with butterflies as these are eaten by caterpillars. We can also eat some weeds, such as chickweed. If you are wanting to try a new food or provide for the wildlife, I would suggest that you create a specific area, such as at the end of a boarder or a standalone plot. This way you can manage it and ensure the weeds don’t encroach onto other areas of your garden. Weeds are also good indictors as to the condition of your soil. For example, if your soil is acidic, you will have lots of sorrel and plantain, however poppy and charlock will prefer lime. Nettles and chickweed thrive in soil high in nitrogen whereas silverweed and greater plantain will grow on compacted soil. Soil with poor drainage will encourage creeping buttercup, horsetail and silverweed. So, before you start energetically removing your weeds take a look at which ones 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 floating weed which is almost impossible to get rid of it once it gets established. Blanket weed is a bright green algae, and when it is removed Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping highlights how we can use those extra days off this month to keep our gardens gorgeous – from controlling pests to assessing weeds to sowing seeds of hardy annuals. © stock.adobe.com/ neirfy Weeding, mowing, and sowing – making the most of May Weeding, mowing, and sowing – making the most of May 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:04 Page 1* Watch out for last frosts and protect tender plants * Collect rainwater * Earth up potatoes, and plant any 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 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden GARDEN ADVICE leave it on the side of the pond for at least a day so that aquatic creatures can escape back to the water. With the weeding done you can turn to other tasks such as mowing. You should be mowing your lawn once a week now and lowering the mower blades slightly each time you mow. If you lower them too much too quickly the grass will turn yellow and cause bald patches to develop. You can also feed your lawn now - just make sure you read the instructions carefully. If you have moss patches these will likely be due to poor drainage or shade from trees and shrubs. There are a variety of things you can apply - again read the instructions. However, in some instances moss can look in keeping and so you may only want to tackle some of the lawn, such as those areas that are more out in the open. 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 do not require any special treatment. They just prefer full sun, 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). So now the weeding, mowing, and sowing are done we just need to wait a few more weeks for summer to finally arrive. © stock.adobe.com/philip kinsey © stock.adobe.com/FotoCorn Specialised Service in Garden Design and Landscaping 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 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:05 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY PATIO BLINDS Q&A Tell us a little about Patio Blinds UK Ltd and what you do Patio Blinds UK are a small, limited company, established 2018. Based in Immingham, we sell clear PVC roller blinds to homes and businesses throughout the UK. Patio Blinds are specifically designed for enclosing outdoor structures against the elements whilst retaining the view and keeping warm, enabling you to enjoy your garden all year round! Do you need a structure already in place to install the blinds onto? Most all our customers already have their structures in place, but we have had a few customers who construct their outdoor buildings to suit the blinds. Of course, there is no need to do this if you do not wish to. The blinds are all premade and are available in increments of 5cm (50mm). The only thing necessary for the blind to be installed is the angle at the top of the frame you are fixing to is level. The blinds are compatible with all outdoor structures such as gazebos, lean-tos, summer houses, outdoor kitchen/bar areas and any other outdoor spaces which need protection from our varied UK weather! If you have any outdoor space which needs enclosing, Patio Blinds are the ideal solution. Both cost effective and durable, they able to withstand most all weather conditions. They can be fixed Enjoying your garden longer We all love to spend more time in our gardens but it’s not always possible with how unpredictable the weather can be. That’s why we spoke with Chantele of Patio Blinds UK this month to hear about their PVC roller blinds, and how they can open up your garden all year round. 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:05 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 PATIO BLINDS Q&A to wood, metal, and brick so are very versatile. What are the benefits of the product and how difficult is installation? The benefits are enormous! The blinds provide protection and shelter from some of our harsher outdoor conditions. They allow you to relax in your hot tub, BBQ area, gazebo, summer house or enjoy a spot of outdoor dining all year round, in the protection of an enclosed space. The beauty of the blinds is the versatility. You can leave them on throughout the year or take them off and store them away or roll them up or leave them down. Installation is no more difficult than in indoor domestic blind. Some say easier as there are no fiddley side bits to fit. They simply bolt onto the frame of your structure. All fixings and instructions are provided and how to videos, and if you are unsure, we are on the end of the phone to talk you through. The blinds are UV protected which prolongs the lifespan of the PVC and provides some level of penetration from the sun. This means that you can leave you blinds hung all year round without any cracks or degradation from the weather. Are you able to supply for business, restaurants, and other commercial properties as well as private? We have supplied to bars, cafes and restaurants and private customers. We always ask for photographs once the customer has finished installation. It’s amazing how lovely and transformed their spaces can look. Patio Blinds Enjoy your garden all year round! For more information or to get in touch with Patio Blinds UK yourself visit www.patio-blinds.com or call 01469 575 804 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:05 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY F or its size Lincolnshire is home to very few National Trust properties. One of them however is the architectural gem of Gunby Hall near Burgh-le-Marsh. The surrounding estate extends to 1,500 acres and has belonged to the National Trust (NT) since 1944 when it was gifted to the nation by the Massingberd family. But there are other things of interest at Gunby which we shall look at first. There was a settlement at Gunby long before the present house and estate. The name Gunby comes from the Old Norse personal name of “Gunni” with the familiar “by” suffix meaning farmstead, and was recorded as “Gunnebi” in the Domesday Book of AD1086. There is some archaeological evidence of an Iron Age settlement here and the house and gardens stand partially over its site. There is also a deserted mediaeval village site - a DMV to archaeologists. In the park, near the church, some grassy earthworks marking out house tofts, hollow ways and ditches show where part of the village was, though it has to be said that they would be more obvious if you could view them from the air! It is known that in the time of Elizabeth I there were fifteen families living here – say up to 70 people - but the most people recorded living at Gunby was eighty-five in the AD1891 census. There is access from the churchyard. A reminder of the DMV is St Peter’s church which can be reached from the Hall grounds although it does not belong to the NT. It is the third church on the site. The first was mediaeval dating from around AD1220 and a second church was built about AD1700 (there’s an old photo of this church inside the present one). The third St Peter’s, which we see today, dates from 1870 and was designed by James Fowler of Louth in the Early English style. There are several memorials to the Massingberds both inside and in the form of tombs in the south side of the churchyard. The Massingberds moved from Bratoft to Gunby in AD1700. They had lived at nearby Bratoft (just over a mile to the south) at a moated, mediaeval hall which they had inherited through marriage; this they had demolished in AD1698. The remains of the moat are still quite distinct and plain to see and are shown on the local OS map (there is a public footpath there across the park from Gunby Hall, or reach it by a footpath from North Road, Bratoft - OS Grid ref. 654473). Although a gravel drive approaches the west-facing front of the Hall today the house and the grounds are accessed through an imposing archway into a courtyard surrounded by the former This month we visit historic Gunby – but there is more there than just the Hall. Lincolnshire explored SPRING AT GUNBY GUNBY HALL 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:06 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 stables and coach house of AD1735. The impressive rooftop clock was brought here from Hampshire in 1971. And so, to Gunby Hall itself. The Massingberd’s new home was three storeys high and built in the William and Mary style and was originally of seven by four bays of windows in both stone and a mixture of bricks brought from Holland and local sources. There is a magnificent front door on the west front. The extension at the north end was added in two stages; 1873 and 1898, and so well done that it looks like part of the original. Inside panelled rooms display watercolour paintings and portraits, many of them of the Massingberd family and their friends; two are by Reynolds. It is thought that Tennyson had Gunby in mind when he wrote of his “Haunt of ancient peace”. It is almost unbelievable today to think that Gunby Hall was nearly lost during WWII when the Air Ministry wanted to demolish it in order to build an airfield runway. Field-Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd “pulled rank” and appealed personally to the King and all was saved. The airfield was moved further south nearer to Great Steeping and in gratitude the Field-Marshall gave the house to the National Trust in 1944. The hall is surrounded on all sides by lovely gardens. As well as the formal gardens facing the west front there are lawns and woods to the south giving views over the park which are especially attractive in the spring being carpeted with snowdrops. Through an archway off the courtyard is the Walled or Pergola Garden, famed for its roses, and flower borders, and which has at its far end a large brick dovecote and a blue-painted rotunda in which to sit and admire the view. Nearby another feature - which gives an extra excuse to visit - is the Orchard Gallery which hosts regular exhibitions by local artists. And finally - of course – there’s the courtyard café! There is however one more place of interest linked with Gunby. Two miles to the southwest of Gunby Hall and along a narrow “No through” lane, but still within the Gunby estate and managed by the NT, is the delightful Monksthorpe Chapel. This Baptist chapel of AD1701 was deliberately built in such a way so that it did not look much like a place of worship. Because of the religious persecution of the Baptists at the time it was purposely built in this remote spot with its design “disguising” it to resemble a barn. An extremely unusual feature is the outdoor open air baptistry (baptism pool) to allow for the total submersion practised by the Baptists; it is rare indeed and believed to be one of only two in the whole country. Both house and gardens are open daily until 30th October; except the house is NOT open on Thursdays or Fridays. There is an admission charge for non-NT members. by Hugh Marrows THE STABLE COURTYARD GUNBY GARDENSST PETER’S CHURCH THE ROSE GARDEN 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/04/2022 14:06 Page 2Next >