< Previous80 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYStunning Bridal Boutiquein Woodhall Spa2016 Stockists of Justin Alexander,Allure, Ivory & Co and moreTo book an appointment call01526 268030or go towww.theivoryroombridal.co.ukGoodyear House, Tattershall Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincs, LN10 6QJlMarriageslCivil PartnershipslNationality Checking ServicelCitizenship CeremonieslNaming & Renewal of Vows CeremonieslCopy Certificates (from 1837 to date)lCivil Funeral, Memorial, Woodland Burial and Interment CeremonieslPre planned Script only Funeral ServiceRegistration &CelebratoryServicesTel: 01522 782244Email: regist@lincolnshire.gov.ukwww.lincolnshire.gov.uk/registrationHorncastleZ Cake Art Z25 North Street, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 5DXTelephone: 01507525926 Mobile: 07734007765Email: horncakes@tiscali.co.uk www.horncastlecakeart.co.uk78-85_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:47 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY81WEDDINGSWe offer an affordable, professional friendly service.We will try to match or beat any quote!WE COVER ALL YOURPHOTOGRAPHY NEEDSTel: 07460647157Email: happysnapzphotos@hotmail.comFacebook@ HappySnapzPhotographyWE COVER ALL YOURPHOTOGRAPHY NEEDSmarquees to host the receptions. Thisdoesn’t mean that the venues themselvesaren’t attractive – quite the reverse, andindeed the law still requires the actualceremony to be held in a permanentbuilding rather than a temporarystructure like a marquee. What it doesmean is that they offer an empty spaceentirely at the mercy of your imagination,without having to work around existingfixtures and fittings. So if you want tointroduce a specific colour scheme, this isyour big chance.82 ÁWhen it comes to the actual day, thebride’s beauty should be what many arefocused on, and with a wide arrange ofgowns and dresses available throughoutLincolnshire – you’re really spoilt forchoice. However, it’s also worth takingthe time to work on the foundations too,and as such there are many beauticiansand salons that cater to weddings,offering specific packages. One thing tokeep in mind however, is that it’s oftenbest to keep it simple.After all, given the time and expenseyou’ve invested into your wedding dress,the last thing you want is to detractattention from it with an over-elaboratehairdo or excessively dramatic make-up.You should be aiming to complement thedress and it’s likely that the outfit willplay a part in your thinking.A few weeks before the wedding youshould be able to try out your ideas withone of Lincolnshire’s many hair andbeauty specialists. A good trick is to wearPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/OLEG ELENA TOVKACH78-85_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:47 Page 4For more details, a wedding pack or to arrange an appointment: Call us on 01522 563 298 Email weddings@whitehart-lincoln.co.uk Visit www.whitehart-lincoln.co.uk Follow us on twitter @WhiteHartLN1Bailgate | Lincoln | Lincolnshire | LN1 3ARThe White Hart Hotel offers a truly breathtaking setting to host the most important day of your life. Set in Lincoln’s historic Cathedral quarter, we offer packages that combine a magical venue with a first class service, making sure that your wedding day is everything you dreamed it would be and more! With inclusive packages to suit your ideas, your dream wedding day at the White Hart Hotel could be closer than you think! TRULY MADLY DEEPLYYOUR PERFECT WEDDING LOCATIONBAILGATE | LINCOLN82 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYa white T-shirt – or whatever colour matches your dress – andbring any accessories you’d like to incorporate on the day.This will make it much easier for the stylist to visualise whatthey are working towards, and will also make it easier for youto see if it works. When it comes to the actual day the most importantpeople are obviously the happy couple themselves. Howeverthe experience of the guests is a major factor if you want tomake sure the guests stick around for all the proceedingsrather than nip off to a local pub. You want their memoriesof the day to be the beauty of the bride, not the awful foodor embarrassing spectacle they were coaxed intoparticipating in.Catering therefore plays a major part and, if you’re using ahotel then it’s likely that’ll be included in the package and it’llbe of the highest standards. They’ll have a host of options tochoose from, usually even if you’re thinking of moving awayfrom the traditional wedding breakfast and instead hosting abuffet or just canapés. If that’s the case, though, make thisexplicit on the invites to ensure guests know what to expect– most wedding guests will assume the traditional fare will beprovided so if only canapés are on offer the music could endup being drowned out by rumbling stomachs.Most venues will offer choices from a set menu and usuallyhold a tasting session in good time for you to sample the farethey usually offer and plan the desired menu. You shouldn’tbe too adventurous when deciding on this, though, as yourguests may not share your tastes. If you’re planning onPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ALEX ANDREI78-85_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:47 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY83WEDDINGSNEW! John Greed Jewellery BoutiqueWHERE TO FIND US johngreed.com3-4 Cornhill, Lincoln, LN5 7DRMONDAY - SATURDAY 9am - 5.30pmSUNDAY 10am - 4pmNEW STORECornhillHigh StreetCurrent StoreBootsBarclaysserving up just one menu, for practical reasons, make sureit’s something that will be acceptable to most. Even ifyou’re going for a Bollywood-themed wedding, it’sprobably not the right place to serve up the hottest curryyou can find.The skills of the wedding co-ordinators at the venue,together with the flexibility and quality of the facilities,means you shouldn’t have to worry too much about thesheer logistics of the event, but if you’re pondering overhow many guests you should invite to the reception, thegeneral rule is to allow eight square feet per guest if there’sa buffet, and fifteen square feet if a sit-down meal. If youstart inviting more people then the chances of dancersconstantly tripping over diners is increased. Obviously ifyou’re using a live band, too, they’ll take up more spacethan a disco would (and they’ll need to be fed as well!).One issue that many couples ponder before the big daycan often be highly sensitive – whether children areinvited. For some couples, the issue may not even beconsidered – why wouldn’t you invite them? Others,however, may have second thoughts – if only a few of theguests have children, for example, it may be that they85 Á78-85_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:47 Page 6A Stunning Hotel, Wedding & Restaurant VenueHall Farm has grown over the past two decades from an abandoned farm yard into a Luxury Restaurant and Boutique Hotel and the region’s finest Wedding / Conference Venue.We also host Civil Ceremonies, Product Launches and cater for all Family Occasions.Brand new wedding packages available for 2016/17.*Photographs courtesy of Richard Moore PhotographyHall Farm Hotel & Restaurant, Ashby LaneAshby cum Fenby DN37 0RT01472 220666 www.hallfarmhotelandrestaurant.co.uk84 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYAn exclusive range of Bridal Gownsand Bridesmaids, plus ranges fromother leading designers, Venus, Phoenixplus others.Contemporary and traditional styles,accessories too. All alterations completed in-house.Ladies 01522 522616Also one of Lincolnshire's longestestablished menswear hire specialistswith over 30 years experience. All hire suits held in stock to try onbefore you order.Groom goes free with five or moreoutfits.Menswear 01522 533615 PERFECTIONBRIDAL & MENSWEAR31/32 Silver Street, Lincoln, LN2 1EW • www.perfectionbridalandmenswear.co.uk78-85_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:47 Page 7HOTEL · SPA · RESTAURANT & BARFor reservations or further information visit www.branstonhall.com or call (01522) 793305Branston Hall Hotel is open to the general public all year round. The spacious lounges & opulent dining rooms are the ideal venue to celebrate any special occasion or to simply treat yourself. Open every day, lunch & of course our classic Sunday lunch, afternoon tea, bar snacks & Dinner are all available for non-residents. Our award winning food & service, coupled with the luxurious surroundings means you need look no further than Branston Hall Hotel for your ideal dining or special event venue. LINCOLNSHIRE’S PREMIER WEDDING VENUELINCOLNSHIRETODAY85WEDDINGSByards Leap LodgeBed and BreakfastWhether you are on a leisure or abusiness trip, you will find thehospitality of our Country Kitchenand Lodge, just as warm as it wasin the nostalgic times of Bayard andOld Meg.Since the late 1800s Byards Leaphas welcomed many visitors, bothto our Country Kitchen and to visitthe home of the famous legend ofBayard and Old Meg. As you arriveyou can almost feel the atmosphereof those times, especially when yougaze upon the horseshoes of thehorse who is said to have wornthem (they are big).East View, Byards Leap, Cranwell, SleafordLincolnshire NG34 8EY01400 261375 07957 885913www.byards-leap-lodge.co.ukwould get extremely bored during proceedings.If you are planning to invite lots of children,however, it’s probably worth thinking aboutsetting space aside for them to play later in theevening, and maybe even hiring some kids’entertainers to keep them occupied. OK, you’renot organising a children’s party but the otheralternative is a bunch of hyperactive childrenrunning around the dance floor al night, whichsome of your guests may not appreciate. At theother end of the spectrum, too, you mayconsider opening up a separate room awayfrom the band or disco so that some of yourolder guests, who may not appreciate themusic, are able to talk and relax in comfort andpeace.Don’t forget however, during all thecelebration and happiness, that a wedding isalso a time to create unforgettable memories –and for what you’re going to want someone torecord the whole experience in some way. Withthe increased level of technology we all have atour finger-tips, it might be tempting to let Good old uncle Joehandle the photography – he’s a dab hand on the iPhone, evenputs his pictures on Twitter sometimes – but this is a perilousdecision at best. Considering the expense that has already beenput into a wedding, going that little bit further to get aprofessional photographer, or maybe even a videographer (orboth!), can help to immortalise the day for many years to come.Chances are that the parents of both the bride and the groom arealso going to want some pictures for their family photo albums, sodon’t leave this aspect to chance. By taking advantage of the skill and knowledge of the co-ordinators and planners at Lincolnshire’s top venues, you can besure that a day you’ve been looking forward to for many years willlive long in the memory for all the right reasons.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/FXQUADRO78-85_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:48 Page 886 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYnlike other owls, the barnowl often hunts during thedaytime, making it one of the county’smost abundant wildlife sights. All owlsare thought of as hooting at all hours ofthe night, but the barn owl prefers itsown set of eerie screeches and hisses.Even with this cacophony of cries, thebarn owl still strikes a most magnificentpose. With its head cocked quizzically,there’s something playful about the birdwhen it’s perched on a branch or stumpmostly of small mammals such as fieldvoles, shrews and mice and a pair of barnowls needs to eat an entire menagerie ofprey a year, with around 5,000 itemsgobbled up to keep them alive andbreeding. Most nesting takes place between Marchand June when temperatures increase, butthe actual dates of the egg laying can varyyear to year and even by location. Ratherthan constructing a nest in amongst treebranches, the barn owl opts for cavities incliff faces, nests of other large birds and, asits name suggests, in barns and otherbuildings. Barn owl chicks have beenknown to feed each other which isremarkably rare among birds but when theowlets reach thirteen weeks of age theyreceive training from momma owl infinding and catching their own prey. Despite the owl’s abundance acrossBritain and much of the world, its numbershave dramatically declined over the last fivedecades due to agricultural intensificationand habitat loss. To help stem the issuefarmers, landowners and local people canput up nest boxes and manage habitats tobetter suit the barn owl and its prey. And itseems to be working, as the numbers ofbarn owls does seem to be increasing, albeitslowly. Various nest boxes across our countymean the coastal farmland of Lincolnshire isa continued draw for barn owls andholidaymakers alike. With its onyx coloured eyes, heart shaped face and feathers mottled silver-grey andghost white, the barn owl is one of the county’s most majestic birds of prey. LincolnshirewildlifePHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/DUANGNAPA_B(or in a bird sanctuary), but seeing it inflight is another thing altogether.Remarkably, it only weighs a pound,meaning its flight path looks more likeaerial ballet than labour. Barn owls are among the most prolifichunters, with a variety of speciallyadapted characteristics to help themcatch food, like incredibly sensitivehearing for pinpointing critters indarkness, an almost silent flight and astrong hooked beak. Its diet consistsUU86-87_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:34 Page 1PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/CUSON86-87_Layout 1 23/05/2016 14:34 Page 288 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYEDUCATIONCaistor YarboroughAcademy01472 851 383 caistoryarboroughacademy.org.ukCYA is the school of CHOICE!*Engineering *Drama *Music *PE *Art & more at KS4Every day is an open day so come and look round!Places available in all years for 2016The SATs exams are the cause of much pre-teen stress andhang over the final years of primary school like a storm cloud.Be that as it may, it was as much a rite of passage as thatother dreaded examination – the Eleven Plus. But news thatthe 6-7 age bracket would have to undergo the drudgery ofthe SATs has sparked discord among parents, some of whomhave staged a coup. A group of Lincolnshire parents recentlypulled their tykes out of school in protest of the exams and,really, who can blame them? Testing, particularly at such a young age, seems a futileendeavour considering the unnecessary stress it shoulders onkids. It’ll come as no surprise that learning isn’t a clear cutexperience, and what works for one student won’t necessarilybe beneficial to another. It could be argued, then, that testingin this way is a simply bureaucratic means of quantifyingeducational growth with a one-size fits all approach. Of course, it’s unfair to lumber all the blame at the foot oftesting; it’s representational of wider issues at play, many ofwhich are complex and eclectic. The frustration spiralling atyounger tots lumbered with SATs is an extension of theargument that kids should be in school even earlier, despiteresearch and findings that suggests that the opposite mightin fact be the better option. Likewise, evidence favourssmaller class sizes, which can better serve individual studentsrather than stuffing as many kids as possible into a room withone teacher and hoping for the best. But with schoolsclosing, and the shortage of teachers, this has become thereality that many kids face throughout their school life. Insuch a system, it’s easy for an individual to get lost in thePHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ZIMMYTWSTestrunWith kids as young as six facing SATs tests,it’s time to ask whether the educationalsystem is all a bit out of date. 88-90_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:52 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY89EDUCATIONwww.riversidetrainingspalding.co.uk01775 710945Take your next step towards your careerStudy a qualification with Riverside Training, we offer Apprenterships, Traineeships, NCFE/CACHE qualifications for Teaching Assistants, Early Years and Health/Social CareFurther courses commencing from September 2016 PLACES AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE STARTcrowd and fall behind. Legislation which would see every school in Englandbecome an academy was one of the biggest surprises ofthe March Budget. It was claimed that the move wasintended to put education in the hands of teachers ratherthan “bureaucrats.” Many criticised the decision, statingthat there is no tangible proof which would suggest thatthe act of academisation improves school performance.In fact, analysis from the Local Government Associationsuggests that council-maintained schools actuallyoutperformed academies at inspection. There can,however, be gains for disadvantaged pupils who arestruggling in primary schools. No matter the argument for or against, the plans havesince been dropped. The new legislation will now includesweeping powers for the Department for Education toforce underperforming schools in local authorities toconvert to academy status. The legislation, and its90 Á88-90_Layout 1 23/05/2016 15:52 Page 2Next >