< Previous100 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFARM & COUNTRY LINK - COUNTY SHOWSDerek TindallBirds of PreyDerek TindallBirds of Prey•Shows and Fetes•Weddings•Birthdays•Corporate Events•Educational VisitsTelephone 0779 9761 227www.derektindallbirdsofprey.co.uk•Flying Displays•Medieval Banquets•Personal or Group Encounters•Photography Sessions - TailoredWe offer "Tailored Packages"Provided the sun is shining, there are few places peoplewould rather be than outdoors. However, this time of yearsees the kids off school for what, to parents, can seem likean eternity. Keeping them occupied and amused is no smallfeat, particularly when balancing one’s own need for leisuretime. So finding a place or event that caters to everyone’stastes is a top priority, fortunately one that is satisfiedentirely by visiting a county show. Though the Lincolnshire Show is the crème da la crème ofcounty shows (and for good reason), it’s far from the onlyone. It would be a shame if the aforementioned shouldovershadow all the wonderful other shows, many on a muchsmaller and more intimate scale, and boasting their ownarray of entertainments. They all offer a wonderful day out,and given they take place at different times, it means thatthere’s rarely any calendar conflicts so you can get along tomore than one. There’s few better ways to support localsuppliers, producers and the local economy in general. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the excellentevents taking place over the next few months, we’ve listedsome of the best below. Brocklesby Country FairBrocklesby ParkSunday 17 JuneThere’s so much to get excited about at this year’sBrocklesby Country Fair. Main Ring attractions will runThe joy of county shows We here in Lincolnshire love a goodcounty show, from the small village fareto the big and beautiful calendarhighlights that pull in the punters fromfar and wide. Here were espouse themany virtues of county shows andhighlight a few of this year’s very best.© Shutterstock / AC Rider© www.adw-media.com100-101.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 14:46 Page 1THE GREAT FAMILY DAY OUTSunday 5th Augustwww.revesbycountryfair.co.ukDISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR ADVANCED BOOKINGSFeaturing Poldark's Atkinson Action Horses!LINCOLNSHIRETODAY101FARM & COUNTRY LINK - COUNTY SHOWScontinuously throughout the day, so there’s always somethingto get stuck into. The Countryside Area offers country sportsdisplays and participation, with all animal attractions offeringa hands-on experience. The Lincolnshire Land Rover Club willbe thrilling passengers with rides in the 4x4 area. Then there’sthe Children’s Area, trade stands, The Arts and CraftsMarquee, Gun Dog competitions and so much more. Formore information, visit www.brocklesby.co.uk/country-fair.The Lincolnshire ShowLincolnshire Showground Wednesday 20 – Thursday 21 JuneNow in its 134th year, the Lincolnshire Show is one-stopshop for families, schools and couples looking for a fun,educational and entertaining day celebrating all that’s greatabout Lincolnshire. As always, you’ll be spoilt for choice witha variety of acts, classes and performances in the main ringand country side ring, while over on the show gardens andfloral art section, you can browse and admired the beautifulblooms on display. Then it’s time to shop at some of the 600trade stands to stock up on local crafts, produce, machineryand more. This year also sees the 100 year anniversary of theRAF celebrated. Don’t forget to drop by Lincolnshire Today’smarquee. For more information, visitwww.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk.Winterton AgricultureShowWinterton ShowgroundSaturday 7 – Sunday 8 July The 146th Winteron Agricultural Show promises to be afun-filled weekend with something for all the family. Itfeatures traditional events that have a long history alongsidene displays for this year’s show. Live music will also beplaying during both days. The children’s funfair will be openthroughout the weekend, and there’s plenty of food and drinkat the fully licensed bar. For more information, visitwww.wintertonshow.co.uk.Revesby Country Fair Revesby Estate, near Horncastle Sunday 5 August Revesby Country Fair offers the perfect family day out withall the wonderful fun everyone already expects of thisgorgeous Lincolnshire village. With exciting events in themain ring and horse shows, traders and so many other sightsto get stuck into, 2018 might just be the best show yet. Formore information, visit www.revesbycountryfair.co.uk.BROCKLESBY ESTATEBrocklesby Park, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN41 8PNwww.brocklesby.co.uk/country-fairSunday 17th June 2018including • Hilarious Pig Racing • TV’s Atkinson’s Action Horses • Ben Potter’s Birds of Prey • The Sheep Show • Terrier Racing • Blue Cross Fun Dog Show • Have a Go Country Sports FREE Parking / Admission Adults £12 / Under 14’s FREE An Action Packed Family Day OutBROCKLESBYCountryFAIR100-101.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 14:46 Page 2102 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFARM & COUNTRY LINK - LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW© www.adw-media.comCelebrating everything LincolnshireCelebrating everything LincolnshireThe Lincolnshire Show is a truecelebration of rural Lincolnshire,with an eclectic mix of breathtakingentertainment, food, shopping,music, horticulture and farm life allcoming together to form the perfectfamily day out. You’ll be spoilt for choice with ahuge selection of entertainment tosee, exhibitors to meet and placesto enjoy a bite to eat. From breath-taking entertainment in the Main Ringto top chefs cooking live in TheLincolnshire Kitchen, to beautifulblooms in the Horticultural Zone anda slice of Lincolnshire’s sky-highhistory in the Aviation Zone, and fromhands-on activities in the EducationMarquee to drinking Pimm’s on theMember’s Lawn - there really issomething for everyone. The 2018 Lincolnshire Show isThe Lincolnshire Show is among thecounty’s most highly anticipatedannual events, bringing togetherarts, agriculture lifestyle andbusiness for a celebration ofeverything that makes this regionspecial. This year is one of the mostimportant in the show’s esteemedhistory as it celebrates the hundredyear anniversary of the RAF. 102-103.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 15:33 Page 1© Double RedLINCOLNSHIRETODAY103FARM & COUNTRY LINK - LINCOLNSHIRE SHOWextra special as it this yearcommemorates RAF100 and 100 yearssince the end of World War 1. Thoughsome of the special celebrations are stillunder wraps, plenty of exciting eventsand showcases have already beenrevealed by the show organisers. Addedto this year’s exciting schedule is theRAF Falcons, who’ll be performing aparachute display on both days of theevent. That’s not all, there’s also aDakota flypast, a Spitfire flypast, areplica Red Arrow, mini tank driving forchildren and a special aviation themedtreasure hunt trail.Jayne Southall, CEO of LincolnshireShowground, said: “As our theme is RAF100 we wanted to ensure that localservice men and women were given thechance to attend the show, with ourcompliments, so we have donated 100adult tickets to Tickets for Troops.”As well as all the RAF celebrations andfestivities, there’s also all the oldfavourites to look forward to from thelivestock and equine competitions anddisplays, to the beautiful showcase ofhorticulture. For foodies, there’s the foodcourt which is boasting every kind ofartisanal wonders, local ingredients andsome of the best produce around.Anybody looking for crafts there’s TheMews, and if you just want to browse,there’s some 600 trade stands to getstuck into. The Discovery Zone,meanwhile, boasts plenty of live eventsand educational stands which are perfectfor the whole family. Although The Lincolnshire Show is atrue celebration of county living, it attractsvisitors far and wide with some visitorsregularly putting in a four hour commute.Some years we’ve even bumped intopeople who have come from overseas.Now that’s true dedication!Lincolnshire Today is a mainstay at theShow, so be sure and pop in ourmarquee next to the main ring wherewe’ll be meeting readers and enjoying atipple or two. There’ll also be a deliciousbuffet provided by Jocasta’s.For more information on the showand to buy your own tickets, visitwww.lincolnshireshow.co.uk, or getinvolved on Twitter @lincsshow andFacebook @LincolnshireShowground.Kamara PhotographyKamara PhotographyKamara PhotographyThis year’s Lincolnshire Show takes place on Wednesday 20 &Thursday 21 June. Don’t forget todrop by Lincolnshire Today’smarquee where we’ll be meetingreaders and enjoying a glass of wine (or three). 102-103.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 15:33 Page 2104LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHaving enjoyed widespread prevalence in Britain’swaterways, the intensification of agriculture during theSecond World War combined with an increase in huntingand pollution decimated their numbers. The last decade,however, has seen recovery signs with the otter enjoying adramatic resurgence, especially in Lincolnshire. Why, itwas only last month when one of the playfullittle animals was seen posing for thecamera in the River Waltham. Though one would beforgiven for thinking of theotter as nothing but a cutecritter, they are among ourtop predators and willindiscriminately eateverything from fish,amphibians andcrustaceans to birds. Thisappetite fuels its highlyactive lifestyle, where itsnimble body helps itmanoeuvre underwater on awhim. With their webbed feet,the ability to close their ears andnose underwater and the thickest fur ofany mammal, the otter is perfectly suited tothe life aquatic. Pups will take the water from asyoung as ten weeks old and adults can stay submergedfor four minutes at a time. Were that they could spend their entire existence inthe water, but there are other matters to attend to suchas mating and finding place to live. Known as holts, theirThe otter remains one of Britain’s most beloved but, sadly, scarce wildlifespecimens. Yet with increased protection and defence against hunting andpollution, the frolicking water critter has returned from the brink. If you knowwhere to look, locals may even catch a glimpse right here in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshirewildlifeburrows are constructed from sticks and branches and setalong the water’s edge. After reaching the ripe old age oftwo, otters will bed down and have pubs of their own.The youngling will then live with its family for a yearbefore going off into the world on its own. It’s the perfect time of year for anyone hoping tocatch a glimpse of the otter. Like us, otterslove to lounge around in the sun,soaking up the rays beforebecoming active again in theevening. Otters have beenobserved making mudslidesso that they can slip andslide on their bellies andinto the water. Most of uswill agree that they arefun-loving and playfulanimals, certainly morethan their relations –badgers, weasels andwolverines, oh my. It evencounts the skunk as a distantcousin, though the associationsend there. While the skunk is famedfor its pungent rear end, otter dung isthought of as pleasant smelling. In fact, oneexpert likened the scent to jasmine tea. Not sureyou’d want to dunk your biscuit in it, though. With a little patience, this may just be the summer youspot an otter in the wild for yourself. Don’t forget to takea phone or camera and share any snaps with us on Twitter@lincstoday.© Shutterstock / Ondrej Chvatal 104-105.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 14:47 Page 1© Shutterstock / Anita van den Broek 104-105.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 14:47 Page 2106 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGConvertible cars are ideal for adding a little bit of appeal to yourcommute. True, they might not be as practical as their tin-toppedalternatives, but nothing lets you value a sun-drenched day like acabriolet. Here are some of the best drop-tops on the market.Going toplessMercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet106-109.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 15:00 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY107COUNTY MOTORINGMercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet isone of the most luxurious convertibles inthe automotive arena. It comes with thesame lavish interior as its coupe andsaloon siblings but replaces their metalroofs for a fabric one that folds away. Iteven comes with an intelligentsuspension arrangement that prevents itsbig body rolling in tight corners to makeit as soothing to drive as possible.Despite its size, rear space is not verygenerous – particularly with the roof inplace – and even basic diesel models willmean having to fork out over £115,000. Ifyou have got a decent budget to spendon your next convertible car, however,you will battle to find one better-appointed than the S-Class Cabriolet.Jaguar F-Type Convertible If you need to get noticed in your newconvertible, then the powerful Jaguar F-Type Convertible V8 in R guise will do thetrick. The 550hp supercharged lump willpropel the Jag from zero to 62mph in 4.1seconds and on to a maximum speed of186mph. The cabin design isn’t quite asflamboyant as the exterior, but the F-Type’sthrills and soundtrack more than make upfor it – especially with the roof down.Audi A5 CabrioletThe Audi A5 comes with one of thechicest cabins around, so what better wayto show it off than by dropping the roof?The upmarket Audi A5 Cabriolet allowsyou to do exactly that. It is an exceptionalcruiser that will effortlessly suck upmotorway miles during the week, and itwill make the most of the good weatherat weekends. It might not be asentertaining to drive as somecompetitors, but it is comforting to driveand reasonably cheap to run. There iseven enough room in the back to bring acouple of chums along for the journey.Audi TT RoadsterThe current Audi TT Roadster’s designand muscly engines make it feel a bitbeefier than the model it superseded –especially in flagship TT RS semblance,where you get a 395hp 2.5-litrepowerplant. That said, even the 2.0-litrepetrol TT feels quick, and its four-wheel-108 ÁJaguar F-Type Convertible106-109.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 15:00 Page 2108 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGdrive system means your pleasuredoesn’t have to stop when it rains. Alas,with the roof in place, there’s lots ofwind roar at speed, and the room takenup by the folding roof’s mechanismsmean you miss out on the coupe’s tworear seats and 25 litres of boot space.However, if you hardly ever carrypassengers and don’t intend to drivemany long journeys, the TT Roadstermakes a fantastic compact drop-topsports car.Mazda MX-5 Few convertibles have enjoyed asmuch success as the legendary MazdaMX-5. The most recent model’s sharpstyling, inexpensive price tag and livelypetrol engines help make it a delight todrive and one of the best drop-topscurrently on the market. Its quick torespond steering, jaunty suspension andlightweight body mean it has apenchant for snaking rural roads, butwithout a pricey thirst for petrol.Therefore, you can put your foot downevery weekend without fretting aboutwhat impact it will have on your bankbalance. It is not very practical though,and even the quickest 2.0-litre varianttakes 7.3 seconds to get from zero to62mph – slower than a modern-day hothatch. Nevertheless, there is no gettingaway from the fact that the Mazda MX-5is a pleasurable small car, and one ofthe best value convertibles on sale inthe UK today. Audi TT RoadsterAudi A5 Cabriolet106-109.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 15:00 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY109COUNTY MOTORINGTel: 01472 812130www.lincsvwa.comUnit 3, Woodside Park,Station Road, Tetney,Grimsby. DN36 5HXFind An Experienced Motor Mechanic InTetney, Near GrimsbynServicing nMOTs nRepairs nBrakes & Tyres nEngine diagnostics nCar Batteries nExhausts nECU Remapping nAir Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re GasVW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALISTC&C AUTOSVolkswagen & Scooter SpecialistsTel: 01205 367565The Autobarn Broadfield Industrial Estate Broadfield Lane Boston PE21 8DR cncautos@live.co.ukwww.cncautos.co.ukFiat 124 Spider The Fiat 124 Spider has many of the samemechanical bits as the Mazda MX-5. Thedifference is, it is blessed with a good dollop ofItalian period styling to help it look different fromits Japanese relation. It also houses a 1.4-litreturbocharged power unit instead of the MX-5’s1.5 and 2.0-litre engines. Additionally, the 124has been given softer suspension to help it copebetter with Britain’s pot-hole peppered roads.Consequently, the Fiat is more comfortable thanthe Mazda, but it doesn’t feel quite as energetic.It is pricier, too - and its turbocharged engineisn’t quite as economical to run as the Mazda’snaturally aspirated 1.5-litre powerplant. If you feelthe need for a small, sporty drop-top but don’twant a common or garden Mazda MX-5, the Fiatis still a fine choice.Fiat 124 SpiderMazda MX-5106-109.qxp_Layout 1 21/05/2018 15:00 Page 4Next >